Software testing FAQ - No. 11

Has a software testing specialist ever been fired on "The Apprentice" ?

That question was sent in by Charles Kennedy. It is not surprising that Charles should be interested in people who are fired. My great uncle Bert claims he was fired out of a cannon to celebrate the Festival of Britain. I expect that, what with the crowds cheering and everything, this must be very similar to being fired on The Apprentice.
Now Charles, there has never been a software testing specialist fired from The Apprentice. I have checked the titles that the contestants give themselves in both the American version, with the masterfully coiffured Donald Trump, and the UK version with Alan Sugar, who is rightly not famous for any aspect of his hair. Not one made any mention of software testing or even business process testing in their job title. There was an IT consultant who was fired but he was a hopeful political candidate rather than a serious specialist in software testing. Getting used to being fired is a valuable skill for any wannabe politician. Some say he seemed a little too eager to gain this experience by putting in a deliberately poor performance.
So even though the answer is no, I am not suggesting that were a software testing specialist to appear on the show that they would win. Imagine Glenford Myers selling either overripe fruit in Hackney or a calendar of kittens at Harrods. Not only would Mr Myers probably not win, it would probably not be gripping entertainment either. Unlike The Art of Software Testing, though, which is still viewed, even today, as the Norman Wisdom of testing tomes.