Top 8 Traits of a Great QA Tester

Choosing the right QA testers for any project can be a challenging and straining process.  Making the right decision might not be that obvious, especially if choosing from QA testers who might not yet have a proven track record of excelling in the QA processes, so you may wonder:  ”What makes a great QA tester?” In this article, we’ll take a look at 8 traits that could make a QA tester a great addition to your team. 

1. Attention to detail

Attention to detail is essential for QA testers. While most catch major issues like broken buttons, detail-oriented testers spot subtler problems, such as font mismatches or typos. These minor inconsistencies, though not critical, can impact user trust and product quality.

Detail-focused QA engineers also excel in white-box testing, documentation reviews, and identifying requirement inconsistencies, catching bugs before they occur. For example, they might identify a broken link caused by a typo (“page-name.cm” instead of “page-name.com”) and suggest fixes, saving development time.

This trait benefits all projects, whether user-facing or internal. By addressing small issues, these testers enhance workflows, improve the user experience, and ensure higher product standards. Attention to detail isn’t just a helpful quality—it’s a cornerstone of effective QA.

2. Problem-solving skills

Problems are an inevitable part of the development process. Sooner or later, issues will arise. That’s why having skilled testers who excel at solving these problems can be highly beneficial. These testers often identify solutions faster than others and may suggest ways to address them when presenting an issue.

For example, if several new testers on the team repeatedly make the same type of mistake, problem-solving QA testers are often the first to propose a fitting solution. They suggest reworking the onboarding document if it lacks critical information.

Logical and analytical

Testers should think logically, asking themselves "why" or "how." They can make educated guesses that are often correct about how the issue presented to them occurred and what would be a suitable solution to address it. This skill is particularly useful when performing tasks such as root cause analysis.

Thinks outside the box

Testers with strong problem-solving skills not only develop solutions quickly and efficiently but also often propose unconventional approaches to resolving issues. When the team encounters a problem without an obvious solution, these testers are more likely to offer innovative suggestions that may seem ordinary to them due to their unique way of thinking. Having someone who thinks outside the box can be a significant asset to any team, particularly when addressing complex challenges.

3. Enthusiastic approach

Testers who are enthusiastic about their work are a valuable asset to any team. Their willingness to contribute often leads to actions that benefit the project. Enthusiastic testers tend to be more motivated, and their energy can be contagious, inspiring the entire team to invest more in the quality of the product. After all, few things are as motivating as seeing someone in the same boat genuinely enjoying what they do.

Takes initiative

Enthusiastic testers tend to take initiative. If they notice an issue, they don’t simply leave a comment and hope someone else resolves it. Instead, they actively ensure the issue is addressed. These testers schedule meetings, initiate discussions, present solutions, and take an active role in maintaining quality. Such QA testers often excel in leadership roles, as these positions require proactive action to support the team. However, having an entire team of enthusiastic workers is always beneficial.

Strives for improvements

Most QA testers notice inefficiencies or issues in the work process, but enthusiastic testers actively take steps to address them. They go beyond merely identifying problems, proactively informing the team, and working to implement improvements. A few such QA engineers can significantly enhance processes, reducing development time and speeding up bug resolution.

For instance, while some testers might note a lack of test coverage and move on, enthusiastic testers take action. They relay the issue to their team, present it to the lead or relevant stakeholders, explain its potential impact on the product, and propose solutions to address it and prevent recurrence. These efforts boost production efficiency and increase the product’s chances of success.

You may be interested in: How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome as a QA Engineer.

4. Learning mindset

In the IT industry, a key trait is the willingness to advance themselves, and this holds for QA testers as well. The industry evolves rapidly, with testing processes and tools often changing within just a few years. Staying up to date is crucial. By continuously learning, testers can improve their skills, adopt new techniques, and enhance project quality. Learning new tools also boosts testing efficiency, benefiting the entire team. At TestDevLab, we highly value this willingness to learn and are committed to ongoing improvement through courses at TDL School.

5. Communication skills

People in the IT industry are often not the most sociable, which makes QA testers with strong communication skills even more valuable. Testers frequently need to communicate with individuals in various roles, requiring them to adjust their language depending on the audience. They might use technical jargon when speaking to developers, provide general progress updates to other team members, and minimize technical details when talking to stakeholders or higher-ups.

QA engineers also spend a significant amount of time creating reports, status updates, and documentation. As a result, the ability to organize and present information is crucial, making excellent communication skills essential for the role.

Works in a team

Effective communication skills can significantly enhance teamwork. Testers who express their intentions help reduce misunderstandings, saving time spent on resolving them. Additionally, QA testers with strong communication abilities are less likely to say things that could upset others. While occasional miscommunications or poorly phrased statements may cause tension, QA professionals with excellent communication skills can greatly reduce the likelihood of such issues.

Communicates issues effectively

Another significant part of a tester's job is to report errors, issues, or areas in the product that could be improved. Problems often arise because people are generally not fans of having their work questioned or evaluated. As a result, what is intended as objective observations and suggestions can sometimes be taken personally, leading to sharp interactions among team members.

While this can happen to anyone, it is often the QA professionals who raise these issues, which might cause the team to view them negatively. This is where soft skills become invaluable. QA testers with excellent soft skills and communication abilities can diffuse tense situations by reminding the team that everyone is working towards the same goal: producing the best product possible.

Moreover, effective communication skills can help prevent such situations altogether. By carefully framing messages and reports to focus on the product's issues rather than on individuals, QA professionals can foster a more collaborative and constructive environment.

You may be interested in: How to Onboard QA Engineers to Your Project.

6. Flexibility

The role of a QA engineer often involves being pulled in multiple directions simultaneously, requiring them to juggle various tasks in quick succession while communicating with many different people. The ability to adapt quickly to these changes is an invaluable skill.

For example, QA engineers are frequently assigned multiple tasks at once. They must switch between them at a moment’s notice. While managing this constant switching, they are also responsible for creating instructions and documentation for the tasks they are working on. Additionally, they need to assist team members by confirming reported bugs, answering questions about previously completed tasks, creating reports, attending meetings, and communicating with individuals who have varying levels of technical expertise. This requires them to adapt their use of technical terminology accordingly.

Although this workload can be challenging, it is often unavoidable, as it reflects the nature of QA work. In such situations, being flexible and capable of adapting quickly is essential.

7. Time management

Time management is one of the most important skills for any QA professional, as the role often involves estimating how long it will take to test, write, run, or complete tasks. Time constraints are an integral part of any product development cycle, making it essential to accurately estimate task durations and adhere to set deadlines.

Strong time management skills help the QA engineers identify tasks that require more time and choose the best approach based on the remaining time available. In testing, it's common for not everything to be completed as planned, so knowing where to make sacrifices is a crucial aspect of the role. Testers with strong time management skills are better equipped to prioritize their attention, especially when dealing with time-sensitive matters.

8. Patience

The work of a QA tester can often be challenging. I've lost count of how many times I've submitted bug reports or raised critical issues that could cause future problems, only to see them set aside, de-prioritized, or removed from the scope entirely—only to become major issues later on.

When situations like these arise, management understandably wants to know how the issue was missed and why it wasn’t addressed earlier. This is where patience becomes invaluable. Placing blame by saying, "I brought this up long ago, but the team never fixed it," won’t help the project. Instead, patiently and calmly explaining that the issue was flagged but not resolved—and that these things sometimes happen—is a much more constructive approach.

This is just one of many scenarios that QA testers encounter in their daily work. Schedule changes, scope adjustments mid-testing, budget cuts, time constraints, unexpected errors, and other challenges frequently arise. In all of these situations, patience proves to be an indispensable trait.

Final thoughts

These are just a few of the many traits that play a crucial role in the daily life of QA testers and distinguish good testers from truly great ones.

It’s important to remember that QA engineers are human, and perfection is an unrealistic expectation. Finding a tester who possesses every one of these traits can be extremely challenging. However, a lack of certain traits does not mean a tester is ineffective or incapable. On the contrary, they may excel in other areas that compensate for any gaps, allowing them to still contribute meaningfully to the team and its objectives.

Additionally, many of these traits are not static. With time and experience, testers often develop and refine their skills, evolving into more competent and versatile professionals. Recognizing this growth potential is key to fostering a supportive and productive QA environment.

Ready to outperform your competitors? Reach out to learn how our expert team of ISTQB-certified engineers can help you elevate your QA strategy.