To connect our Tribal Qonf Speakers and Audience better, we interviewed our speakers over a few important questions. The conversations we had were just amazing.
In this edition, we are publishing the Interview we did with Ramit Manohar Kaul ( Hands/Hasta at testAIing.com). Ramit answered many interesting questions and we are sure you will enjoy the read.
Geosley: Where according to you Testing in India is heading?
Ramit: The answer to this question is not easy. As far as testing is concerned, we can be definite about only one possibility. Automation. Whether someone likes it or not, automation is the key to the future. It will be difficult to survive without automation skills. However, this message doesn’t mean that we will ONLY need functional automation. Having the knowledge of automation, and not tools, means you know how languages, their dictionaries, and their usage works in your day to day work.
I train a lot of testers and can safely divide Indian testers into two categories. One who acts like an ostrich and feels everything is good around them. Their jobs are safe and they have learned what they need to survive. Sadly, so far, the majority fall in this category. This year should be a wake-up call for them. Others, very few, know that they need to learn new things. Sadly, most of them have fallen in the trap of learning tools.
Ramit: The answer to this question is not easy. As far as testing is concerned, we can be definite about only one possibility. Automation. Whether someone likes it or not, automation is the key to the future. It will be difficult to survive without automation skills. However, this message doesn’t mean that we will ONLY need functional automation. Having the knowledge of automation, and not tools, means you know how languages, their dictionaries, and their usage works in your day to day work.
I train a lot of testers and can safely divide Indian testers into two categories. One who acts like an ostrich and feels everything is good around them. Their jobs are safe and they have learned what they need to survive. Sadly, so far, the majority fall in this category. This year should be a wake-up call for them. Others, very few, know that they need to learn new things. Sadly, most of them have fallen in the trap of learning tools.
Geosley: What or who has been the greatest influence in your professional life?
Ramit: In one of the Hindu scriptures I was reading some years back, I found that in order to succeed, we need three things to be in the right balance in our lives. Sthan, Kaal, Patra which means meeting the right people at the right time in the right place. God has been very kind and generous on me and I have always found these three in abundance. Since this forum is about testing, I will stick to the testing world. To start with, one of the greatest influencers in my life is Vipul Kocher, being my friend and guide. Rahul Verma and Pradeep Soundararajan for accepting me as a friend. Karundeep Gill for removing the fear in me. Satish Kant Thakur for teaching me things beyond imagination.
Ramit: In one of the Hindu scriptures I was reading some years back, I found that in order to succeed, we need three things to be in the right balance in our lives. Sthan, Kaal, Patra which means meeting the right people at the right time in the right place. God has been very kind and generous on me and I have always found these three in abundance. Since this forum is about testing, I will stick to the testing world. To start with, one of the greatest influencers in my life is Vipul Kocher, being my friend and guide. Rahul Verma and Pradeep Soundararajan for accepting me as a friend. Karundeep Gill for removing the fear in me. Satish Kant Thakur for teaching me things beyond imagination.
Geosley: How are you practicing your skills during COVID-19?
Ramit: Being a practicing tester associated with multiple projects, I really never needed to think about practice. I am working on a very challenging project right now and need to learn a lot of new things. Covid-19 has no impact on it.
Ramit: Being a practicing tester associated with multiple projects, I really never needed to think about practice. I am working on a very challenging project right now and need to learn a lot of new things. Covid-19 has no impact on it.
Geosley: Could you share your experience being on the Technical advisory group of the Indian Testing Board?
Ramit: I was mostly involved with the content and syllabus review of ISTQB. The content was from different organizations that wanted to be training partners. Looking and reviewing such work helps you in understanding different perspectives as you see how the world perceives the information given in the syllabus.
The real fun is reviewing the syllabus as it needs one to go in-depth and do deep dive into the area. Because of this, I can safely say that my knowledge today around test design techniques is a little better than the average knowledge my fellow testers have. I am not saying that I know everything, which in any way, is not possible. I am trying to say that because I was the reviewer of the few things, I had to read a lot about these topics and over a period of time, I kept accumulating knowledge in that area and that greatly helped me shape as a tester.
Ramit: I was mostly involved with the content and syllabus review of ISTQB. The content was from different organizations that wanted to be training partners. Looking and reviewing such work helps you in understanding different perspectives as you see how the world perceives the information given in the syllabus.
The real fun is reviewing the syllabus as it needs one to go in-depth and do deep dive into the area. Because of this, I can safely say that my knowledge today around test design techniques is a little better than the average knowledge my fellow testers have. I am not saying that I know everything, which in any way, is not possible. I am trying to say that because I was the reviewer of the few things, I had to read a lot about these topics and over a period of time, I kept accumulating knowledge in that area and that greatly helped me shape as a tester.
Geosley: What’s your learning from training testers on ISTQB certifications?
Ramit: I have learned less about testing, more about humans. Humans are simple. We have unnecessarily complicated our lives. I see most of us confuse and don’t know why we are doing things. My learning is that do what makes you happy. One classic example is Mahesh Chikane. When almost everybody would have thought of what we can do to the testing community, look at what Mahesh has achieved in so little time. As the famous saying goes,
Ramit: I have learned less about testing, more about humans. Humans are simple. We have unnecessarily complicated our lives. I see most of us confuse and don’t know why we are doing things. My learning is that do what makes you happy. One classic example is Mahesh Chikane. When almost everybody would have thought of what we can do to the testing community, look at what Mahesh has achieved in so little time. As the famous saying goes,
Please do what you like otherwise you will be forced to like what you do.
Geosley: How will your talk motivate the attendees and one lesson they will carry at the Tribal Qonf?
Ramit: I don’t know. I will try to ignite their minds. Motivation and learning are very personal things and I do not want participants to get biased. I can assure only one thing, my session will not be Boring.
Ramit: I don’t know. I will try to ignite their minds. Motivation and learning are very personal things and I do not want participants to get biased. I can assure only one thing, my session will not be Boring.
We thank Ramit for his time and energy to do this amazing interview. Stay tuned to hear from more Speakers. Register to Tribal Qonf happening 27-28 June 2020 here.
