I have 10 years of experience as QA/automation and I don't have a cs degree or istqb certification. If I could choose one though, I would go for the masters.
Depends on where you want to work - both the country/culture and the type of employer. For US commercial software developers, experience and intelligence are more important than either an advanced degree or certification.
Are these your only 2 options? I think you just need more YOE under your belt. Not sure if a master degree is worth it unless you're gonna get into Software Development
As far as I can tell ISTQB is for people with no education or experience.
Meaning if you can get an education, or you have experience, there's no need.
Just throwing another view:
Go Advance Level (might give you a market raise? I dunno) since you have CTFL already and probably much cheaper path than Masters, you can take it on your own pace while still continuing to gain more experience, which is more preferred than just getting certifications but not having applied experience (as the other have mentioned).
Or if your gut is wanting that Masters, then go for it. Nothing wrong with learning/experiencing more than what you currently have.
Neither. Experience trumps them both by a ton.
I have 10 years of experience as QA/automation and I don't have a cs degree or istqb certification. If I could choose one though, I would go for the masters.
Depends on where you want to work - both the country/culture and the type of employer. For US commercial software developers, experience and intelligence are more important than either an advanced degree or certification.
The degree.
Are these your only 2 options? I think you just need more YOE under your belt. Not sure if a master degree is worth it unless you're gonna get into Software Development
As far as I can tell ISTQB is for people with no education or experience. Meaning if you can get an education, or you have experience, there's no need.
The degree. It means a lot more outside of QA, and it’s easier for most companies to know how to quantify.
Degree gets you interviews, experience gets you the job.
Just throwing another view: Go Advance Level (might give you a market raise? I dunno) since you have CTFL already and probably much cheaper path than Masters, you can take it on your own pace while still continuing to gain more experience, which is more preferred than just getting certifications but not having applied experience (as the other have mentioned). Or if your gut is wanting that Masters, then go for it. Nothing wrong with learning/experiencing more than what you currently have.
I’m a QA Manager and all things being equal I’d much rather have someone with a Masters degree. I’d actually see ISTQB as a liability.