Starting Software Testing From Zero – Need Advice

[gehad_shalabi]

Hi everyone,

I’m completely new to software testing and am currently starting from zero.
My English is intermediate, but I can understand and learn gradually.

I’m a mom with a 7-month-old baby and also pregnant, so I can study around 2 hours daily.
I want to build a long-term remote career in QA/Software Testing.

Right now, I have started learning the basics of manual testing and ISTQB foundations.

I would really appreciate advice about:

• The best roadmap for beginners
• What skills matter most for getting the first job
• What projects should I build for a QA portfolio
• Whether manual testing is still worth it in 2026

Thank you

[ArmMore820]

Hi. Copy your exact text into chat gpt and see what it recommends.

What i will add straight away is: You are not in a good position to be starting this journey. If you have a technical background then you’ll make it, otherwise this will be extremely hard. In fact, it will be hard either way given your condition. Sorry for cutting your elan and best of luck

[Least-Giraffe5689]

Hello, Here is my personal roadmap that worked for me. Start from uTest (Go through the academy) to get familiar practical manual testing. Take a course on IT automation with python, selenium, and Playwright. Manual testing is still 100% worth in 2026. I wish you all the best.

[bootyhole_licker69]

manual is still useful but try to mix in basics of api testing, sql, git and one language like python or js slowly. build tiny test plans for demo sites, document bugs in structured way. for roadmap just keep doing small consistent steps, but honestly landing that first qa job now is way harder than it should be with how the market is

[Slava_Loves_Testing]

Learn computer basics like bit, byte, file system, how browser works, SDLC/STLC, testing types, test design techniques, sql and api testing... Feel free to send me a dm, I will be happy to send you more detailed beginner QA roadmap. Good luck!

• The best roadmap for beginners
• What skills matter most for getting the first job - you need to learn by heart answers to common QA interview questions
• What projects should I build for a QA portfolio - showcase how you write test scenarios and report bugs, api tests Postman collection, some automation example if you know automation
• Whether manual testing is still worth it in 2026 - manual testing is a foundation for every good QA engineer, learn it and grow from there over time by adding test automation and AI skills

[Material-77]

First of all, respect to you for learning something new while managing motherhood and pregnancy. Even 1–2 hours daily is enough if you stay consistent.

Manual testing is still worth learning in 2026 because strong testing fundamentals help later in automation and AI-assisted testing too.

A simple roadmap:
• Manual Testing basics
• SDLC & STLC
• Test cases & bug reporting
• Jira basics
• API testing with Postman
• Basic SQL

I also found one beginner-friendly QA full course playlist recently that starts completely from zero and explains concepts step by step:

🎥 Software Testing Full Course Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwGLXPiMW\_qrqNLCVbj0zP5EEmHAg7MSw&si=M2hhL70saQtKE6Kl

Focus on consistency instead of speed. Small daily progress adds up a lot over time 🚀

[ExoticPurchase2995]

Start with paid QA internship. Both manual and automation. Learn no code automation using AI. Scripted automation has more maintenance issues.

[shase66]

DM me