INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, QA Manager positions are at a 22% growth rate, which is much faster than average. With that said, there are currently 1,847,900 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 409,500 to 2,257,400 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the QA Manager jobs was $110,140 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $65,210, and the highest 10% more than $170,100.
Our conclusion? The QA Manager job market is wide open for candidates.
Top QA manager sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Things to remember when writing your QA Manager experience section
QA manager experience section checklist:
- Keep it short: use no more than 4-6 bullet points per position;
- Go for short, easy-to-read sentences to keep recruiters engaged;
- Focus on relevant job experience that will enhance your application;
- Describe your experience using the C-A-R (challenge, action, result) methodology;
- Ditch buzzwords and go for power words instead.
To illustrate it more clearly, we’ve collected some of the best experience section examples from real QA Manager resumes. Check them out below!
- Partnered closely with 5 product managers, 12 engineers, and 1 designer to ensure 500+ features were well defined and testable
- Performed vendor selection, onboarded and managed external testing vendors to reach our goal of 62% automation of Vevo's iOS app
- Debugged A/B testing for Vevo.com redesign with Chrome Developer Tools
- Led and participated in planning / execution of QA across multiple phases to meet committed delivery dates for 50+ releases and 5 new products
- Effectively communicated QA status across 5 different departments, highlighting issues or conflicts between teams to stakeholders and management
- Built three teams from scratch: Product QA, Content QA, and Infrastructure Engineering. Mentored 2 individual contributors to become excellent managers of 3 ICs each; 1 engineer in code design and development principles.
- Improved communication between teams for releases resulting in lower stress for all parties and allowing for release readiness on Wednesdays after historically not being ready until Friday (for Saturday releases). Releases had fewer P1s despite an increase in code volume.
- Brought in as a consultant on every major project regarding writing clean and testable code; trained 75+ engineers to drive meaningful unit tests from <100 to >1000.
- Performed code and design reviews for multiple teams in Java, Perl, Scala, and JavaScript; through evangelism of unit testing, brought test coverage up from 0% to 20% overall, 60% for new projects.
- Increased interviewing output, leading to offers to 1 out of 2 screened candidates from pools of hundreds.
- Identified business opportunities & Provided thoughtful leadership for Testing pre-sales activities such as technical consulting and solutions, process definition etc.
- Effective Transformation from QA Cost Center to QA Revenue Center.
- Added Business Value by Transforming Dev Embedded QA Team to Independent Testing Services Team
- Successfully Changed Manual Test Team to Automation Test Team using tools like - Test Complete, SoapUI Pro, Selenium Web Driver, Appium
- Responsible to Document, implement, monitor & enforce QA Process and best practices for Quality and Timely Delivery across engagements
- Prepared, Reviewed, Maintain and updated QA Artifacts – Test Estimation and Efforts, Test Plan, Test Strategy, Test Scenarios, Test Cases, Test Result, Test Summary Report, Defect Report, Weekly Status Report, Traceability Matrix, RACI Matrix, Test Metrics and Release Notes
- Contributed towards 30% reduction in Xerox-wide travel and expense costs.
- Led 2 global T&E major platform upgrades and more than 100 operational system changes.
- Reduced production defects 30% by implementing new SQA processes that improved regression testing methods
- Successfully Engaged/Lead/delivered $20M Digital Experience Initiative Projects, on-time/on-budget by leading cross-functional teams utilizing Quality Assurance best practices which were measurable, repeatable and predictable
- While leading $3M QA Budget Improved development of 8 QA Agile Teams with cross-training including onshore/offshore, which increased productivity by 15% and reducing QA Estimates by 25%
- Developed multiple organizational-level strategy towards meeting Business goals and aligned staffing models and project priorities towards meeting 20+ Major/ 50+ Minor production releases in 2015
- Cost Savings and New Tech strategy - Ideated and prototyped Selenium (open source) as the UI automation tool for Ariba worldwide instead of the licensed tool.
- Quality Organization strength ramped up from 7 members to 25 members ( 2 managers ).
- Set up Ariba Upgrade Lab team (Dev, QA), Platform QA, Sourcing QA teams.
- Managed all QA activities across multiple streams of work.
- Created and implemented test strategies for functional and integration test activities.
- Approved and signed off on automation and non functional test strategies.
- Mentored and managed a team of 9 to successful delivery of the WCMS project.
- Developed flowchart between different departments.
- Developed technical specifications for products.
- Research and developed of new product lines (study of technical issues).
- Managed and reviewed different documents for other departments (protocols, SOP,)
- Oversaw the validation of the quality control laboratory.
- Managing and administrating plant quality systems including CAPA, deviation, change control, complaint, and work order systems and supporting any plant or corporate driven initiatives to enhance these system. Responsible for assessing and approving quality system documentation including implementing and coordinating all activities relating to the control, distribution, maintenance and closure of GMP Quality documentation.
- Ensure that 3rd-party organizations manufacturing, packaging, controlling and handling Besta Med Ltd. products fully understand and meet Besta Med Ltd. quality and compliance expectations.
- React decisively to a wide range of non-conformance events, CAPAs, and other quality/compliance indicators and will drive short/long-term remediation actions that meet requirements and create an improved future state.
- Develop aligned, respectful and productive relationships with Besta Med ltd. and External Manufacturing leadership partners across multiple responsibility levels and within a high matrix structure
- Develop a fully effective, motivated, engaged, and compliant team of direct and indirect employees.
- Develop and implement experience and skill development strategies that best position the team to meet current and future business needs.
- Developed ERP quality check criterias for all ERP work products (Blueprints, design/construction documents, codes, test cases)
- Audited every ERP work product to reduce defects, increase traceability and ensure process governance
- Improved the ability to eliminate defects and find defects earlier in software development lifecycle by 60.8% by April 2011
- Surveyed 20+ Utility companies across USA. Delivering game changing results to our CIO (incl. cost analysis, process restructuring etc)
- Worked on deals which resulted in wins worth $10mn
- Worked on recommendation engine with MIT
- Worked on Omni-Channel framework development
- Worked on Digital Optimization - SEO, ASO, SMO & CRO
- Defining the Offering with extensive market study on the current trends with a detailed Competitor Analysis
- Defining the Assets required for enhancing the Offering and coordinating with the Dev and QA teams to get them developed and tested
- Designed and coordinated with the Dev and QA teams to get AOCTP Cloud based SaaS implementation
- Managed two teams of Software QA engineers.
- Teams tested software for advanced data replication and protection.
- Regularly created and presented detailed reports on feature testing, including clear metrics and milestones. Delivered reports to all levels of management, from peers to executives, both local and remote.
- Managed hardware in labs in three geographical locations.
- Analyzed and approved feature specifications with developers.
- Introduced 'loopback' system to gather information about customer field bugs and adjust and improve test plans accordingly.
- Helped launched University Of Liverpool online school.
- Testing efforts for maintaining IT systems, student portals for the schools within the Laureate network.
- Led leading testing effort for largest Course Exchange initiative 'OneCampus' by Laureate : http://onecampus.laureate.net
PRO TIP
In writing your QA Manager resume, you will no doubt want to list your previous duties - as you should. But steer clear of just listing your duties, instead of your achievements. Make your resume stand out by communicating what you have done, and not merely what the job needed you to do.
Action verbs for your QA manager resume
Recommended reads:
The Best Way to Write Your QA Manager Resume’s Skills Section
QA Manager resume: skills section checklist
- Scan the job advert for keywords worth including in your resume;
- List both hard and transferable skills;
- Leave room for discussion: include some of your skills in other sections of your resume;
- Focus on skills that prove your expertise and leave the irrelevant ones behind.
Top skills for your QA manager resume
Jira
Asana
Chrome Developer Tools
iOS/Android Provisioning
GitHub
A/B Testing
ADM Suite
Cloud(SAAS/IAAS/PAAS)
Transparency
Communication
Delegation
Decisiveness
Empowering
Consistency and Reliability
Empathy and sensitivity
Mentoring and coaching
PRO TIP
Add a Talent Section to your resume, where you can pick your top 3 soft skills and describe how you used them to complete a project or balance departmental communication.
Recommended reads:
QA manager resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your QA manager resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads.":
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your QA Manager resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
Writing a strong QA manager resume summary
QA Manager resume summary checklist:
- Mention your position and total years of experience in the field;
- Highlight 1-2 of your top achievements;
- Go for shorter sentences and keep them to the point – don’t include anything that doesn’t support your application;
- Add 2-4 keywords present in the job description.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Your summary section should act as a professional taster. Use it wisely. Effectively convey your professional profile and let the hiring manager know that if they hire you, they won’t be disappointed. Make sure to include keywords from the job description too! Elaborate on your abilities further in your experience section. Again, cater to the job description.
Recommended reads:
Adding education, courses, and certifications to your QA manager resume
Education section tips and tricks.
- Add info about your highest degree level, incl. year of graduation, place of study, and degree subject;
- Mention some education-related awards you’ve received;
- Share a bit more about your certifications (if they are relevant);
- Entry-level applicants: Tailor your education section by including classes that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.
Top certifications for your QA manager resume
Management Skills: New Manager Training in Essential Skills
Management Skills Certification in Developing People, Leading Teams & Process Improvement
New Manager: The Basics and More of Being a Great Leader
Go from a slightly uncertain, confused newbie to a confident, skilled manager who builds and leads effective teams.
Learn Basic to Advance JIRA for Testers/QA/Test Manager-2022
Setup Jira Trial Account | Bug Tracking, Task Management & Agile/Scrum Project Management using JIRA | Realtime Examples
Great Product Manager: Product Management by Microsoft's PM
Become a Great Product Manager! Land your dream job with Microsoft's Senior Product Manager. Free CV review included!
Management Skills - Team Leadership Skills Masterclass 2022
Leadership & Management Skills - Change Management- Lean BPM Management Skills - Team Management - Team Building
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
The best format for your QA manager resume
Choosing the right format for your resume might seem difficult, regardless of whether you’re a newbie or a master. In short, there are three basic resume formats for you to choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
The choice you make depends on your level of experience and the company you’re applying for.
The reverse-chronological resume format is great for you if you have at least 10 years of experience, no employment gaps, and are not looking for a career change. Here, you are expected to list all your previous jobs in a reverse-chronological format, starting from your most recent position and going back to the oldest one. It’s perfect for experienced individuals who are looking for a straightforward way to highlight their expertise.
The functional skills-based resume format, on the other hand, is great for recent graduates or professionals with large employment gaps. It focuses on skills and education, rather than experience. This makes it ideal for showing you’re the right fit without putting too much emphasis on your lack of (relevant) experience.
If you’re looking for something a bit more creative, go for the combination resume format. It’s a mix of the reverse-chronological and the functional skills-based formats, which makes it ideal for all types of applicants. What’s more, it’s considered modern and innovative, and isn’t this what you want your application to feel like anyway?
After choosing the right format for your QA Manager resume, it’s time to perfect the layout and style.
- Go for traditional 1-inch resume margins;
- Choose a simple resume font, sized 10-12p;
- Make sure that the length of your resume matches your applicant profile: try to fit in a one-page template; two-page templateare suitable only for candidates with over 10 years of experience.
- Save your resume in PDF to avoid issues around formatting and unauthorized editing.
Looking for more ways to make your application stand out? Read this article!
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you feel that you don’t have high chances in a particular company, due to lack of relevant experience, then you can still consider using a creative layout. That might help you get noticed and invited for an interview, as most of the other applicants will have boring resume designs.
Other sections to include in your resume
Depending on the type of company, your position, and your general desire to experiment and showcase your creative side, you might want to add some additional sections to your resume. Some examples include:
Creating a memorable QA manager resume
You want your resume to put you in front of other candidates even when the competition is high, right? Right!
One of the easiest ways to do this is by adding a drop or two of creativity. You can choose a colorful and out-of-the-box template, or maybe even put a ‘what my typical days look like’ section at the bottom of your resume
It’s totally up to you. Just make sure to match the level of creativity to the industry, the position, and the company.
What makes a great QA manager resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
