I got let go from my QA position recently and decided to pick up test automation skills to boost my job chances. I already had some Java background so I dove into Selenium WebDriver, TestNG, and Maven basics.
Now I’m ready to build my first practice project but I’m stuck on the approach. I want to learn CI/CD workflows too, so I pushed my Eclipse project to GitHub and tried setting up automated runs. However, tests that work perfectly on my machine are failing in the GitHub Actions environment.
I’m running into issues like:
- Need to set up temporary folders for browser data
- Must use headless browser mode
- Have to wrap all element locators with explicit waits
- Various environment configuration problems
Since I need to learn automation quickly for job hunting, I’m wondering if I should focus on getting comfortable with local test development first, then tackle the CI/CD integration later. Or should I push through these deployment challenges now?
What would be the better learning path for someone trying to get job-ready fast?
Honestly? Skip the CI/CD stuff for now - it’s slowing you down. Build 4-5 solid test scenarios locally first. Get comfortable with different locators and handling dynamic content, then worry about pipelines. Those environment issues you’re hitting are annoying but totally normal. Every team deals with headless configs and wait strategies, so you’ll need to learn it eventually anyway.
I went through the same thing, so here’s what worked for me: do both at once, but change how you think about it. Those GitHub Actions problems aren’t roadblocks - they’re teaching you automation skills that companies actually want. The headless browser configs and explicit waits you’re fighting with? That’s exactly how tests run at real companies. Most places I’ve worked expect automation engineers to know why tests act differently across environments right from the start. I built a simple local test suite first, then immediately pushed it to CI/CD and fixed the failures one by one. Each fix taught me something important about writing solid tests. Those temporary folder and environment config issues you’re hitting? They come up in interviews all the time. Since you’re job hunting, having a GitHub repo with working CI/CD pipelines shows practical skills that set you apart from people who only know local development. The debugging you’re doing now is valuable experience that’ll help you nail technical interviews.
Been there when I started with automation. Focus on local development for 2-3 weeks first. Here’s why: when you’re learning Selenium basics, CI/CD problems just add noise. You can’t tell if issues come from your code or the deployment setup. I wasted tons of time debugging GitHub Actions yaml files instead of actually learning WebDriver. Get good with page object patterns, element selection, and test data management locally first. Once your tests work reliably and you know why, moving to CI/CD is way easier. You’ll spot the difference between real test failures and setup problems. The debugging skills you build locally work in production too. Most hiring managers want to see clean, maintainable test code - not fancy pipeline configs. Add CI/CD later when you’ve got solid test foundations. It’ll go much smoother.
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