INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, IT and Software Engineering positions are at a much faster than average growth rate, which is 22%. 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 IT and Software Engineering 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 IT and Software Engineering job market is facing competition due to decreasing demand.
Top software QA engineer sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write a software QA engineer resume experience section
Software QA Engineer Resume Experience: Checklist
- Use either chronological or reverse-chronological format when listing your previous jobs;
- Mention only relevant positions that add value to your resume;
- Briefly state the challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve overcome them;
- Highlight the results from your efforts (for bonus points, add numbers, percentage rates, etc.);
- Forget about buzzwords! Use power verbs instead.
Use the examples below to build your own experience section!
- Single handedly developed Python based test framework to automate entirety of the frontend UI and REST API automation, 95% which eliminated need for QA team to spend one week manually processing and instead running automatically and concurrently to other projects.
- Responsible for build release, test development, execution, reporting issues and results for all software TV Client and backend components.
- Handled emergency Hotfix testing, essential for TV Client firmware fix typically needing emergency turn- around time of days or up to 1 week.
- Setup CI by utilizing Jenkins.
- Utilizing github for version control and maintaing automation repository
- Managing local and offshore teams in Irvine and Bulgaria for release testing.
- Reporting to VP engineering, responsible for all test, automation, integration and quality teams.
- Recruiting, developing,managing and leading onshore and offshore QA teams
- Created and managed local, internal development, device and release testing as needed.
- Work closely with Products, DevOps, Developers, Program Management on current and upcoming projects.
- Prepared reports for weekly executive management meetings.
- Developed Test Plan and automated Test Cases using Python
- Mentor Jr. QA Engineers on domain knowledge and test automation framework
- Interview QA candidates at different level (Principal, Sr., Jr.).
- Heavily involved in automation framework development and optimization.
- REST API automation using Python
- Managed local and offshore QA team.
- Worked closely with Developer, Product Manager on root cause analysis on the issue's found and customer escalation issues.
- Server side automation for backend distributed components
- Leading/managing QA team on Backup & Sync feature
- REST API automation using Python
- Developing test plans and automated test cases for features.
- Worked closely with Dev's, Product and Program Management on new features
- Automated test cases for UI (Python + Selenium) decreasing engineer time from an average of 2 hours manually down to 15 minutes.
- Worked closely with Products, Development and Program Management on issues and new features.
- Lead offshore QA team on product testing
- Automated Admin UI Portal using Selenium with Python.
- Setup complex test environment using different flavors of Linux (Red hat, CentOS, Ubuntu) Windows 2003/2008
- Developed Test Plan and automated test cases
- Setup CI using Jenkins.
- Automated REST API and UI using python/selenium
- Tested government web-based system in an Agile Scrum environment.
- Created detailed and comprehensive test plans and test cases based on business and functional requirements.
- Participated in product design reviews to provide input on functionalrequirements, schedules, or potential problems.
- Coordinated with software developers, project manager, and business analysts to discuss QA concerns.
- Reported, tracked, and monitored bugs in Redmine.
- Served as the lead for new hire QA onboarding process.
- Created a well-structured status reporting and implemented to QA team.
- Trained to use Selenium IDE and Webdriver automation tool.
- SQA Role into Scrum Team.
- Collaborate with the Product Owner in the refinement process.
- Design and execution of test cases.
- Manage defects list and test environments.
- Maintain and increase automated integration testing.
- Design and implementation of performance testing.
- Did robot automation for API testing
- Guided an automation task for legacy features successfully
- Analyzed and Filled multiple automation gaps
- Grasped new automation frameworks with python
- Worked on Netflow and Deep packet Inspection related projects
- Pcap parsing and analysis
- Work on Regression failure analysis, POCs and CRDs
- Work with cross-functional teams to identify and develop test casesfor functional testing
- Individually handled automation for features and manual testing for multiple features including licensing related ones
- Did Robot Automation for API testing
- Guided an automation task for legacy features successfully
- Analysed and Filled multiple automation gaps
- Grasped new automation frameworks with python
- Worked on Netflow and Deep packet Inspection related projects
- Pcap parsing and analysis
- Work on Regression failure analysis, POCs and CRDs
- Work with cross-functional teams to identify and develop test casesfor functional testing
- Individually handled automation and manual testing for multiple features including licensing related ones
- Designed and implemented an automation strategy to effectively test the AWS lambdas used in our scalable videotranscoding system that leverages AWS MediaConvert which enables CSOD clients to upload videos and stream them ondifferent devices
- Designed and led the implementation of a strategy to enable the automation of the CSOD's on prem authorizationsystem that enables CSOD business partners to effectively help clients in resolving issues
- Eliminated the financial charges incurred in the automation of a multi-factor authentication project by creating a service which mimics 2FA vendors Authy and Twilio
- Identified and resolved critical issues which had the potential to be showstoppers
- Developed automation test framework to functionally test the APIs and worked closely with developers to optimize APIs Performance Improvements
- Contributed in fixing existing test failures and achieved pass percentage from 72% to 95%
- Reduced automation effort by 30% by modifying and enabling automation to be dynamic data driven
- Established alerts on Splunk and created a dashboard in Grafana to proactively identify issues
- Played an active role in Requirement Reviews, creating user stories,creating test plan, test cases, automation strategy, documentation
- Test Front office connectivity/trading system ideally within OTC, Derivatives and Equities Markets
- Good understanding of full trade lifecycle
- Good knowledge on FIX protocol
- Work in Agile development environm
- Installation, configuration and setting up test environme
- nts- Analyze requirements and create or assist in designing test plans for correspondantmigrations- Plan, coordinate and execute financial software application releases in a Linux environmentusing both manual and automation techniques.- Create automation scripts using Python and Java- Create test plans from scratch- Identify and report defects concisely on Jira- Support clients during Dress Rehearsal tests on production environments and after go live- Work with git and bitbucket to manage repositories for our automation test scripts- Integrate Automated Tests pipelines with Quickbuild for Continuous Integration- Test API’s with Postman- Document functional and technical aspects of every migrationTOOLS & technical environment :Testlink , JIRA, GIT, Bitbucket, Quickbuild, Confluence, Verifix, Postman, Oracle DB, HSQL DB,Linus shell, Redhat7, Winscp, putty, python, java, Groovy, Apitools, TAT, Visual Studio , SQLserver
- Supporting Cross functional QA efforts for new software projects: Octagon, Screen Time, Stocks, Widgets and Page Hiding.
- Presenting QA reports, and providing clear status updates to Directors and Engineering Managers in weekly Sponsor meetings.
- Creating and executing end to end test suites to support Core Test Pass and Acceptance Test Pass.
- Managing projects via Radar, Apples Bug management tool equivalent to Jira/Selenium.
- Prioritizing top issues via keyword management within each release milestone.
- Auditing cross functional test suites to ensure appropriate coverage on all integrated system features and hardware.
- Onboarding white glove and international teams at key milestones for expanded quality efforts and living on programs.
- Handling QA activities and QA planning
- Creation of QA Strategy, QA Planning, Monitoring and mentoring the team, Preparation of High Level Test Scenarios, Test Cases and Test Scripts
- Creation of Automation scripts and CI/CT process.
- Handling scrum and managing sprint activities.
- Involved in peer review and re-work.
- Performing Penetration testing , API testing and performance testing, understanding NFR's and estimating.
- Handling QA activities.
- Creation of QA Strategy, Monitoring the team, Preparation of High Level Test scenarios, Test cases and Test scripts
- Creation of Automation scripts and CI/CT process.
- Involved in peer review and re-work
- Performing Penetration testing , API testing and performance testing, understanding NFR's and estimating.
- User stories and issues tracking by JIRA and Zephyr
- Responsible for manual testing of Dynamics 365 in Browser and Mobile version
- Develop data for testing in Dynamics 365 as Administrator
- Testing WebApi and Price services from SAP (by Postman)
- Review data/price conditions in SAP (by SAP NetWeaver)
- Prepare quotations and contracts in SAP (by SAP NetWeaver)
- Automate testing using Visual Studio with Selenium and Specflow (basic tests)
- Preparing and managing test plans, scenarios and test cases
- Responsible for manual testing of Mobile, Web, Win and OSX clients
- Bug tracking support front-end and back-end developer team by Youtrack from Jetbrains
- API testing by Postman and Swagger
- Customer service support and Scrum master (last 2 month)
- Collaboration with Developer team and Product Owner on daily bases
- test framework development
- Selenium regression tests / Java
- mentoring junior software tester
- performance tests
- bash scripts
- jMeter scripts / groovy
- environment data loaders
- Agile environment
- Part of a scrum team that took part in bi-weekly sprints
- Continuous Integration/Continuous Test as part of a microservices architecture
- Collaborated with dev/product/dev-ops daily to ensure product quality
- Took initiative to transition the QA team to a different test management platform that led to an increase in visibility and overall quality of the system
- Learned the automation framework Selenium on my own time and had an end-to-end test running within a week
- Helped clean up the test suites to understand gaps and overlap in coverage which led to faster regression cycles and better quality
PRO TIP
Include quantitative data throughout your Software QA Engineer resume to impress the hiring manager. Real facts and figures that show off your competency as an audit manager go a long way. Did you reduce the costs of audits? Manage a large team? Boosted efficiency? Show off the real numbers!
Action verbs for your software QA engineer resume
Recommended reads:
software QA engineer resume: the skills section!
How to write a strong software QA engineer resume skills section?
- Make sure to include all types of skills - soft, hard, technical;
- Focus on skills that show your expertise in the field;
- Check the job description for keywords and make sure to add them to your resume – this will help you pass ATS;
- Leave room for discussion – elaborate on some of your strongest skills in other sections of your resume
Top skills for your software QA engineer resume
Python
Java
Javascript
GIT
SQL
HTML
Teamwork and communication
Creative problem solving
Analystical thinking
Owning up to errors
Self-learning
Time management
PRO TIP
Don’t feel obliged to spend a separate section for your soft skills - you can weave them throughout your job experience or career summary. But, don’t just write empty words - back them with examples.
recommended reads:
Software QA engineer resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your software QA engineer 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 Software QA Engineer 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.
A career summary for your software QA engineer resume
Things to include in your software QA engineer resume summary:
- Your total years of experience in the industry;
- 2-3 of your most remarkable achievements so far;
- How your experience relates to the position you’re applying for;
- A very brief description of your strengths.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
You’re not going to get hired simply because of a good summary or objective. However, your recruiter can bump you up in front of similarly experienced candidates who didn’t demonstrate such passion and drive.
Recommended reads:
Software QA engineer resume: The education section
Things to include in your resume's education section:
- Your highest education degree – including course, year of graduation, institution;
- Awards received as part of your education;
- Extracurricular activities that have helped you gain relevant skills;
- Certifications that have helped you master new skills and increase your expertise;
- Entry-level applicants only: relevant courses and projects.
Top Certifications for your Software QA Engineer resume
Software Testing Masterclass (2022) - From Novice to Expert
Learn software testing and become QA Engineer/Agile Tester. Mobile/Backend/Web/QA testing. JIRA, TestRail & much more!
Quality Assurance Mastery - Manual Software Testing
Become Quality Assurance Engineer as a Complete Beginner. QA Masterclass for Junior QA Engineers.
Software Testing Interview Masterclass: Ace the QA interview
The Ultimate Software Testing Interview Course. Get a job as a software tester, QA, Manual QA, Quality Analyst, Engineer
Fundamentals of Quality Assurance Engineer
Learn How to Become a Software Quality Assurance Engineer
Software Testing,QA Testing, Manual Testing,SDLC,Test Plan
Become an expert QA Tester by mastering software testing, manual testing, SDLC, test plan and test case concepts..
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
There are dozens of certifications that you can claim as a Software QA Engineer. But, some are more effective than others. That’s why you mustn’t include every certificate other applicants might have. Try instead to earn and list a few of the difficult ones.
Choosing the right format for your software QA engineer resume
In general, there are three basic formats for your resume:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Some things to consider when choosing the right format for your Software QA Engineer resume include the stage of your career, whether you have all the right skills required for the job or are looking for an industry change, and what field you’re looking to grow in.
The reverse-chronological resume format is the most common one. It lets you describe your most recent job and then move backward. This makes it great for people who have around or less than 10 years of experience and are looking to highlight only their work-related skills and qualities.
If you’re just starting your career journey and reverse-chronological resumes sound too demanding, go for the functional resume format. It’s ideal for showcasing your strengths, personal qualities, skills, education, and the courses you’ve taken, without putting too much pressure on experience and expertise.
Don’t worry if neither of these sounds suitable for you – the hybrid or combination resume format will surely match your needs. It’s similar to the reverse-chronological, but with a catchy twist. Combination or hybrid resumes are great for showcasing both your experience and work-related skills and your personal qualities. Add a “What my day looks like” section for enhancing the jaw-dropping experience!
Here are some more things worth remembering when it comes to formatting your Software QA Engineer resume:
- Choose standard 1-inch resume margins;
- Go for traditional resume fonts sized 10-12p;
- Match the length of your Software QA Engineer resume with your experience – choose a one-page template if you have less than 10 years of experience, and be careful with two-page templates – use them only when applying for executive positions;
- Save your resume in PDF to avoid formatting issues and potential unauthorized editing.
Tired of getting rejected? Check out this article on how to craft a resume that stands out!
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Test your draft Software QA Engineer resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Other sections suitable for your software QA engineer resume
Depending on the position and the industry, you can spice your resume up by adding some more sections. They will help the recruiter get a glimpse of who you are as a person, besides all your job-related skills and qualities.
Here are some examples:
How to add creativity to your software QA engineer resume
Gone are the days when creative resumes were frowned upon by recruiters!
What’s more, the right amount of creativity will make recruiters remember you and want to learn more about who you are – both as an individual and as a professional.
There are two ways to build a creative resume - add creative sections or go for a more creative design approach in general. Go for whatever suits you, the position, and the industry most!
What Makes a Great Software QA Engineer 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.
