If a software or application creator is developing a program intended for consumer or professional use, software testers play an important role in the development process. The tester is usually part of an engineering or quality assurance Quality Control department. The tester receives software development at different stages of completion, and then puts the program through various tests, logging the software's responses. One of the most important elements of testing is documenting the procedures used in software testing. Documentation is particularly important because it's often crucial in helping software engineers identify coding issues. Another important aspect of a testing process is identifying repeated crashes and bugs within the program.
Testers can use scripted testing scenarios or conduct more stress tests that are freeform and generally work with software at every stage of development. They may also give feedback to users and provide reports on excessive interface clutter and non-responsive user interface systems and other issues, like tools that do not show or display menus which trigger excessive clicks. Although many software companies have dedicated testers for user interfaces who give feedback to users early on, feedback from software testers seeking out programming mistakes and crashes can assist in smoothing the process of development.
The majority of software testers are looking for jobs in the area that deals with software development. This is usually a position at beginning-level, but it may still require programming skills and certifications in programming. Many software engineers have found feedback from testers who know the development process to be particularly helpful Testers who have certifications and expertise in this field are sought-after within the software industry.