# Myths and Facts about a Career in Software Testing: A Comparison between Students' Beliefs and Professionals' Experience

**Authors:** Ronnie de Souza Santos, Luiz Fernando Capretz, Cleyton Magalhaes, Rodrigo Souza  
**arXiv:** [2311.06201](https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.06201)  
**Date:** 2023-11-10  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/2311.06201v1/

## Key points

- Testing is crucial for software development but often seen as an unpopular career choice among students in computer science and related fields.
- There could be a shortage of testers in the future due to this perception.
- The study aims to compare students' perception of software testing with professionals' actual experience in the industry.
- The authors argue that a career in software testing can be exciting and rewarding contrary to popular belief.
- Collaboration between academia and the software industry is important to address this issue and ensure a workforce focused on high-quality software.
- Both entities should work together to educate students about the significance of software testing in development.
- The study was published in IEEE Software Volume 40, Issue 5, September/October 2023.

## Summary

In their study "Myths and Facts about a Career in Software Testing: A Comparison between Students' Beliefs and Professionals' Experience," authors Ronnie de Souza Santos, Luiz Fernando Capretz, Cleyton Magalhaes, and Rodrigo Souza examine how undergraduate students view software testing as a potential career. They note that while testing is crucial for software development, it is often seen as an unpopular choice among students in computer science and related fields. This could lead to a shortage of testers in the future. The investigation aims to determine if students' perception of software testing aligns with professionals' actual experience in the industry. The authors argue that a career in software testing can be exciting and rewarding contrary to popular belief. To address this issue and ensure a workforce focused on high-quality software, they stress the importance of collaboration between academia and the software industry. They suggest that both entities should work together to educate students about the significance of software testing in development. This study was published in IEEE Software Volume 40, Issue 5, September/October 2023. The findings offer valuable insights into bridging the gap between student perceptions and professional experiences regarding careers in software testing.