Rethinking Growth in Testing
Testing isn’t just about doing more — it’s about seeing better, thinking deeper, and adapting smarter.
“If you're not learning automation, you're falling behind.”
“Manual testing is dead.”
“Become an SDET — that’s the real career growth.”
These are the kind of messages that flood our timelines almost every day.
I used to believe them too. I mean, who doesn’t want to grow in their career? The moment you hear “SDET = next-level tester,” it feels like a clear next step. You start thinking, “Maybe I’m behind. Maybe learning Selenium or Cypress or Python/Java etc is the only way to stay relevant.”
But I want to tell you something I’ve learned the hard way, through real work, real testing, and real self-reflection:
💥 Being a great tester is not about the title you carry. It’s about how you think, how you observe, and how you adapt.
🛠 Automation is a tool, not the destination
Let me make one thing clear: I’m not anti-automation. I write scripts. I run automated jobs. I build end-to-end test setups. Automation has its place.
But here’s the truth that rarely gets mentioned:
Writing code doesn’t mean you understand testing.
It just means… you can write code.
Testing is a human skill. It’s about:
Investigating unknowns
Exploring risks
Noticing patterns
Questioning assumptions
Communicating clearly with your team
Making thoughtful trade-offs
No amount of automation replaces these things.
🌱 So what does real growth in testing look like?
Here’s what I believe now,
and what I try to practice daily:
Growth is learning to ask better questions, not just writing better scripts
Growth is becoming comfortable with the unknown
Growth is listening deeply before jumping to solutions
Growth is taking ownership, even when things go sideways
Growth is choosing to understand the product, not just the UI or API
And most importantly, growth is about knowing why you’re doing what you’re doing. Not just following trends blindly.
🧭 Stay curious. But stay awake.
If you’re learning automation, awesome. But do it with awareness, not pressure.
If you’re building exploratory testing skills, sharpen them with intention.
And if you’re feeling stuck because you’re not an SDET — I want you to know:
You can be a phenomenal tester without ever calling yourself an “SDET.”
Your depth, your mindset, your adaptability — that’s what makes you valuable.
Final Words:
Let’s stop chasing titles. Let’s chase clarity instead.
Titles will come and go. Tools will change. But your ability to think, to observe deeply, to question confidently, that’s what defines your journey as a tester.
Don’t let industry noise make you feel “less” because you don’t have “SDET” in your title.
You’re not falling behind, you’re building depth. And that takes time, courage, and clarity.
Keep growing - not just horizontally with tools, but vertically with mindset, awareness, and purpose.
Testing is not about chasing trends. It’s about seeing clearly, and helping others see too.
If you found this helpful, stay connected with Life of QA for more real-world testing experiences, tips, and lessons from the journey!