What is the difference between Contract Testing vs Software Tester?

Career: Contract Testing

AspectContract TestingSoftware Tester
Primary FocusVerifies interactions between services or components based on predefined contractsEnsures overall software quality through manual or automated testing of functionalities
Skills & CertificationsKnowledge of API testing, contract frameworks, possibly some automation toolsTesting methodologies, scripting, automation, certifications like ISTQB
Work EnvironmentOften in Agile teams, working closely with developers and QACan vary from manual testing to automation, in various development environments

Contract Testing specializes in validating interactions between services based on contracts, while Software Testers focus on overall software quality through various testing methods. Both roles require testing skills but differ in scope and focus.