About myself, I came to USA 15 years ago on DV lottery. Since then I have been working on gas stations and restaurants for minimum wage. I am sick and tired of these jobs now. I am thinking about changing my career and seriously looking at QA Testing. I donot have any background on IT, but I do know about computers, I can build simple web page, do home networking, use MS words, PowerPoint, spreadsheet, solve basic computer problems etc. 
i am thinking about starting with Manual Testing. How difficult is it to learn manual testing? How much time it will take for me to learn this skill and be job ready?  Please keep in mind that I have no it background, I will have to start from the very basic. 
What is the best way to start this career? Should I go for online classes. Are there any books I can buy and go thru to get my feet wet?
please suggest the best approach.
Thanks, any help is greatly appreciated.

Don't know anything about QA Testing, but I have heard it isn't too hard. Came here to say Kudos and Good luck on your aspirations, Don't give up.

if you haven't used up your pell grant why not go to school for something like nursing etc, even take out some loans if you have to..IT jobs aren't bad but i don't know about being on bench and not having a stable income.. i maybe wrong tho.

 Thanks kiddo. I am fully dedicated to do this, just need ill help from fellow sajha members who are on it field.

Very few people realize how we have passed our time being unproductive ( including me) . My own relative with BE in computer science has been in Indians gas station since 2002. I told him that  within 2-3 years if you are going to grab a job in your field or join college you will end up in the same job for years and years. My prediction was based on my own experience, which came true.

Which city you are in? I may join too.( I have been contacting various Indian IT at NewJersey , they are asking 500-1500 for the training, someone suggested for QA, others for SAP)

Gorkhe thanks, I am at KY,
I need to make sure that this thing is doable, since I do not have any IT background.
Any sajhaities with IT back ground please help your fellow Nepalese
Thanks

What are your qualifications brothers? I have people who could train you for $600 if you guys are eligible means either are Bachelors or Masters...session will be online. 
If you are legally allowed to work, then you can join in my Company also ( If requires H1B, I can refer you to other consulting company who can do marketing & put you to work but choices are yours). If you stay with me you put effort on marketing urself,  I will share you ideas on how to look for ( means you put extra effort as I stay busy most of the time)  & for support ( prepare urself unless we can ask the guy who trained you but you have to share your % may be 2 or 3 ).
Being with me here is the best part, we share 95 / 5 ( %).....Your 95% will be liable for any taxes to be paid for.. ...If you go for Desi Company they will say 90 / 10 & you will never know how much they pocket from you...me.. I can show you the invoice...actually I can be better option for those who could handle themselves but want to save some money staying off of Desi Consultancy.

Gud Luck !!
Sujhab

 

Best of luck

Any good suggestions guys

Where is your company Sujhab? Someon offered me 450 for online course. I am looking for a class.

 


Hey Gorkhe Bro,

 My Company physical address in in Cincinnati, Ohio. 
If someone is offering for $450, that's not  bad brother, ..online or in class it won't really matter ...the thing is you have to put urself for hours first few months..meant study hard.....u will get thru brother...
Back then use to be free with accomodation & evth..now a lot has changed...may be research some more..you might be able to find some...

Gud Luck Brotha!
Sujhab

 I think QA responsibilities varies from place to place. In some places, it might be as easy as coming up with scenarios, going through the website, making sure the new features pass the said scenarios etc...whereas in other places where they have automated testing, you might have to know automated testing tools such as Selenium and maybe some HTML, javascript and various web protocols and also maybe some build scripts and tools such as Gradle, Hudson etc...so you can automate testing from scratch by manipulating the database and use customized data...in some places where they use TDD you might even have to write unit tests in which case, you'd also have to know .NET, Java or other backend languages/frameworks, OOP, Dependency Injection etc...so, it all depends. Best of luck. 

Now I am thinking of SAS base programming. How is the job market?

 Let's do this guys, all brothers working in gas stations and indian business, there is no future. 
If we can study hard and put a couple hours a day for studies we can do it.  We need more suggestions from experts. I know there are lot of IT experts here in sajha. Please help.
please advise on the best way to get started in IT career. Also keep in mind that we are not young students. We are going thru midlife crisis. So suggestion should be based upon that.
thanks guys.
mohan

लामो समय भयो पुस्तक नछुएको : एका एक पुस्तक मात्र हैन दिनको ८-१० घण्टा एकाग्रता जुटाउन समय लाग्छ : दिमागले अध्यन लाइ अस्विकार गर्यो भने : एकाग्रता हुँदैन : निन्द्रा लाग्छ, Headache  ; एउटै हरफ पढेको पडै हुन् सक्छ | EDX.ORG हेर्नुस तेहा online  क्लास छन् , लिएर हेर्नुस बानि बसाउनुस .

 यो तलका स्याटहरुबाट फ्री कोर्स लिनुस र पहिला केहि सिक्नु | यो पैसा तिरेर भन्द| पहिला यो हेर्दा राम्रो होला|

www.coursera.org

https://www.udemy.com/

http://www.codecademy.com/

www.youtube.co

Sujhab how can I contact you??

 Mohanbaba
While you're at it, since you already have invested so much time. Why not your own gas station or a restaurant? There is difference between working for somebody and becoming your own boss, regardless of the work. Grass always seem greener on the other side. One day, you'll get tired of computer job too. Keep in mind, the market is tough these days and it is saturated with talents from overseas (thanks to globalization). Either you've to be extremely smart or lucky to climb up the ladder in the IT industry to make a "good" earning. The pay is not what it used to be, depending on where you are. Foreighn workers are getting cheaper and the base salary is getting smaller these days. Beware of Dei consultant, not every can be lucky. If not, going through the "right and honest" way is a long way up the hill and it will take time.
Good luck