Talented Tester Support, Author at Talented Tester

Is IT Contracting better than a Permanent Job, I personally think so, yes. But please understand, it is not for everyone. For me, it is ideal, and there is a good chance it could be for you.

Understanding IT employment is one challenge IT experts face on a daily basis. While employers want to know where to get the right talent that will give them the most out of their bucks, IT experts have to deal with deciding whether IT contracting is better than getting an IT job on a permanent basis.

However, there isn’t a list of roles that IT experts use to choose on whether a contract is better than a permanent role. More often, companies needs and the overall goal is what determines who they need. Still, the question remains, is IT contracting better than a permanent job? Let us talk this through.

Do Contractors Earn More Than Permanent Employees?

IT contractors make more money than those on a permanent basis. The reason behind this is that you get to set your charging rate. The more you charge, the better you earn; meaning you take home more than permanent IT employees.

IT contractors also get to deduct their expenses as well as pay less in taxes. Well, as a contractor, you won’t enjoy the sick pay, pension, holiday pay, maternity pay, and other benefits.

Although there are other additional costs, you still earn more than permanent employees.

There are other things that make a contractor earn more than an employee. Things like claiming expenses for all work-related equipment like laptops, broadband connections, office equipment, and mobile phones and so on. An IT contractor can also offset their input VAT changed, representing more discount compared to employees.

So it’s clear, you can earn more as an IT contractor than what you will make as an employee.

Do I need to save money as a Contractor?

Accepting a job as an IT contractor earns you more money, but challenging at the same time. The primary goal of every person seeking employment, whether on a permanent or on a contract basis is saving money?

Understanding the pros and cons of an independent IT contractor will answer the question whether you need to save money as a contractor or not.

A contractor is usually not paid for certain things. Most IT contractors do not pay for vacation days and 401k matches.

When you call in sick or don’t work because of holidays, you will not be paid. Although you benefit from lower taxes and other things, you have to pay for your health insurance and other insurances.

The payments you cater for leaves you with one option, save money to pay for your insurance as well as pension, and other policies including your vacations and sick days.

Do I pay Less Tax as a contractor?

Does IT contracting involve the payment of taxes? The answer is yes, although there are other things you need to take into consideration. The way you pay your tax matters most.

A contractor is a self-employed individual. According to IRS (Internal Revenue-Service) official website, self-employed individuals must pay a self-employment tax and income tax.

To figure out what you will be required to pay, the websites states that you need to understand your net profit or loss out of your business even before you can determine the extent to which you are subject to the self-empowerment and income tax.

As expected, this is done by deducting expenses from your income. Read through and know your rights.

Despite the above requirement by the IRS, should a contractor pays less than a permanent employee or should they be taxed the same as permanent employees?

When comparing permanent IT employees to contractors using the tax table, a permanent employee is paid $40, 000 as salary. When this is the case, the gross earnings will be $30,480 per month after NI as well as tax deductions. On the other hand, a contractor takes home $35,893 for the same payment.

Can I go back to a Permanent Job if I fail?

A big part of being an IT contractor is making your own decision. It’s a giant step that needs to be taken seriously.

However, sometimes failure is inevitable. As much as we would like to be self-employed, some mistakes and false starts can lead you back to being an employee.

Although coming back to a world of policy after being in a free and more corporate environment can be difficult, it does happen. Most of us strive to become contractors, but getting that ideal permanent position after you fail as a contractor is an option.

For some people, preparation is the key. People who have been contractors have more experience than other employees. If you are a contractor, you most certainly have worked with a lot of companies, different systems, people, and process.

With the experience, you know which process and systems that have worked and the one that flopped. Use the experience to get work as a permanent employee. Also, consider taking a “Bridge job” as part of your preparation.

How long are IT Contract on average?

The life of an IT contractor is alluring. You get to work flexible hours and accept jobs you like. As an IT contractor, there is an opportunity for IT contracts from NGOs as well as government, companies and even individuals.

The period of a contract depends on the person offering them to you. For example, government IT contracts seem to last longer than individual IT contracts. Knowing the average time an IT contract can last is not easy as there are many fields when it comes to IT industry.

Most companies use standard team and conditions when offering IT contracts to contractors. For instance, we have noticed that company’s offer at least 6 to 12 months it contracts on average. The contracts can be less than 6 months or more depending on the nature of work, your skills and experience and the company offering them.

Is IT Contracting Better - Summary

The answer to the question, "is IT contracting better than a permanent job?’’, in my opinion, yes. But it is not for everyone.

The fact that you manage yourself and your finances is the reason why being an IT contractor is better than a permanent job.

Sometimes failure is inevitable and going back to full-time employment might be your final solution. The dynamics of being an IT contractor has become increasingly popular.

As the market continues to grow, preparing yourself both as a contractor and permanent employee is the best option. If you think there is more that should be added to the list, comment below, like and share with others.

Before you go, lets go a bit deeper, If you decide to make that plunge, you will need some assistance on finding the best contract, lets go into this with more detail....

How Can I Find Manual Testing Contracting Jobs?

There are many people out there who are searching for manual testing contracting jobs. Many are asking the all-too important question, "How Can I Find Manual Testing Contracting Jobs?’’.

If you find pleasure in finding and fixing bugs in coding and programming, you are most suited for manual testing contracting jobs, for the simple reason that these jobs involve the basic testing of software manually. As a tester, you act as an end user where you have to follow a test plan that gets you to a set of other test cases.

Here is what you need to know before applying for a manual test contracting job:

How Much Experience Do I Need To Get Jobs?

As a manual tester of software, your role in the creating and the success of any software system you are testing is integral. You are involved in software development and deployment. The process includes analyzing software and systems in a bid to prevent or avert any software issues.

For instance, software testing is done from requirement specifications to coding, design and all the way to acceptance. The amount of experience you need depends on where you will be based and the company and software requirements.

You need experience in things like:

Stress testing
Writing bug reports
The monitoring software systems as well as application
Running of automated and manual tests
Performance testing
Testing in various environments, that include but not limited to mobile and web
Scalability testing
Working towards projects as well as departmental deadlines
Quality assurance
Writing test scripts and then executing them,
Designing tests so as to mitigate risk

Smaller organizations may have a central team of testers working on multiple projects while large organization may need a software tester dedicated to only one project.

Depending on the company, you need to have some experience before finding a job.

Do I Need Specific Qualifications?

If you are applying for simple testing jobs, the amount of specific qualifications you need might not be a big issue. Since the manual testing contracting job is more about software testing, subsequent development and quality control, you need to have some specific qualification if you are dealing with complex software structures.

Here are specific qualifications you should have before applying for a manual testing contracting job:

In-depth analytical and technical skills
Knowledge of the coding languages as well as programming for unit-testing
Passion for technology
Scripting skills required for automation-testing.
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Problems-solving skills
Ability to work individually and as part of a team
Ability to honor tight deadlines

You also need to have a degree in IT or computer science. However, the role of a manual testing contraction expects is open to graduates with a degree in the following disciplines:

Physics
Mathematics
Electrical engineering
Chemistry

These are just some of the work you will do as a manual testing contracting expert, meaning specific qualifications are needed to accomplish your task.

Will Employers Wait For My 30-Days Notice Period?

Once you have the qualifications and experience needed, there are other things to put into consideration. Knowing if the employer will wait for your 30 day notice period is vital. This is something you need to check before you assign any contracting job and an employer.

According to Graduate Land, it’s important to check notice period before signing a contract.

With that said, for an employer to wait for 30 days before you can join them might seem like an eternity to them and to you as well. This is especially if you already found your dream job.

Many companies have that notice period before you can resign from your position. The period can be one week to 3 months. The chances are that the same company that has employed you having the same policy is high. Since the employer will always choose the best candidate for their positions, they are willing to wait for the 30 day notice period before you can join them.

Shall I Tell My Boss I Am Thinking Of Leaving?

Regardless of whether you have found a new job or not, the question of whether to tell your boss you are thinking of leaving or not is something you should consider.

Here are some questions to need to ask yourself before making a decision:

Is my boss understanding?
Is the timing of having this conversation right?
Is there any reason for me to tell him or her?
What will be their reactions and how will I manage the consequences of telling them?

Remember, no one is obligated to tell their boss that they are thinking about leaving. It’s a personal decision that needs to should be taken seriously. However, if the answers to the above questions are positive, then it’s a good idea to speak to your boss.

Tell them what you are thinking to prevent damaging the relationship you have built for many years. Since this is a touchy subject, telling or not telling could hurt or help your career depending on the circumstances and situation.

How Can I Learn How To Create A Good CV?

A good CV is part of the process of how to find manual testing contracting jobs. In today’s software testing industry, writing a good CV is comparable to literally selling your proficiencies, skills, and talents. Learn how to write a good CV from various sourcing on the internet. Also do not neglect setting up a powerful LinkedIn profile.

For instance sites like Wikihow, offer a step to step guide on how to create a good CV. It also provides you with free samples CV you can use to compare with.

Other sites where you can learn to create good CVs include:

These are just some of the sites where you can learn to create a CV that will earn you that dream manual testing contracting job you have been searching for.

Conclusion

Finding a manual testing contracting job is not difficult as long as you have the specific requirement and experience needed. An ultimate manual tester is employed to find issues and bugs with a project before it’s deployed to users.

Also, remember, if you are still wondering if contracting is better than a permanent job, it largely depends on your appetite for risk, such as dealing with IR35 and tax issues, hunger for a higher pay and personal confidence in your skills.

Is there anything you would like to add? Leave your comment below and lets us know what you think.

Which Agile Methodology is Best?

No matter where you go these days, you really cannot escape Agile. It is fast becoming the norm in a lot of companies today. This is also one of the reasons for the increased numbers of Agile Certifications to choose from. This is good and bad. Why bad? Because, in my experience, some companies use "Agile" as a justification for no documentation and testing on the fly!

The important thing is, understanding that, even if the method is "Agile", there are still organised methodologies that are defined. This article is designed to focus on these Agile methodologies to benefit you.

Project management has become much of a science than an art. Different software are being developed for efficient management of projects and in fact, software development in itself has become more efficient by applying the principles of project management.

Agile software development is an approach described as iterative learning technique through the collaboration of cross-functional and self-organizing groups and their end users.

The agile methodology since its birth has proved to bring significant improvements in the field of software development. There are pieces of evidence that support the claim that using agile methodologies for software development would improve the agility of developers and coordination between the teams.

Also, understand there are other methodologies out there, such as Extreme programming, and many others.

However, it gets difficult sometimes to decide which agile methodology is best. It is against that backdrop that I have come up with a guideline that would serve as a checklist when choosing between ideal agile methodologies, so that the choice is made according to your needs.

List of Agile Methodologies

To give you a fair idea about each methodology, we will be explaining each of them separately and would also be providing a comparison between them.

This would be helpful more than simple reviews to determine which agile methodology is going to work out for your project. The list of things that we are going to discuss is provided as under:

What is Agile Scrum?
What is Agile Kanban?
When should you use Kanban?
What is the difference between Agile Scrum & Traditional Waterfall models?
What is Lean Agile?

1. What is Agile Scrum?

Scrum is a brilliant framework, designed for efficient software development when the requirements are volatile. The team of developers can be divided into small groups, each team working separately to reach the common goal.

The smoothness of work is ensured through 'timeboxed’ iterations and short standup meetings between the team members.

Agile Scrum emphasises on collaboration as well as an iterative approach, and flexibility to adapt to change. Each phase of the project is considered as a Sprint.

At first, the teams start with sprint planning in which they decide about duration and goals. This leads the team towards sprint objectives, which typically lasts two weeks and aims to achieve specific set of goals.

During the sprints, daily scrum is maintained through short standup meetings in which members participate and discuss their progress, using burndown charts and other measurement metrics. Finally, the sprint ends with a review session and the team adapts to the changes in requirements and situation as well as learns from its errors.

The product owner lists the product backlog which contains a set of activities need to be done by every team member collaboratively. Each item on the product backlog has a priority ranking as well. Assignment of these items to each sprint of the project takes place during sprint planning subsequently. These items are then moved from product backlog to sprint backlog.

The Role of a Scrum Master

The Scrum Master ensures the goal is achieved promptly and schedules daily meetings to stay updated on the progress of the project. Once a sprint is completed, the team presents the work they have finished in the final sprint review meeting. Based on the product delivered at the end of the sprint, iterations for next sprint are planned. The entire process repeats itself, right from the creation of a new sprint backlog to when the next sprint of the project commences.

Did Scrum pique your interest? Then watch this video of a conversation with Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland, the creators of Scrum:

2. What is Agile Kanban?

Kanban is another agile methodology that helps eliminating the mismatch between demand of work and supply of resources. The idea behind Kanban is to provide a visual process feedback to the entire workforce.

With Kanban, you can visualise the process along with each work passing through that process.

It is a lean method which is quite useful for improving the workflow across human systems. It provides the opportunity to manage the entire workforce single handedly.

You use Kanban board to visualise the entire workflow, progress of each work, assess work capacity and its impact on the whole team.

This assessment allows you to rectify the situation in case a team member or an individual unit has over-committed and may fail to deliver what they committed within the allocated deadline.

What is a Kanban Board?

Kanban board is the typical tool used to inform workers regarding how, what and when to produce. The methodology helps in providing a broad overview of the workflow to the entire team.

The board also consists of columns that define the “status” of the work in progress as it passes through different stages of the workflow. For example, the status of a product can be “in development”,it can be “testing”, or “Ready-to-Release” and “Released” during the entire workflow.

Kanban allows you to identify potential bottlenecks quickly in the process and fix them to enable passage of work through the workflow in a cost-effective and optimised manner.

This way, multitasking and context switching wastes are reduced drastically and the timespan of project is also reduced. Top management can easily reiterate the goals to the developers using Kanban board efficiently.

Did you know that you can trace the origin of Kanban framework to the factories of Toyota? Watch here:

3. When should you use Kanban?

Kanban is a universal methodology and can be used with scrum together. To be specific, Kanban emphasizes more on the work states rather than iterations. The focus of Kanban is on work, rather than time and predictability.

You can use the Kanban board to visualize the work processes in different work states and can place a limit on the work in progress. This is a proven technique used to equate the demand with supply.

Kanban can be a preferred methodology if the focus is on good work flow and throughput. If you do not have a list of backlogs and you want to burn small issues immediately as they raise, using Kanban would be more efficient than scrum.

There is certainly no planning involved at all and you can direct the team through visuals to attack the problems in sequential manner to maintain a good flow of work.

4. Difference between Agile Scrum & Traditional Waterfall models

Broadly speaking, traditional waterfall model allows the work to fall like water from one team to the other without any option of turning back. This is the reason which differentiates the two models i.e.

Scrum methodology allows inter as well as intra departmental communication and devotes more time to planning, whereas traditional waterfall model only have intra departmental communication. Therefore, traditional waterfall model may backfire in case of a dispute between two work teams or departments.

Another major difference is related to the progression of work. Agile scrum divides the work into iterations and allows both backward and forward movements; however, this flexibility is not available with Traditional waterfall methodology. Moreover, this flexibility allows Scrum methodology to complete the project sooner than waterfall model.

5.What is Lean Agile?

The ideology behind Lean Agile is to make an agile process further lean by eliminating wasteful processes. This can be done using the Generally Accepted Agile-Principles that provide a broad framework to eliminate non-value adding processes.

The following are the additional practices that can be adopted in order to convert an agile process into Lean Agile:

Backlog Grooming: The component of backlog is added into daily scrums and ways are developed to get rid of backlogs.
Acceptance Criteria-Driven Developments: Using the daily scrums, all possible test scenarios are developed to reduce defect rates and to deliver high quality product to the customer.
Code Refactoring: The idea is to restructure the logic of the code without affecting its functionality. This provides an easy way to improve the efficiency and runtime of the code. Continuous refactoring is used to add a new feature, remove the defect and for the code review.

Agile Methodologies Summary

We have tried to compile a short manual for you regarding the common agile methodologies prevalent in software development. The criteria for choosing the best methodology depend chiefly upon the needs of your project.

A large project may be well managed using a mix of Kanban and Scrum or Large-Scale Scrum methodology. It is your creativity that makes these methodologies efficient for your project. With the guidelines provided above, a checklist can be developed to identify the suitable agile methodology for your project.

We hope that you enjoyed going through our list and we recommend you to analyse the circumstances at your end first before deciding which agile methodology is best. But before you go, lets look deeper into two of these methodologies:

Agile Scrum vs Kanban: What Is The Big Difference?

There are many project management frameworks available in the market. Choosing which framework is right for your project is not an easy decision. Scum? Waterfall? Kanban? They all have their pros and cons. The key is to identify which methodology is best suited to your project.

Agile methodology is considered highly suitable for complex projects. According to PWC, Agile projects are 28% more successful than the traditional ones.

Scrum and Kanban are the two methodologies, belonging to the Agile family, that have been trending lately. Let’s look at both the frameworks and understand the critical differences between them, which in turn will help you choose the right framework for your project.

Scrum Vs Kanban: 3 Key Segments

The fundamental differences between Scrum and Kanban can be categorised into three segments:

#1. The Iterative Process

As you read above, the scrum is provided with a prioritised list of items that need to be completed within a sprint to deliver a product. The team must decide on the number of things they can finish within one sprint. Anything outside the scope has to wait until the next sprint. Ideally, a capable scrum team will identify their capabilities over a period leading to optimised estimates in each sprint and improved performance.

Thus, the scrum team produces a shippable product every two weeks (ideal time of each sprint; may vary based on project complexity), and dedicate their focus on continually optimising the process, eventually moving to the next sprint. This iterative practice enables constant improvement and effective management of multiple projects.

For Kanban team, there are no iterations. Though Kanban methodology is iterative in nature, the continuous optimisation occurs in an evolutionary manner as each work is executed in the process. A limitation is set on various conditions by the organisation (or teams) to prevent the bottleneck from occurring in the process. The workflow is thereby, regulated until an optimal set of limits is reached, making the workflow efficient and steady.

#2 Team Roles

For scrum teams to perform efficiently, there must be at least three roles assigned to the group. They are Product Owner, the sprint team members, as well as a Scrum Master. Each team member has their own set of responsibilities and must operate collaboratively to maintain organised balance. The sprint team must be cross-functional and be equipped with all the necessary resources and skills to complete the sprint’s assigned tasks.

No fix roles are assigned to a Kanban team. It does not make sense to have a project manager or a supervisor in the Kanban team. In fact, the roles evolve within the organisation, theoretically speaking, depending on the need and progressfor the Kanban project and organisation. Like Scrum team, the Kanban team need not be cross-functional as Kanban workflow is utilised by all the teams participating in the project. You can have a group of specialists or an entirely different squad of generalists working on various aspects of the same project using the same Kanban board.

#3 The Board

Both Kanban and Scrum board model consist of three primary columns: “To do” as well as “Doing”, and “Done”.While the fundamental board model has similarity, both scrum and Kanban boards are entirely different.

The Scrum board consists of columns that reflect periods in the workflow commencing with the sprint backlog and the period ending it. The things that are needed to be done at the start of the sprint are mentioned in the last column marked as successful or unsuccessful at the end of the sprint. The completed sprintis assessed, after which the board is cleared,and new sprintis prepped for the project.

A Kanban board has columns labelled to present workflow states as well. However, the critical difference lies in the number of tasks/stories allowed in each column at a time.

The team members are presented with limitations for each condition of the workflow. Like in scrum board, there is no sprint length,i.e. time boxes, which negates the need to rest the Kanban board as the project progresses. New tasks are added,or completed tasks are re-assessed based on project progress and needs.

Scrum vs Kanban Summary

Both Scrum and Kanban are one of the best frameworks that can vastly improve your project management needs.

The best plan of action is to get familiar with both the frameworks and test their aspects in your production environment. You can also build a hybrid framework if it serves your project in the best manner.

I hope that the above-listed differences will help you identify which framework suits your project most.

Which framework have you been using for your projects? What are your thoughts on these frameworks? Maybe you've dabbled with TDD? Let me know in comments below. Hit the Like and Share button below if you found this article helpful.

What is included in the ISTQB Agile Syllabus?

Quick Navigation

So, What is included in the Syllabus?

What is the ISTQB Agile-Tester Extension-Certification?

Who needs the certification?

What Qualifications do you need for the certification?

What we can You learn from the Agile tester certification?

What is the best ISTQB agile-certification book?

Is the ISTQB agile tester one-for-all all-for-one Book any good?

What is the best ISTQB agile-tester preparation?

The Importance of the Agile Tester Extension

5 Things you Need to do to Get a Certified Agile Tester Job

01. Get Your Certifications and Gain Working Knowledge

2. Learn to Communicate and Collaborate

3. Learn to Embrace Change

4. Programming is Important, Now More Than Ever

5. Learn to Automate

Final Thoughts On Agile Jobs

How can I Find the ISTQB agile tester extension certification exam dates?

Exam Dates

Exam Dates in India

Entry Requirements, Test Procedure, and Structure

Who is This certification exam ideal for?

What is the format of the Agile Exam?

Helpful Study Material

Final Words on ISTQB Agile Certification Exam Dates

So, What is included in the Syllabus?

At the time of writing the ISTQB Agile Extension is relatively new and many potential candidates, like yourself are interested in the Syllabus.

These are three high level topics covered:

Agile Software Development
Fundamental Agile Testing Principles
Agile Testing Method

Many people do not have an understanding of what is included in the ISTQB Agile Syllabus so I decided to put up all this useful information in this article.

These days, in the testing industry, you can't get away from the Agile methodology. When I first started testing, approx 17 years ago, the V-Model was the norm. Nowadays it is seen as quite an old fashioned methodology, albeit quit a solid one.

What is the ISTQB Agile-Tester Extension-Certification?

You may probably have an idea of what the extension certification is but I am going to provide a detailed description all the same.

Who needs the certification?

This Agile tester is very important to people who are directly involved with iterative projects and comes in handy to individuals such as test managers, user acceptance testers, software developers, testers and testers.

What Qualifications do you need for the certification?

Apparently, you do not require a lot of qualifications to be eligible for the course. The certification requires you to have general knowledge of terminologies, processes and test designs of different software.

However, acquisition of the ISTQB Foundation-Certificate is considered to be an added advantage.

What we can You learn from the Agile tester certification?

This syllabus provides a useful insight into key aspects such as: a clear understanding of the fundamentals of Agile Software-development, mastering the skills and roles of a software tester as well as understanding differences of software testing using traditional methods and Agile techniques.

It will also familiarise you with Agile testing methods, processes, techniques, and tools. Another important lesson is acquiring the knowledge of quality risks involved in Agile projects.

What is the best ISTQB agile-certification book?

If you are reading this article, there are high chances that you are probably one of the people mentioned above who need the ISTQB Agile syllabus. We are well aware that you may be asking yourself which is the best book to purchase and our answer is “ISTQB Agile-Tester: Agile testing lesson”.

This book is printed in three versions whereby there is lesson one, two and three. The book is authored by Steen Lerche-Jensen.

The lesson one book will prepare you for the syllabus since it introduces you for all that you need to know about Agile Software-Development. The author takes you through the fundamentals of Agile processes as well as the principles of testing and software testing practices.

It will also equip you with agile testing techniques, tool and methods.

On reading the lesson 2, you will find that the author goes into details on the processes and practices and mentions the nine agile testing principles of software testing. The author systematical elaborates the differences in traditional testing methods and Agile approaches.

The lesson three book provides you with the rest of the information that you need to know about Agile techniques such as the acceptance criteria and important definitions. This is the book that we feel is good for anyone who wishes to have an understanding of Agile techniques that will enable the reader to acquire ISTQB agile certification.

Is the ISTQB agile tester one-for-all all-for-one Book any good?

This is a 117-page book authored by Steen Lerche-Jensen designed to take the reader through comprehensive know-how of the ISTQB Agile-Test Foundation materials.

It is a good book. The book takes you through detailed information regarding Agile Software-Development. As a reader, this book will ensure that you acquire necessary information on this type of software development such as tools, principles, practices, testing methods and techniques, and processes.

The author appreciates the fact that all the stakeholders in software development should act in collaboration to ensure that a project is successful. For this reason, the book is titled “one-for-all all-for-one” which is a slogan used by the famous three musketeers. The book stresses on collaborative practices by the stakeholders because the failure of one will ultimately lead to the failure of the entire team. The reverse is also true.

What is the best ISTQB agile-tester preparation?

Like any other exam, passing will entirely depend on how much you have prepared yourself. It takes a lot of determination and hard work to acquire the ISTQB Agile-Tester certification and therefore we advise you to follow the following procedure.

Studying: The first step to passing certification is studying your reading materials. We suggest that you go through the book we have recommended “ISTQB Agile-Tester: Agile-testing lesson”. You should ensure that you go through all the three lessons at least 3-4 times. This will ensure that you grasp the concept of Agile Software-development and prepare you for any questions on the same.
Booking the exam: Even if you study and publish your own book, you will not get the tester certification if you do not take the exam. Once you feel confident that you are ready, visit ISTQB’s website www.istqb.org to find a registered exam provider within your area. You will be required to provide your personal details such as passport or ID number, name as well as place & date and Foundation-level certificate number if you have one. After you have provided this information, you can proceed with making the payment.
Checking the exam structure: The exam is based on multiple choice questions that are distributed evenly across three chapters. The chapters 1, 2 and 3 have 13, 12 and 15 questions respectively. The total number of questions is 40 and you are required to answer 26 or more correctly to pass the exam.

We also recommend you to familiarise yourself with the sample paper and answer sheet provided by the ISTQB.

The Importance of the Agile Tester Extension

For people who are in the Information Technology field, ISTQB Agile-Tester Extension Certification is an important element that not only improves your chances of getting employment, but also enhances your skills.

I realised that every business organisation has incorporated IT into their business processes with large organisations having an IT department.

As an IT expert, you are required to have extensive knowledge of Agile-Software Development and to prove this, an ISTQB Agile-Tester Extension Certification is necessary.

If you are preparing yourself to get certified, I strongly recommend that you go through this article again consider reading the suggested books.

I guarantee you that this will prepare you for the exams which will eventually lead to certification. If the article has been helpful, I urge you to leave your sentiments in the comments section and share the same with your friends on your favourite social media platform.

5 Things you Need to do to Get a Certified Agile Tester Job

Getting the Agile certification is one thing, getting a job is another.

I had a friend, an excellent software tester, arrogant even! He had joined a new organisation recently. Now, this organisation used the agile methodology integrated within all its practices.

He didn’t last three months there! So why did he fail? Despite being a good and experienced tester, he lacked certain qualities that are required of an Agile software tester.

So, you’ve only worked as a traditional Software Tester throughout your career. You don’t get involved much in the development stage and usually come in only at the end of the product development stage.

But now you have recognised that more and more companies are adopting agile development methodology. In fact, according to Project Management Institute, 71% of organisations use the agile approach sometimes, often or always.

They don’t want a traditional tester anymore! They want to work with a certified Agile Tester who will collaborate with the team throughout the development cycle. With Agile methodology, the testing needs to be done iteratively with each release to ensure that the client requirements are met.

To get an Agile Tester job, you need to move away from the daily routine that you performed as a part of traditional QA team. Let’s look at five things you need to do to get a certified Agile Tester job:

01. Get Your Certifications and Gain Working Knowledge

Start assimilating every information you get about agile methodology. Ask yourself these fundamental questions like:

What is agile?
How does agile relate to testing?
Why agile?
What are the principles of agile methodology?

The Agile Manifesto is a great resource for deep diving into each of these.

Once you understand the basics, focus on acquiring the technical skills necessary to be a successful agile tester. You can boost your knowledge base with additional certifications.

Here are few of them recommended by CIO:

PMI-ACP Certification
ICAgile Certification Courses
APMG International
ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Course

Apart from the certification courses, make sure you gain working knowledge of the agile processes and learn the right tools that support agile testing.

2. Learn to Communicate and Collaborate

As an Agile tester, you’ll be working closely with the developers and stakeholders than ever before. You’ll need to brush up your communication skills as you’ll be working in a highly collaborative environment, attending standup meetings, looking at burndown charts, etc.

Once you find a defect in the product, you’ll need to communicate it immediately to the developer. You may even need to allow them to use your system to let them debug and solve the problem as quickly as possible. You may also be asked to present complete information regarding critical defects and the time it took to patch them to the key stakeholders.

You may also need to help the members of your team who may need assistance in completing their part of the project. You need to understand that you are not a “back-office” personnel anymore, but part of a team that is working together to deliver a project successfully. Clear communication and collaboration is key to that success.

According to a VersionOne survey, 63% respondents blamed the clash between business culture and Agile business philosophy for the failure of Agile implementations.

Want to know what a capable, agile team would look like? Watch this Rob Lambert video for the answer:

3. Learn to Embrace Change

Instead of most people staying true to their human nature, always tend to resist change! Now moving from traditional practice to agile is a significant change as well. In an agile environment, you are not only expected to accept changes but also deal with them effectively. You need to adopt new practices and responsibilities. One minute you are working on developing a new feature, next moment you are working on redesigning the same feature based on client feedback.

Asking the right questions to your team and understanding client requirements before you start working on it is the way to go. Doing so will significantly reduce the change in your tasks and disruptions mid-project. Regularly groom and reassess the backlogs in case of disruptions. They are natural in big projects, and the benefit of agile methodology is that the interruption will only affect the current phase of the project rather than the entire project. Don’t cope with change, welcome it!

4. Programming is Important, Now More Than Ever

I am sure you’ll agree with me when I say that knowledge of a bit of programming will help you test the software more effectively. Organisations will consider you as a critical asset and powerful addition to their team if you have developed testing skills with the technical know-how of programming as well.

In an agile environment, knowledge in coding has become crucially beneficial to testers. This knowledge will help you execute your tasks efficiently and swiftly. No need to annoy developers for every little query related to coding anymore!

Did you know that coding is key to a test automation career? Learn about it yourself. And this where I take you to the next section...

5. Learn to Automate

As we read earlier, changes and disruptions are constant in an agile environment. Code needs to be tested every time it is changed, and manual testing will simply take too much time. You must know how to automate your tests and speed up the regression testing process.

Knowledge of coding is significantly useful in learning test automation as test steps can be coded and then can be reused to execute other scripts as well. Combine the knowledge of coding and automation, and you can be a significant QA force for your organisation.

Final Thoughts On Agile Jobs

Agile changes a lot, whether it is the pace of the development process, your KPIs, or how you collaborate with your team. However, fundamentally you are still a software tester.

These are the 5 things you need to do to get a certified Agile Tester job. Master these five essential skills, and you’ll be a valued addition to any organisation as an agile tester.

What are your thoughts on the points listed above? Do you agree with me? If not, do share your perspective in the comments below. If you liked what you read, please hit the like button below and don’t forget to share it with your friends and colleagues.

Before you go, lets look at taking action and look at the actual dates of the exam:

How can I Find the ISTQB agile tester extension certification exam dates?

Exam Dates

Since ASTQB exams are conducted globally, they are issued on different dates depending on where you wish to have them. You are therefore required to find out where the exam dates of your preferred locality are being issued.

However, it is important to note that these exams are not issued in all cities and therefore you should select the location that is most convenient for you.

There are many places where this information can be sourced but we advise you look for the information on ISTQB’s website. It will assist you in identifying an exam provider within your locality that is licensed by the organization.

It is important to use their website since there are cases where people have cheated only to pay for counterfeited certifications.

Exam Dates in India

Lets look at one particular location, for example, ITB (Indian Testing-Board) is the ISTQB-approved national board of India that conducts ISTQB certified tester exams in India.

ITB was founded in February 2004 and was officially recognised by ISTQB in April 2004. Right from 2014, ITB has issued more than 60,000 certifications across the country.

ITB has already announced the dates and locations of the Agile-Tester
Extension-Certification Exam for the year 2018. They will be held in
Bangalore, Noida, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Trivandrum, Kolkata, and
Chennai. The exam will be held in these cities throughout the year.

Once you have booked and confirmed your seat for the exam at a scheduled
date, keep a close eye on any communication you receive from ITB before
your exam. The exam dates or venue may change, and they will inform you
via email or message about the change.

Entry Requirements, Test Procedure, and Structure

You must be I.S.T.Q.B Foundation Level certified [ISTQB Foundation Level certified] before you apply for Agile Tester Extension Certification Exam.

Who is This certification exam ideal for?

These are the ideal candidates:

Software testers with significant experience in traditional methodology but new to the agile environment.
Entry-level software testers with a noteworthy interest in agile testing.
Software testers with little or strong knowledge of agile testing looking to gain professional recognition or boost their current profile.

What is the format of the Agile Exam?

The exam is conducted in two formats: Public Exam and Corporate Exam. We will look at the schedule of the public exam below. If you have a group of minimum ten candidates willing to appear for the exam within your corporate premise, the board will visit your office and conduct the test.

The ISTQB Agile-Tester Extension-Certification Exam consists of 40 multiple choice questions. You need to answer these questions within 60 minutes. You also need to score at least 65%, i.e., answer at least 26 questions correctly out of 40 to pass the test.

You can get complete details about the exam structure to help you.

Helpful Study Material

There is an abundant amount of study material available on the market that can help you prepare for this test.

You can consider borrowing, renting, purchasing any of the following books/e-books:

AGILE TESTING I.S.T.Q.B TESTER EXTENSION-CERTIFICATION by Chhavi-Raj Dosaj
Sample Exam-Questions- I.S.T.Q.B Foundation-Level Agile-Tester Extension-Exam by Chhavi-Raj Dosaj
I.S.T.Q.B Agile Tester: "One-for-all, all-for-one" by Steen Lerche-Jensen
Agile Testing: A Practical-Guide for Testers & Agile-Teams by Lisa Crispin

I highly recommend reading the books mentioned above as they provide excellent fundamental knowledge of Agile testing.

You can consider refereeing Study Guides from following websites:

You can also view these study videos (Note: they are not the most updated ones. However, significant points covered are still relevant)

Even if you don’t plan to apply for the exam, these study materials will boost your knowledge regarding understanding the overall scope of testing in any project.

Final Words on ISTQB Agile Certification Exam Dates

You have the exam dates! You have access to the study materials! You know the syllabus!

I hope that this guide helps you with all the information you need to prepare well for the exam and pass it successfully. If you have more news or insights that you feel is missing above or if you have any questions or queries, let me know in the comments below.

Did you find this guide helpful? Spread the word by sharing it with your colleagues, friends, and loved ones. Hit the Like and Share Button below!

5 IT Contractor Phone Interview Questions That Might Trip You Up

The difference between a face-to-face interview and phone interview is not much. In fact, the goal for both interviews are the same and that is to provide the interviewer with evidence that their criteria are met.

In phone interviews, your voice is the only channel you are using. Therefore, the quality of your voice should reflect your emotional being and can influence the result of the interview.

A phone interview is part of the selection process and usually comes after the candidate is shortlisted. It is a deciding factor whether you will proceed with the next interview or in some cases whether you are awarded the contract.

You have to ace this interview and to better prepare you for your phone interview, this article provides the guide for you to stand on a good stead whether you are applying for a local or international contract.

Five Fundamental Aspects You Need to Remember:

Client Criteria: Most clients are looking for these qualities among
their candidates: flexibility, dependability, productivity, likeability,
affordability, and availability. Among these criteria, these three are the most important: Likeability, Productivity, and Dependability.
Prepare and provide evidence. You should not only be ready with evidence on how you are as a productive worker, this can be determined by your responses. However, like-ability and dependability are usually answered with reference to what you have done in the past as if how you solved a problem or how you beat a deadline even in difficult circumstances.
Having the best approach. Make sure that your voice reflects your
eagerness to respond to the questions.
Ask questions. By asking questions, it shows that you are in a positive
frame of mind and that you want to know more about the contract. This also reflects your like-ability.
Leaving a good impression. Make sure that you leave a lasting impression on the interviewer by asking relevant questions, engaging the client in the conversation and most importantly show in your voice that you enjoyed the interview.

By taking note of these basic fundamentals, you are now ready to take your phone interview.

Whether you are the interviewee or the interviewer, you must also know the top five questions that IT Contractor asks when they are conducting the phone interview, obviously permanent employees could use these tips too, but it is even more vital for contractors.

This will prepare both the parties in navigating through the phone interview and getting what they want out of the exercise.

A common IT contractor interview features a lot of questions to probe the candidate competency. To have a better picture, we have grouped together the IT contractor interviews into groups.

There are the standard questions, which are common in most job interviews. There are the Curve Ball IT questions that are sometimes not asked at all. The answer to the curved ball question will show whether the candidate has thoroughly researched about the company they want to get into.

There are also conversational questions wherein the skills of an IT contractor will be put to test. Most of these questions are skill based and allows a back and forth conversation between the two parties.

You must be able to recall a relevant experience in trying to prove your competency. In addition, there is also an in-depth look into
the competency of the interviewee. Senior management most often does the
competency-style type of interviewing.

It is hard to predict the questions that you will be asked on your phone interview, but to help you navigate the
interview we have compiled the five IT Contractor interview questions that are
frequently asked during interviews.

The 5 Questions That Might Trip You Up!

Here are the lists of these questions that might help you get that contract on your next phone interview.

How well do you work with others?
A standard question that will determine the candidate's attitude when working with others. A company would want to know that their IT person could easily and patiently communicate with others when tempers are out of control. You also want to know whether they will
cooperate to solve an issue.

Usually, an interviewer will an ask the candidate to relay a situation related to the incident. They also want the interviewee to answer in a language that common employees can understand not filled with techno jargons.
Can you explain a Situation Where you had to Bend the Rules to meet a deadline?
Anything that has a negative slant to it typically trips you up, we all want to sound perfect on an interview, and this is designed to cut cr*p and find out what you are really like.

The key to this question is giving them a realistic solution, but be careful about how far you bent the rules, if it is too crazy, they could reconsider hiring you.

This is a great opportunity to inject some humour and win over your new boss.
Can You Explain a Testing Decision you made, that you later regretted?
Again, a slightly negative question designed to make you stutter and blunder, but stay composed.

Think of a basic error you made. The most important thing is making sure you have a good story about how you have learned from it, and how you have used that experience to improve as a tester.
Why Should we Even Hire You?
This is a cut-to-the-chase type of question. They want to see how confident you are and what, deep down, you think you can bring to the role.

Don't be alarmed if this is asked in a very direct, straight faced manor, some managers do this to psych you it, look them in the eye and explain why you are the best person for the role.
What is Your Biggest Weakness?
Think about this carefully, do not say something like "I am really sh*t at testing", that would be interview ended!

You need to explain something that you are working to improve that you feel could be achieved in your new role. You are showing them how you can grow and develop in the role.

The questions listed above are merely scratching the surface and as of this writing may have mutated into probing the candidate further to get to know them better. The contract market is fast and furious and if you are not prepared to take the phone interview, you will be eliminated fast!

The best tool in acing a phone interview is to practice with these questions because it is not all about technology specific questions. The weight of the decision in granting you the contract relies more on your attitude and behaviour.

5 Reasons Why You Even Consider Software Testing Contracting as a Career

A software tester is a person who tests the software built by other developers and finds the bugs and problems in the codes, and fixes them for the developers. They are skilled in software engineering.

A software tester is an important person for developers because they are the ones who make sure that the software developed by the developers meet the intended requirements and meet the usages of the targeted audience.

There are many software testers and software engineers. Not many people, outside of the IT industry really understand what a tester really does, the motivation for taking the role or the benefits of being a software tester.

Whether you are a software tester or willing to become one, here are the 5 reasons why you should consider a software testing contracting as a career:

1. High Demand for Work

As we know, there are thousands of software developers. You can find software for everything, be it food services, financial services or insurance, they all require software. As the number of developers and the requirement of software has increased, there is an increasing need for Software testers too. In fact, there is a high demand for software testers.

The career opportunities are increasing and it would be easier to get a job. You don't necessarily have to be working for a company. What awaits you is a prosperous career with a high paying day rate and you will be in good demand by companies. You can even get a managerial post. All you need to do is to work hard.

2. Challenging Work to Keep You Interested

You don't need to worry about the job being so boring like other jobs that you find. Many people quit jobs because they are fed up with doing the same thing again and again.

But a career of a software tester is so different. It is challenging. It is not always the same. There are many puzzles and problems to solve. If you don't want to have a boring job, then Software testing is the best career option for you.

You won't find it to be boring. You will face difficult situations and needed to solve them which make it more complex and challenging. You need to view the software in different perspectives and different angles. But the satisfaction that you get after fixing the defects and completing the project is incomparable. This is a professional career which needs thinking skills and logical skills along with the knowledge in software engineering.

3. Constant Learning - Fast Moving

It is a constant-learning career. There is always more to learn in a software testing career. You will come across different types of software and methodologies.

By testing and fixing the software you are learning new skills. You learn from each mistake you make and this will act as a knowledge bank when you do the testing next time. There will always be a team behind you to support you and ensure that you have all proper resources to learn.

You will be continuously growing and learn, thus improving your experiences and thus raising the chances for higher positions and better jobs from big companies. It throws challenges at you. You need to stretch your mind and think of different ways to find solutions. It is also about generating ideas. It is the only field in IT where you need to find different solutions and ideas and apply them to do your work.

4. Rewarding

You don't need to always work for someone without taking pride in what you have done. That is what generally happens for other kinds of jobs. They work and then they leave. They are not doing anything great. But for a software tester, you are going to help your company build a better product. You have the right to be proud of what you have done for the company or the people you work for.

If you want to do something different and become a person whom the team members values, then software testing contracting is the best career option for you. You make the impact on the project of the company daily. You will be an important and crucial member of the company. You decide the limit. You are in demand. So you will have more significance among others. There is a misconception that everyone can test. And thus the tester is having a rewarding career with satisfaction and happiness.

5. Strong Community

Software testers have a very strong community for them. They interact and discuss the problems faced. There are many members in the communities in Linked in and Stack Overflow to Twitter. They all have each other's back. They enjoy themselves by making new friends, discussing and also sharing their thoughts and messaging the members in their free time. The community is strong and insanely supportive and robust.

You won't face any problems while working. If you can't solve a problem, you can ask in the community, and members who have experienced similar challenges and who have found the solution for that will answer your query and you can get going.

The members always give a positive vibe while working. These communities are proven to be a real life saver, with motivations and job discussions. You will find many likeminded people. Sometimes these communities conduct gatherings for the members to relax and take a break from the work environment.

Other Benefits of Software Testing Contracting

Software testing contracting is an amazing career for those with good analytic skills. A software tester can have a very good career life with daily challenges to keep you engaged.

Another major thing is, it pays really well. As long as you can keep in work, the rates are lucrative, scope to increase your rate, you can claim expenses, and gives you a great opportunity to provide for your family.

This career gives you a creative and challenging work experience and to support you with more resources to learn, you will have your team behind you.

Did you enjoy this piece of information? Was this valuable to you? Please let me know your opinions in the comment section below.

What is the Agile Methodology discussed in the ISTQB certification?

The Agile methodology comprises a set of values and principles applied in the processes for developing software just like other software development methodologies such as the Waterfall model. The word “agile” refers to the capability of something to move easily and rapidly. This is a major feature of the Agile methodology.

When used, it takes a shorter timeframe to complete a project when compared to other methodologies. Iterations are used in Agile projects to deliver prearranged features. The following information will improve your understanding on what is the Agile methodology discussed in the ISTQB certification.

Key Phases Involved in Agile Methodology

The Concept Phase: During this first step, you and your team analyzes and arranges projects in order of importance. Each concept will require a definition of the business opportunity and how much time it will take to deliver the project.

Once this information is compiled, you will be able to determine the achievability of each project and know which one is worth working on.
The Inception Phase: Here, you will work on the requirements with the stakeholders. You can create a flow chart that explains how the feature you’re developing should work.

You then choose people who work on your team and develop a timeline for each activity showing when specific work needs to be completed for the length of the sprint.
The Iteration Phase: The developers and designers start to work on the initial iteration of the project. Their main goal here is to create a working product at the end of the given timeframe. This is just the first iteration as the product will go through quite a number of adjustments.
The Release Phase: To complete the software iteration, the system is tested for errors or malfunctions. The user and system documentation are finalized for everyone to get a clear picture on how the system works and how they can improve it. After this, the iteration is released into production.
The Production Phase: In this phase, your team works at ensuring the system functions smoothly and trains the users how to work with it.
The Retirement Phase: It is in this final step that you move the system from production, more so when you’re ready to replace it with another release.

So What Exactly is an Agile Sprint?

An Agile sprint refers to the specific duration of time during which certain tasks have to be finished and prepared to be reviewed. Sprints usually last for about 10 working days and comprise the following steps:

A planning meeting where the team gets together and discusses the mechanisms for the forthcoming work.
Designing and developing the product keeping the official guidelines in mind.
Testing the results and documenting them.
Presenting the product to the client.
Gathering feedback from the client and integrating it in the next sprint.

What Does the Agile Scrum Refer To?

The Scrum is a subdivision of the Agile methodology. It is the most commonly used set of practices for Agile development. In simpler terms, it is a framework used to manage processes involved in a project. Scrum is mostly used when developing intricate software through the use of iteration practices.

It is preferred due to the fact that it reduces time and increases your team’s productivity. In addition, Scrum makes allows you to easily adjust to changes in product requirements. It helps you to:

Handle change easily.
Improve the quality of the finished product.
Take control of the project timeline.
Give the best estimates while simultaneously using less time to create them.

Scrum is dependent on a team that is self-organizing, such that the entire team will together make decisions on who will be assigned what task. Also, everyone in the team must have the ability to develop a feature from the concept to execution phase.

There are two major roles in the Scrum model; the Scrum Master who is basically the team leader and the Product Owner/PO who is the customer/user.

So what is Agile Design?

When you think about it carefully, agile design refers to the implementation of Agile development principles to the design process. Due to the fact that every designer on your team is different, it is important for you to choose the best techniques that work for you and get accustomed to them as you move on.

Some of these principles include:

Involving your clients in every step of the processes: This is the best way for you to ensure that the client gets a clear understanding of what they are working towards as opposed to conventional design processes that work at a creating a perfect final end-product.
Compile work from your teams regularly: This will help you to detect bugs or issues that may interfere with the overall product and fix them immediately or note them down to be adjusted in the next iteration.
Always Carry Out Tests: Frequent testing will allow your team to identify and solve problems and this will consequently catalyze your team’s creativity.

What Are the Most Common Tools Used in Agile Design?

In order to be successful, designers and developers need to seamlessly work together.
The following are some of the most common collaboration tools and software used in Agile design:

Slack: A chat application that keeps your team updated every minute.
Justinmind: A prototyping tool for both mobile and web applications.
Asana: Assists your teams to plan their projects and organize daily activities through a platform the enables them to track the status of their jobs.
Agreedo: Helps your team to plan scrum meetings.
ProductPlan: Assists with creating roadmaps which help your team to visualize the strategy.

To sum it up, the Agile Methodology has proven to be the best with regards to using less time in the software development process. Did you enjoy this detailed explanation regarding the Agile Methodology? I chose to cover the areas as presented so as to explain the main components involved in this methodology and in the simplest way possible.

Feel free to leave a comment below with your feedback and if you enjoyed the article, don’t forget to share it with others who would be interested in the subject.

How Much Should I Charge as an IT Contractor?

It was a long drive, I finanly got out of my 8 year old car, happy that it got me to the interview on time and in one piece. This was my first interview as a contractor and I had no idea what to expect, let alone how much I am worth.

2 days later, I got a call back saying they like me, and want to over me a 3 month contract. The next question was, "what is your rate?".

In all honesty I had no idea what to say, the agent gave me a typical range, and I decided to say somewhere in the middle. He said fine all to quickly, meaning he was happy because he got me at a rate that was lower than he was expcting.

If I was to do that again, after the years of experience I have now, I would have taken time to research the market and see my market rate. Once I established that, considering I was new to contracting, I would have pitched myself close to that.

Once you are established, you can obvioulsly go higher based on your skills and how closely it matches the role. The reality is, if the company has spent money on interviewing you, and made you an offer, they want to land you as soon as possible. Finding a good candidate is time consuming and costly for them, remember that.

Other things to consider before you make the plunge:

What is IR35?

Being an IT contractor means you are self-employed. Have you ever come across the term IR35? If no, then it is high time you know what it is in order to
prosper in this field. Paying taxes is very important. Whether one is employed
or works as self-proprietor.

IR35 was designed to ensure that those working as self-employed do not evade paying taxes. The IR35 applies to limited companies and those who offer their services by the use of broker or middlemen.

The emergence of disguised employment by most of the organization led to the creation of ir35. Disguised employment is where a company employee works on a contract with the company by the use of the middlemen.

As an IT contractor. Knowledge of IR35 is vital as it brings to your mind that you will never evade taxes. By not evading taxes, you have to set your rates having at the back your mind that what you have set will sustain you after the tax-man has gone with his share.

How can l increase my rates?

After discussing IR35 brings me to another important question that a lot of new contractors ask, How can l increase my rates?

Increasing your rates as an IT contractor is important to maximising your potential income. Two factors should come into your mind when thinking of how to maximize your potential income.

First, it is important to understand the factors influencing the demand for your services.

Second, what is your personal potential to command a higher rate? This is based on the value you bring to the game.

Let us begin by looking at these factors :

The general economy – every successful business is pinned on the general outlook of a given economy. When the economy is on a boom, then be assured your business as an IT contractor will boom too.

However, when the economy is gloomy, for example a recession, expect nothing better. For the past 10 years, the IT contracting industry has registered a boom. Why a boom? Because the economy has been recovering from the last major recession of 2008.

And also many private and public firms feel it is cheaper seeking services from freelance workers as compared to employing new workforce permanently.

Although contractors earn more in the short term, these workers work on contract basis, therefore after the expiry of your contract the company is done with you.
The need for IT specialists – there is a massive positive growth in the IT industry from the past years. For instance in the United Kingdom recently, a research reveals that the digital jobs have grown to more than 1.5 million.

This growth calls for the demand of IT experts. Therefore putting the IT contracting job on demand.
Geographical location – as an IT contractor, where you are situated directly influences the charges you render for your services. If you live in an area where IT contracting services are not in demand then most definitely your rates will be lower.

But if you are situated in a place where your services sell like hot cake, then you shall charge higher rates.
Your personality – IT contracting involves relating to people. You are not working for robots, you work for people.

The way you approach people and work with them will greatly impact on whether you are likely to receive that raise your rates or not, or even stay there for the longer term. Being tactful, and understanding office politics is vital here.
Added new skills – in case you have just acquired some new skills while working on your current project. You should demonstrate these skills. Demonstrating the new skills should put you in a position of getting more pay.
Nature of the client – nature involves if you are working for the client through a broker or it is a direct client. If it is a direct client, then expect a higher pay as compared to when a broker is included.

What is a Contract Extension?

After knowing some of the things to bare at the back of your mind on increasing the rate. Another vital question arises, as an IT contractor. Your work basically is based on contract. No permanent employment.

You may sign a contract with a given company. Start working, in the due working process or after the end of your contract, the company management may be impressed with your work. They may decide to prolong your task. This is what referred to as a contract extension. It entails extending your end date to secure more work.

In my experience I have known some contractors working at companies, on contract, longer than the employees, so it can be good practice to keep the client sweet to secure more work.

Do l need an accountant?

Working hard, receiving good recommendations from various people and contract extensions from various companies. is a sign of a positive growth, more cash is flowing into your business.

With the steady inflow of money into your business. There may be a need to employ someone who will help you in the management of your cash.

In my opinion, an accountant is best practise, it will save you a lot of headache and they can help you identify things that you may have overlooked.

Do Contractors get raises?

Being a freelance or a self-employed person. The question, do contractors get raise? May sound ambiguous. Why? Because you are not permanently employed by someone.

But my answer is yes. But it really is in the form of rate increases, typically negotiated on an extension (see above).

The Next Step

Knowing how much to charge is just one part of the puzzle, understanding how to to structure your business, claim expenses, growing and retain your income are also important parts to master with the right knowledge and experience of contracting.

Once you master what to charge, the next challenge is understating how to negotiate a rate increase.

How To Negotiate A Rate Increase As An IT contractor

You may believe that you know about IT contracting and everything related to it. But do you know the 5 ways to negotiate a rate increase as an IT contractor? Don't worry, I've got you covered. We will be discussing that in this article.

As an IT contractor, negotiation is a vital stage in your career. Negotiation depends on several factors like your keenness to do the work, your skills, and experience, the demand as well as the complexity of the work. But whenever you negotiate, you should weigh the opportunity cost and ensure it is fairly higher. At the very least, never negotiate against yourself.

Let's begin the discussion, shall we?

1. Should Have A Valid Reason

It is never advisable to ask for a raise for the sake of it. It is very important to consider yourself as a client and think about whether it is really worth giving a raise to the contractor. This is our first and indeed most important point. You should have a valid reason for asking for the raise. Because nobody can get a raise without proving they deserve it. It is not that easy. When you are paying a dollar, it needs to be worthy.

So make sure that you deserve this raise before you ask the client for it, because there is a chance that the client will cancel the offer. If you have enough experience and skills to show your client as well as any previous works that you have done, and any good achievements, do not shy off from showing it as it will really count. The negotiation will also affect the competency in the market. Don't just wait for another offer with a higher payment, because that won't happen all the time. So make sure to utilize all the opportunities.

2. Performance Is Key

Whatever you do, for any price it is, always ensure to deliver quality work. Never compromise on quality, because that defines who you really are. Therefore, no matter what the payment is, if the quality is good, that will make a good reference for yourself. Always ensure the quality of your work is impeccable.

The more you provide a better outcome, the more the client will value your service. They will eventually become a regular client, then you can ask for a raise, considering the services that you have done so far because they will now be more dependent on you. Though you might have the skills, it might not expressly qualify you for a raise. What is important is to achieve the results. The rule of thumb is to always work for a good reference because that is what going to get you more offers from more clients. Always try to get the best results, no matter what’s at stake.

3. Note Your Extra Responsibilities

Often large contracts mean that you might even crossover the roles such that you might be doing what you didn't expect to do. It is often possible that you end up doing things that you didn't offer in the contract. As we know, flexibility is good, but always sure that you get paid for everything that you do.

You don't want to work for free so make a list of what you have done while working on the project. Mention them to the client while submitting the project and ask for the payment for the works done. If possible, ask the details and ensure you see to it that the employer is very specific about the tasks. There is no harm in telling the employer that anything else done other than the mentioned tasks would be considered as extras and should be paid for as such. This will help you in assured payment.

Another angle on this, is just getting on and doing this work, but keeping a note of the extra tasks you are taking on. Then when it comes to negotiation, you can use these extra tasks to justify the rate increase.

4. Know The Right Time To Negotiate

For an IT contractor, it is important to choose the right time to negotiate. Choosing the right time to approach the employer is vital.

For instance, you can't ask the employer for a raise during a time of recession or in any other situation where they are running short of money. Similarly, you can't ask for a raise within a few weeks of your recruitment. This is because it is more or less like asking too much without even deserving it.

Remember, there is a time that is required to prove your skills and quality of work, to the employer. So after achieving the set goals and objectives, it is okay to ask for a raise.

It is always better if you have a justification to get the raise and the general convention is that you approach your employer four to six weeks before the ending of the previous contract. This will give you enough time for you to show your works and skills and also get you the time to negotiate before the contract gets renewed.

5. Be Ready To Face The Outcome

If you ask for a raise and you happen to get a 'No' from the employer's side, then you will have two option to consider. If they can't provide the raise because they can't afford to pay you a higher amount of increased overheads, you better take that offer and notify them about having a conversation when times are better.

On the other hand, you can just resign from the job stating that it is not good enough for you. But the important thing to remember is that you need to be prepared for the outcome of this decision too.

If you are planning to resign, then you better find an alternate project or work, so that you can turn down the project confidently. You need to work yourself out the solution first as being idle is not good for an IT contractor. Remember that while the alternative job will take care of the rents and payments, securing it might not be easy without the points that we mentioned before.

Final Thoughts on Negotiating a Rate Increase

Before you negotiate, be sure of what you want, what you deserve, and also be ready to walk away if you need to. If not, then don't ask for another chance at negotiation. I would say that handling the scenario without affecting the relationship between you and the employer is most preferred.

Value your employer the most. Don't trouble them in their hardest times. Just make sure to ask for the negotiation at the right time.

The above-discussed points form the golden rules when thinking of the best ways to negotiate a rate increase as an IT contractor. I believe this discussion will help you figure out the problems and confusions that most of you were facing. I hope it has given a clear view of what you required.

Did you enjoy this piece of information? Was this valuable to you? Please let us know your opinions in the comment section below.

Can IT Contractors Claim Expenses?

In my early days of contracting, I will be honest, I really didn't fully understand expenses. I was booking expensive hotel accommodation, eating hotel breakfast and didn't really grasp that my own company was picking up the bill. After experience in contracting I learned more about this. So my aim is to help you save the headache I had learning, without the years of contract experience, with this article.

So the important question that we are going to discuss is can IT contractors claim expenses? And the short answer for it is yes, IT contractors can claim business expenses. As a matter of fact, it is one of the main benefits of an IT contractor.

Business expenses are the money or costs incurred while doing business and these can be claimed as an expense. You don't have to pay tax on the amount. You will have to pay some money at first for your business, but then your company will reimburse you.

So let us begin with discussing 5 reasons why you should consider software testing contracting as a career, of course, basing our arguments on the possibility of claiming their expenses.

Can Contractors Get A Mortgage?

Contractors face difficulty in getting a mortgage when compared to the full-time workers, but of course, you can get a mortgage as an IT contractor. When you walk into a high-street bank for a mortgage, you will more than likely have a sad experience, because they focus more on full-time job workers. Even if you have a large income and solid documentation for that income, you will not be able to get a mortgage from that bank.

But then, some banks are still prepared to give you a mortgage agreement in Principle. The mortgage providers calculate the annual income from the money you get per hour or per day, and with that income, they come to a choice of a contractor. Select the best scheme for you. Some mortgage schemes allow you to overpay while you work and then to use the equity when you are not working.

Can Contractors Get Maternity Pay?

Just as in the case of a mortgage, it is unlikely for IT contractors to get maternity pay, when compared to normal workers. In fact you may as well assume that will never happen.

While you enjoy the full freedom as freelancers, life takes a twist and turn when you decide to settle and have a family. According to Victoria Phillips, head of employment rights at Thomsons Solicitors, you can get maternity pay only if you are entitled as an employee rather than a contract worker.

Can Contractors Get Bonuses?

Contractors can receive a bonus while staying outside IR35. However, a simple word in the documentation can ruin your IR35 investigation. For example, according to contractorcalculator, if you mention bonus as 'bonus', it is deemed as a term for regular employees.

So a contractor needs to be careful with their paperwork.It is also important to professionally review your IR35 status by experts.

Apart from the terminology, it is important how you accept a contract with an automatic payment of 'bonuses'. Another thing to note is that you can't get bonuses in the period of the contract because it is implied that you are doing work in exchange for the incentive payment. T

Can Contractors Get Redundancy Pay?

Yes, contractors can get redundancy payment. The ruling can be used by IT contractors with fixed-term contracts of four or more years. If the employer fails to renew the contract after four or more years, then the contractor can get redundancy pay. An employee has to be made redundant by the employer, for getting redundancy. Just understand that a fixed term contract is different to the conventional contractor with his own company.

A contractor with his own small company or director of a company can claim himself as redundant but is still not going to work. And if the contractor agrees to the contract with a higher payment, they should agree upon not leaving or resigning to claim the redundancy pay.

These are the conditions to get redundancy pay:
Evidence that the contractors were expected to turn up at work and be provided with work Proof they were only allowed to work for the same employer
The existence of an employee working for the same employer in a comparable job Agency workers are unable to claim redundancy under the regulations

Can Contractors Attend A Work Christmas Party?

Attending a Christmas party is a potential issue with IR35. There has been well-known test cases that tend to suggest that this simple invitation can be be deemed as an invite to an employee.

Politically, it is good to accept and network at a Christmas do. It makes you feel like part of the team and build a bond with your co-workers. But it may be worth considering paying for this, so it is not seen as a an employee benefit.

Conclusion

Being a contractor is very lucrative, but you have to understand that the negatives are you really don't get any holiday or sick pay, along with other employee benefits. That is the risk vs reward of being a contractor.

A great benefit for contractors is claiming allowable expenses. This is a great way to reduce your tax and cover your expenses.

I had the feeling that everyone should know these best practices. Because there are very few articles or blog posts available on the internet based on this topic.

Did you enjoy this piece of information? Was this valuable to you? Please let me know your opinions in the comment section below.

Do I Have Enough Experience to Contract?

When I first started contracting back in 2007 as a Test Analyst, I was battling with the thoughts, "Do I have enough experience to do this?". Then I met up with one of my ex colleages in a local chicken shop, we love these chicken shops in the UK, well at least we do.

He was explaining to me how he was planning to by a second hand Porsche in cash from the savings he made from IT contracting. I was gobsmacked! Here I was with just enough to pay for the chicken lunch and he was doing very well.

The thing that really got to me, I worked with him for years as a graduate tester on a permanent salary, and I knew I was just as good as him, if not better. It just made me feel, if he can do it, so can I.

How do I get Into IT Contracting?

The idea of becoming a contractor is appealing and enthusiastic especially for people who work as employees. However, it takes some steps before you become a professional IT contractor.

Ask yourself if it is the right thing for you. Before you resign from your current employment, research what other contractors in the industry feel about it. Find out if there is a possibility for regrets or there are chances of developing your revenue generation. It is apparent that contractors enjoy financial independence and freedom than what any form of employment can do.

New ventures have their ups and down and you have to develop enough strength to help you overcome them. You’ll be venturing into the business alone, and you must have the capacity to negotiate your way in the competitive industry. To make an informed choice, it is wise if you read and understand the pros and cons of IT contracting.

Get the right skills and materials before you start soliciting for contracts. IT involves technology and different companies and institutions that you will work for need professional data input and output experts. Acquire the best academic qualifications on Information Technology because potential companies hire contractors based on skills.

Just remember, most contracts are charged according to the level of skills required and the demand for such skills, but you must learn the best way to charge as an IT contractor.

What Types of Companies Recruit IT Contractors?

IT is valuable in financial, human resource, logistics, business intelligence, and manufacturing industries, to be honest almost any industry these days. These companies need contractors that can help design different applications that will enhance efficiency in their businesses. As such, most of the organizations require IT contractors, to develop programs, install and maintain them.

IT recruiting companies are several, and they all look at the contractor's technical skills before hiring them. However, working closely with different recruitment agencies like oxford international can create greater chances of getting hired. Companies across all industries look for freelance IT contractors in agencies where if they are impressed by your skills they call you for an interview.

What is it like being a Contractor?

As a contractor, the company or people that have hired you look upon you to deliver their projects to their expectation. This gives you a sense of responsibility that drives you into giving your all in the contract.

In all honesty, being a contractor is really not much different to being a permanent worker, you do all the same tasks. The big difference is you don't have the security of long term work and typically get paid substantially more for that risk.

Do I get Sick Pay if I am an IT Contractor?

If you are working as an independent contractor with no company you are self-employed. It is mandatory for all companies to offer their employees sick pay when they go on sick leave. However, such a scenario cannot apply to you because you are not their employee.

So, the short answer is no, you will not get sick pay, this is part of the risk of being a contractor, hence the reason you are rewarded for this risk you take by getting a larger rate of pay.

Am I Eligible for Holiday Pay as an IT Contractor?

A contractor is independent and does not share his or her financial responsibilities with company that has employed him. Just like you submit your tax returns and plan your contract finances, you are the one who is responsible for your holiday pay. The employer does not care on how you spend your money as long as you deliver the project as per the agreement.

Contractors are not entitled to most of the benefits that other employees get from their employers. Therefore, if you want to go for a vacation, you must do your math right to ensure there is enough money to complete the project and pay for the holiday.

Conclusion

I have worked for many years as an employee and nothing is more enjoyable than job security. However, As an IT contractor, the pay rates are so much more, in my opinion it just makes sense to contract instaed of being permamnent, as long as you feel confident in what you do and feel you can deliver value to your client.

You meet new challenges every day which makes you strong and motivates you towards performing better. You too can become a professional IT contractor if you believe and push yourself.

If you find this article to be interesting and informative, please comment and share it with your friends and colleagues.

How to apply for the ISTQB Foundation Level Exam

So, you want to know all about the ISTQB Foundation level exam right? Luckily for you, you've come to just the right place. This article may be all you need on how to apply for the ISTQB Foundation level exam.

The procedure isn't too difficult. You first get on to the ISTQB website, click on the enrolment tab and you'll be directed to the Login Screen. For 'New Registrations' you'll need to key in your permanent address, personal information, postal address and then finally agree to the conditions and terms provided to you.

You will then be given information containing your User name, Registration number and password. Afterward, you will be required to make a few payments which you will have to do through demand drafts or DDs as they are commonly known. Visit the ISTQB contact link to know where to send the course cost payments.

WHAT IS THE ISTQB CERTIFICATION EXAM?

The International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) is basically an internationally operated organisation that does software testing qualification certification.

It was established in 2002 in Edinburgh and is legally registered as a non profit organisation in Belgium. This standardized qualification is an ISTQB Certified Tester that software testers need to undergo in order to obtain certification by the ISTQB.

It is a syllabus based qualification which contains a hierarchy of guidelines and qualifications for the examination and accreditation.

This certification organisation for software testing qualification has managed to issue over five hundred thousand certifications. This Qualifications Board is made up of fifty seven member boards all across the globe and represents about eighty one countries to date.

The Foundation Level exam is designed on a theoretical nature basis and requires the exam taker, hopefully you, to have some knowledge on software development with a slight bias in the software testing field. The Advanced Level exams are much more practical and requires knowledge in specialized areas.

What is the CTFL Certification?

CTFL stands for Certified Tester Foundation Level and its certification training is essential for those of you with interests in the software testing and development industry. The ISTQB accredits this foundation level training which provides its trainees with software testing fundamentals that includes testing management, design techniques as well as testing principles and vocabulary.

This training is usually the first step for those of you that wish to pursue a career in software testing and is meant to measure your proficiency and understanding of software testing techniques, tools and vocabulary. This course is a globally accepted professional certification program that is largely examination based and not an easy one at that.

What is the Validity Period of the ISTQB Certification?

The foundation level certificate is valid for your whole life, so there is no worries about renewal, regardless of changes to the ISTQB foundation syllabus, once you have this certifcate.

Not to be confused with the partner program. The partner program of the ISTQB has a validity period of one year. People and organisations renewing their partnerships are awarded thirty percent Loyalty Discounts on their Partner fees.

However, partnership levels can be upgraded by individuals or organisations upon request before their one year timeline expires. The only requirement being that you must ensure you're eligible for that upgraded level.

A partner can also terminate their partnership at any time during their validity period upon request. The procedure for this is to contact your Exam provider or Member Board where your program is managed and directly request for your partnership to be cancelled. Simple as that.

The Exam Provider or Member Board involved will then proceed to process your request, get the Partner Program Database and the ISTQB website updated and then finally they will advise the Partner Program Chair of the change and why it has happened. No fees are refunded as a result of the termination.

What Does A Software Tester Make Annually?

Software developers and testers basically work hand in hand and testers actually play a vital role.

They receive software builds at various levels of completion and then proceed to put these programs through numerous tests, clearly documenting software response along the way. Documenting is a key component of software testing because it helps software engineers and programmers discover any coding irregularities

Entry level testers with five years experience or less can expect to get paid about around fifty thousand dollars a year, which includes bonuses, overtime pay and tips. Software testers in the middle of their careers, meaning five to ten years experience, can expect an average pay of about sixty eight thousand dollars while those with ten to twenty years experience will be awarded an average salary of about seventy five thousand dollars

Conclusion

And there you have it. All you need to know about this internationally accredited training program and how to apply for the ISTQB Foundation level exam. You will find no better article than this on matters concerning this nature and we hope you thoroughly enjoyed that deep analysis on the topic given herein. We strive for excellence when it comes to information regarding such Certification Testing and the requirements that come along with it.

Not only does this certification provide you with a competitive advantage, it promises higher levels of reliability on the several applications being developed on a constant basis. Also, a consulting company that employs certified staff members can offer high levels of care to their customers which may in turn lead to increased revenue and will undoubtedly improve the organisations brand value. Please feel free to share with us any opinions, suggestions or comments you may have concerning this article. We are here for you.

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Is Contracting really Better?

Do Contractors Earn More Than Permanent Employees?

Do I need to save money as a Contractor?

Do I pay Less Tax as a contractor?

Can I go back to a Permanent Job if I fail?

How long are IT Contract on average?

Is IT Contracting Better - Summary

How Can I Find Manual Testing Contracting Jobs?

How Much Experience Do I Need To Get Jobs?

Do I Need Specific Qualifications?

Will Employers Wait For My 30-Days Notice Period?

Shall I Tell My Boss I Am Thinking Of Leaving?

How Can I Learn How To Create A Good CV?

Conclusion

List of Agile Methodologies

1. What is Agile Scrum?

The Role of a Scrum Master

2. What is Agile Kanban?

What is a Kanban Board?

3. When should you use Kanban?

4. Difference between Agile Scrum & Traditional Waterfall models

5.What is Lean Agile?

Agile Methodologies Summary

Agile Scrum vs Kanban: What Is The Big Difference?

Scrum Vs Kanban: 3 Key Segments

#1. The Iterative Process

#2 Team Roles

#3 The Board

Scrum vs Kanban Summary

01. Preparation

02. Know How to Find and Secure Contract Jobs

03.Time Your Notice Period Right

04. Consider Setting Up a Company

Limited Company Vs Umbrella Company. Who Wins?

05. Get Your Business Insured

06. Don’t let Failure Get You Down

Final thoughts on Transitioning from a Permy to an IT Contractor

5 Software Testing Contracting Best Practices

01. Understanding a project and communication is the key

2. Good planning is not a big deal

3. The importance of stakeholders and business reviews

4. Getting data sets identified before the test execution

5. Make a template or try to get automatisation for your next project

So, What is included in the Syllabus?

What is the ISTQB Agile-Tester Extension-Certification?

Who needs the certification?

What Qualifications do you need for the certification?

What we can You learn from the Agile tester certification?

What is the best ISTQB agile-certification book?

Is the ISTQB agile tester one-for-all all-for-one Book any good?

What is the best ISTQB agile-tester preparation?

​The Importance of the Agile Tester Extension

5 Things you Need to do to Get a Certified Agile Tester Job

01. Get Your Certifications and Gain Working Knowledge

2. Learn to Communicate and Collaborate

3. Learn to Embrace Change

4. Programming is Important, Now More Than Ever

5. Learn to Automate

Final Thoughts On Agile Jobs

How can I Find the ISTQB agile tester extension certification exam dates?

Exam Dates

Exam Dates in India

Entry Requirements, Test Procedure, and Structure

Who is This certification exam ideal for?

What is the format of the Agile Exam?

Helpful Study Material

Final Words on ISTQB Agile Certification Exam Dates

Five Fundamental Aspects You Need to Remember:

The 5 Questions That Might Trip You Up!

5 Reasons Why You Even Consider Software Testing Contracting as a Career

1. High Demand for Work

2. Challenging Work to Keep You Interested

3. Constant Learning - Fast Moving

4. Rewarding

5. Strong Community

Other Benefits of Software Testing Contracting

Key Phases Involved in Agile Methodology

So What Exactly is an Agile Sprint?

What Does the Agile Scrum Refer To?

So what is Agile Design?

The Importance of the Agile Tester Extension