On the virtues of not knowing [software testing]

One of the favorite slides in the software test course characterizes effective testers this way: "detail-oriented," "good with puzzles," "some programming background," "perpetual cynic," and so on. This can be applied to effective quality assurance analysts, too. We add one characteristic to the list: "may appear to be dumber than dirt." QA analysts and testers tend to know what they know and ask the question that needs asking. And they work hard to gain knowledge where they have gaps. The quality assurance and testing field truly requires life long learning. Many opportunities are available to analysts and testers who want to stay on top of industry developments or brush up on fundamentals.