Quality assurance managers work with other staff to establish procedures and quality standards and to monitor these against agreed targets. Show
What does a quality assurance manager do? Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills The exact duties of a quality assurance manager vary from industry to industry. However, typical responsibilities of the job include:
Typical employers of quality assurance managers
Opportunities are advertised online, by careers services and on websites such as Quality Jobs (the jobs website of the Chartered Quality Institute) and New Scientist Jobs. Some larger employers operate graduate training schemes in quality assurance; early applications for these are advisable.
Qualifications and training requiredAlthough a degree or higher national diploma (HND) in any subject may be acceptable for entry into the profession, you might find that an employer expects candidates to have studied a subject relevant to the industry in which they operate. This might include materials science/technology, food science/technology, textile technology, polymer science/technology, process engineering, production engineering, physics or mathematics. Some employers will look favourably on business studies/management qualifications, too. For some positions, a postgraduate qualification or a technical degree background is necessary. You can read our article on engineering postgraduate study to explore your options. While qualifications are useful, you may be able to move into this career after spending time working for an employer in other areas – such as health and safety or quality control. Relevant work experience is highly desirable and may be gained via final-year project work, work shadowing, degree sponsorship, vacation work or industrial placements. Take a look at our list of engineering employers who offer industrial placements and summer internships . Membership with the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) can help to show your commitment to your field and will provide opportunities for continuing professional development (CPD), as well as networking events. Key skills for quality assurance managers
Read our article on the skills engineering employers look for for more information and then find out how you can prove you possess these competencies at engineering assessment centres . Next: search graduate jobs and internships
Quality assurance (QA) analysts are responsible for the final step in the development of a game, website or any software product before it is released to the public.
What does a QA analyst do? Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills Quality assurance analysts – also known as localisation analysts and test analysts – test programs, games and any software to make sure they are reliable, fully functional and user-friendly before they are released to the public. They use a test plan to inspect thousands of lines of code to make sure they are entirely error-free. They look for flaws and weaknesses in the program, such as an unappealing interface, and report back to the developers on their findings. They may also fix any system problems or glitches and make suggestions for how to make a software program work better. They must also ensure that the software is right for the market in which it will be released, is translated into the local language and is culturally compatible. Typical duties include:
Typical employers of QA analysts
Jobs are advertised online, by careers services and by recruitment agencies.
Qualifications and training requiredTo start your career as a QA analyst, it is likely that you will need a degree. Employers tend to prefer their junior QA analysts to have a bachelors degree in an IT-related subject. Key skills for working as a QA analyst
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