Getting started in the tech world can feel like a daunting task. How do you know where to start?! There are so many brilliant resources out there to help you learn, explore and connect with the many areas of tech that exist today. In this blog, I’m going to share my ‘Hitchhikers Guide’ to tech and testing, showcasing some of my favourite podcasts, newsletters and other resources to help you explore the tech universe.

I have read, listened to or personally been involved with everything I have listed below. All resources are free to access and all thoughts are my own!

Podcasts

Podcasts can be a great way to learn on the go, and are especially great if you aren’t the biggest fan of reading! Here are my top three podcast recommendations:

Testing Peers is a podcast hosted by Chris, David, Russell and Simon who are all experienced testers. In their podcast, they discuss all things testing and leadership, including advice on skills testers should learn, collaboration and teamworking, the benefits of conferences, and how to switch off outside of work. I love this podcast and the insights the hosts give into the sometimes mystical world of software testing. They regularly have guests join them, and have a fun and charismatic energy which I thoroughly enjoy! This may be the podcast for you if you want to learn more about software testing, or if you’re looking to strengthen your tech leadership skills.

Women in STEM Career and Confidence is hosted by Dr Hannah Roberts, who is both a scientist and a coach. In her podcast, she interviews women from all sorts of STEM (Science, Engineering, technology and Mathematics) backgrounds to find out more about their careers, advice they’d give to anyone looking to get into STEM, and about how they overcame the challenges that many women face in this sector. Hannah’s podcast fills me with hope, and I’m in awe of all of her incredible guests and the stories they tell. This is a great podcast if you are looking for role models to look up to, or finding out more about STEM careers.

Women Tech Charge is hosted by Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon, who is a huge inspiration to many women and POC working in the tech world. In this series, Anne-Marie speaks to a variety of people about tech and it’s impacts. From CEOs and entrepreneurs to musicians and mathematicians, every guest has a unique perspective on how tech impacts their lives. This podcast has opened up my eyes to so many new ways that tech can be used and applied, and is a constant source of inspiration for me. I’d recommend this podcast to anyone who feels like tech isn’t for them or applicable to them, or to anyone needing to rediscover their spark or passion for technology.

Newsletters

There are a huge number of regular email newsletters that you can subscribe to in order to get a bite-sized dose of information. I subscribe to a few newsletters to help me keep my technical knowledge up to date, and to find out about other work going on in the tech world. Three of my favourite newsletters are:

TLDR is a daily newsletter containing a concise round up of all things tech: from big tech news and new products, to scientific research projects and GitHub repos you might find useful. All items in the newsletter come with a read time so you can pick and choose what content you delve in to based on the time you have! It’s very easy to read, and great for any tech novices or experts out there.

Software Testing Weekly is a newsletter by Dawid Dylowicz. Every week, this newsletter covers news and blogs from all areas of software testing including automation, tools and videos that discuss a wide range of content. If you’re interested in software testing, or work with any testers, this is a great way to take a deeper dive into some testing concepts and find even more blogs and resources to help you on your technical journey.

Tech Ladies has a brilliant newsletter aimed at women and non-binary people who are interested in tech. Their newsletter includes a bunch of resources, as well as invitations to tech events and webinars to help boost your skills and grow your network. If you are looking for a new career in tech, this newsletter also includes job postings! This is a great place for women and non-binary people to connect with others, and engage with the tech community.

Blogs and Vlogs

Believe it or not, I’m not the only person out there with a tech themed blog! I’ve taken inspiration from many blogs that I’ve followed over the years when creating She Codes the Cosmos. Three of my favourite blogs are:

Badass Engineers is a video series presented by Shrouk El-Attar where she interviews incredible people working in technology, science and engineering about their work and careers. Shrouk’s content is accessible to people with no tech experience all the way up to experienced professionals. This series is shared online through the website, Instagram and LinkedIn. Shrouk also has a series called ShroukieTronix where she demystifies the world of electronics and hardware though short video tutorials on a range of topics, including 3D printing and timers!

Test and Analysis is a blog by Mike Harris focussing on testing and quality. I think Mike’s blog posts are very engaging, and they pull on his extensive knowledge from his career in software testing. This blog is more technical than some of the other resources I’ve mentioned, and is great if you want to push yourself technically and stay at the forefront of any software testing discussions. Personally, I’ve found Mike’s blog to be incredibly useful and helpful in my career as his posts always leave me feeling curious and with a lot of food for thought!

The Tester’s Tales is a blog by Beth Marshall, and what I love about this blog is the way Beth explains concepts and ideas. Many of her posts are told like a story, where she works through a problem and explains her thinking in a tutorial-type way. She also posts less-technical content, including a post I enjoyed about buying gifts for software testers! She also posts great career advice on topics such as professional memberships, and overall this is a great blog for anyone working in software!

Communities

Finding a community is the key to thriving in the tech world. From Technical Specialism groups to Diversity in Tech Networks, there is something out there for everyone. Joining a community can help you find a mentor, learn new skills and connect with like-minded people. Some communities are free to get involved with, and others require you join as a member – but there are usually discounts for groups like students, and often employers will cover the fee of joining one of these professional networks. Here are two communities that I’m a part of that I would recommend to others:

The British Computing Society (BCS) are a charity with over 60,000 members in 150 countries, who are all committed to ensuring that everyone’s experience of technology is positive. As well as having a regular newsletter and active social media accounts, members of BCS get access to join specific communities or Special Interest Groups related to their interests. Two examples of group’s I’m involved with are BCSWomen and the Special Interest Group in Software Testing (SIGiST): both of these groups organise brilliant events to engage with their members and build a real sense of community. Both myself and my mentor Nicola are involved with these groups, and I personally have learned a lot from the people I’ve met in these forums.

The WISE Young Professionals’ Board (WYPB) is a voluntary Board of 12 people working in STEM careers across the UK who are passionate about improving the gender balance in the STEM workforce and inspiring the next generation. The WYPB have a quarterly newsletter which includes a variety of volunteering opportunities, including getting involved in their annual competition, speaking at events and at schools, or supporting book publishers looking for inspiration for a children’s book series! Everyone is welcome to get involved with the WYPB’s projects.

. . . and finally, a book!

My first finished book of 2023 was She’s In CTRL by Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon, and I couldn’t not include it in this post – I LOVED it! This book is a perfect gift for yourself or anyone in your life who has a curious mindset, and might find tech interesting. This book makes the benefits of technology accessible and understandable for everyone, and during a period of January blues, this book helps me rediscover my passion for tech and was actually the driving force for me taking the leap and starting this book. I owe a lot to Anne-Marie!

I hope you found this helpful! If you have any tech or testing resources that you would recommend, please leave them in the comments!