Why QA is accessible
The work is self-contained, measurable, and does not require years of prior experience. A portfolio of well-written bug reports is a legitimate application.
The pay ceiling
Manual testing plateaus quickly. Automation roughly doubles the range. Learn one framework properly rather than three superficially.
What a good bug report shows
Steps to reproduce, expected versus actual, environment, and severity judgement. Ten of these, publicly filed on an open-source project, is a working portfolio.
Common questions
Can I get a QA job with no experience?
It is one of the more realistic entry points, especially with a portfolio of well-written bug reports.
Should I learn test automation?
Yes, if you want the pay to progress. Manual-only roles plateau quickly.