The Invasion of the Bodyshoppers – Part II

Here is a list of ideas on overcoming the influence of the bodyshoppers

• Understand your commitments and ethics – usually bodyshoppers pimp out their *testers* for the sake of profit not skill
• Look at the reputation of the tester – I mean the real reputation. Look beyond what some so called bodyshop test practice manager thinks. A real reputation means how the tester is viewed by the community and fellow testers
• Following on from that, what contribution does the tester make to the testing community? Do they blog or do they attend events? On a smaller (but just as important) scale, do they mentor fellow testers?
• Don’t feel the need to conform to *standards* – ISTQB, ITIL – whatever – most organisations ask for them but don’t really do anything with them making these standards irrelevant. The best standard is your own skill and reputation
• Confront the bodyshop consultant that begins to use terms such as best practice – there is no such thing! The bodyshop is spews best practice to make like they have the *answer*. Our job as real testers is to challenge such nonsense
• Bodyshops will say that they support the industry but sponsor nothing events that generate – nothing.  Look for events that are actually worthwhile (KWST in New Zealand or CAST or Rapid Software Intensive in the US for example)
• Challenge those that see testing as a set process to follow – i.e. join the dots testing – that is the worst kind and must be fought vigorously!
• If in a bodyshop, leave when you can – come to the light
• Resist joining the bodyshoppers – consider going out on your own

These are some ideas for now – what other ideas do you have that can help overcome the bodyshoppers?

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