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2011 Issue #1 What do test managers think about your certification? We have the answers below. Articles in this issue: What Do Test Managers Think About Your Certification?
Does your certification make a difference in your manager's mind? Based on our survey of certified testers, the vast majority of managers feel very positively about your professional certification. Here are the results of our survey:
The more your managers knows about your professional certification, the more they may appreciate your value to the organization. Send them to the ASTQB website, www.astqb.org, so they can learn more about your professional software tester certification.
Win an iPad: Share Your Thoughts on Advanced Level Certification
We're pretty proud of how ISTQB's Advanced Level Certifications can help set you apart versus your competition, but we want to know what you think of them. Share your thoughts with us and you'll have the opportunity to win an iPad: Take the short survey.
Becoming, Being and Building a Leader
by Judy McKay, CTAL, Quality Architect There are at least two schools of thought regarding the origin of leaders – they are born or they are made. While some characteristics are innate, I think leaders have to be formed. The core characteristics have to be present or the formation won't work. The type of leader you are and will become is based on the traits that you have as well as the environment in which you will hone your skills. The software industry in general and the testing industry in particular have long been hampered by leaders who are less than adequate. Why is that? Is it that hard to lead effectively? Well, yes. It's very difficult. Not only are we in a technically challenging industry, but we are also in a role that is sometimes unappreciated and subject to extreme schedule pressures. So, the obvious question is: why do we do it? Maybe because we can't resist the challenge? Let's face it; testers love challenges. If we didn't love a challenge, we'd do something easy, like astrophysics! Instead, we seek to save the world from bad software, to fight against unreasonable schedules, to stand up in the face of the push for more features, higher quality, less time, less resources… You get the picture. We persist. So let's look at what it takes to become a good leader, to build a good leader and to actually be a good leader. When I was in college, the counseling office had a poster that was a picture of a mother duck standing with her ducklings. The ducklings were all facing different directions. The caption on the poster said "Lead, follow or get out of the way". It's not a bad philosophy for business. You are either leading, following or you are probably in the way. And remember, even if you are leading, you are probably also following unless you are the CEO (and even then you may be following your board of directors). Good leaders will have the tendency to lead. They won't be part of the flock of sheep without a sheep dog; they will become the sheep dog! But, along with the tendency to lead must be the desire to learn and the ability to adapt as needed. You don't want to lead your flock off a cliff because you failed to heed the warning signs.
If you are planning to attend StarEast, May 4-5, be sure to stop by the ASTQB booth and say "Hi!" If you haven't registered yet, here is a discount code for up to $400 off the cost of your conference registration: ATEV To obtain the savings, you must use the code at the time you register for the conference by typing the code into the field listed as "Promo/Mail Code". The registration form may be found here.
News and Offers from ASTQB Accredited Course Providers
ALP International (ALPI): Refer a friend to our March 23-25 public training course & exam and YOU get an iPod Touch! Book our onsite training & exam for your company by May 31, 2011 and YOU get an iPad! To register or for more details contact Katelynn at 301-654-9200 x403. http://www.alpi.com/ RBCS, Inc.: RBCS, Inc. boasts an impressive lineup of ISTQB Certified Tester courses in live delivery, e-learning and blended formats. Visit the RBCS store today and receive an 15% discount on any e-learning product including certification e-learning courses or non-certification e-learning courses! Enter the code ASTQB311 in your cart to receive your discount. Offer valid until April 30, 2011. Rice Consulting Services, Inc.: Looking for an innovative and affordable way to prepare for advanced certification? Randy Rice is conducting 9-week online mentoring sessions to guide individuals and small teams in preparing for the Advanced Test Analyst, Advanced Test Manager, and Advanced Technical Test Analyst certifications. This is not an accredited course, but a way to reinforce self-study. For details, visit www.riceconsulting.com.
Tell the World About Your Achievement
The more information you share about your certification, the more valuable it will become. So when you achieve ISTQB Certification, tell the world. Right now, add a link to the ASTQB website, http://www.astqb.org, from your Twitter account, personal website, company websites, blog, Facebook page, MySpace page, LinkedIn information, and email signature.
We are thankful for our volunteers who give of their time and talent to make ISTQB software testing certification so strong in the U.S. We will periodically highlight their activities so you can get to know them and the expertise they bring to their volunteer role in ASTQB. Randy Rice, ASTQB Treasurer, will be conducting two tutorials at StarEast 2011 in Orlando, FL, the week of May 2 - 6, 2011. The topics will be "Becoming an Influential Test Team Leader" and "Free and Cheap Test Tools." Randy will also be signing copies of his newest book, Testing Dirty Systems at the conference. Randy will also be conducting a week of public classes in Rome, Italy, the week of June 6 - 10, 2011 on the topics of "Testing Large and Complex Legacy Systems" (based on the new book, Testing Dirty Systems), and "Practical Software Test Automation." These are sponsored by Technology Transfer in Rome.
Certification Training/Exams Coming to an Area Near You
If you would like to receive notification when ISTQB Certification training and exams are in your area, simply enter your request at: http://www.astqb.org/general/newsletter.php Below is a list of scheduled public ISTQB certification exams. Details are available at the ASQTB website at http://www.astqb.org or by contacting the ASTQB office at info@astqb.org.
What Would You Like to Learn About? About ISTQB Certification News Non-profit, non-commercial publications and Web sites may reprint or link to articles if full credit is given. Publication, product, and company names may be registered trademarks of their companies. Copyright 2008 American Software Testing Qualifications Board, Inc. (ASTQB) 12000 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Suite 110 Tampa, FL 33618 USA Phone 813.319.0890 Fax 813.968.3597 info@astqb.org www.astqb.org If you want to change your address, use this link: <http://astqb.org/general/information.php>
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