“Not My First Choice”: Why Software Testing Struggles to Attract Early-Career Professionals

This study investigates why software testing remains a less attractive career path for new graduates and early-career professionals despite its key role in preserving software quality. A qualitative thematic analysis of 615 online forum discussions is conducted to uncover structural, cultural and individual barriers that underpin negative perceptions associated with the role. We ground our findings in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework and highlight how software testers shoulder demands pertaining to tight timelines, emotional labor, and automation- and AI-related threats without access to adequate resources such as job autonomy, career pathways and recognition. The study contributes to IS literature by examining a critical but often overlooked profession, and develops a foundation for organizations to address this structural imbalance to enhance both testers’ well-being and software quality. Notably, our findings and proposed interventions are aimed to reverse the undervaluation of software testers and promote a more equitable and inclusive IT workforce.