QA Engineer Resume Example
If you're hoping to start a career as a QA engineer, you'll need experience in writing test cases and reporting QA findings. To succeed in your applications for QA engineer roles, you'll need a resume that reflects your relevant skills and experience. In this article, we'll showcase resume tips and examples that can help you create a professional QA engineer resume that catches the eye of hiring managers.
After reading this guide, you'll know what it takes to create a resume that really stands out from other QA engineer applicants. The guide will show you practical examples of how to structure your resume to show off your best and most relevant skills and career achievements. It will also show you how to tailor your resume according to the job description and your unique skill set. Continue reading to find the best QA engineer resume tips from careers experts at Jobseeker.
What to include in a QA engineer resume
Although the content of a QA engineer resume may differ according to your experience and seniority, the main sections will remain the same.
If you're applying for junior, entry-level or graduate QA engineer positions and you lack work experience, consider using a skills-based resume format to emphasize your skills and education. Soft and transferable skills are often more highly valued by employers for junior roles, so highlight these. Also add any internships, volunteer work or training courses you've undertaken.
For those with some prior experience as a QA engineer work experience is the most important element of a resume. Use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format to emphasize your career timeline and achievements. Your resume should focus on your career achievements, and the role you've played in successful projects and activities for your employers. Consult the job description for guidance on what to showcase, and provide evidence to support your claims.
For senior QA engineer roles, you're likely to be competing against highly experienced candidates. Use a reverse-chronological resume format and focus on adding additional information that shows your credentials beyond your work experience. Some elements to include in a senior resume for maximum impact might include awards, publications, conference presentations or professional memberships. By adding these sections, it's likely that your resume will be longer than a junior resume.
The order you present these sections can vary according to your career stage, but it's still essential to include each of the following:
Resume Header and Personal Information
Your QA engineer resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Make sure your resume header is as brief as possible and doesn't take up too much valuable space. Choose a clear, professional design that sets the tone for your application.
Only include professional, name-based email addresses in your resume header. If you have an old email address that uses nicknames, puns, references to your personal interests or anything else that could appear unprofessional, set up a new email just for your job applications. Finally, always double-check your contact details are correct and up-to-date before sending your resume.
Violet Thomas
violet.thomas@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY
linkedin․com/in/violet–thomas123
Resume Summary
Your resume personal profile is a short, concise paragraph to highlight two or three key skills and achievements in QA engineer roles. You may also see this section named as 'resume summary' or 'resume objectiveresume objective'. Resume summaries tend to focus on your career experience, while resume objectives cover your ambitions and plans for the future. Always make sure your summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for QA engineer roles.
Alternatively, you could use this section to reference your objectives and ambitions, and how this role would fit into your career journey.
A good resume summary is short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description, with evidence to back it up. It will also help the reader to form their first impressions of you by providing an insight into your personality and unique qualities. See below for some great examples of what to include in your QA engineer resume summary.
Good example:
Detail-oriented QA Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a proven track record as a Quality Assurance Specialist. Skilled in developing comprehensive testing strategies, identifying software defects, and ensuring product quality. Proficient in automated and manual testing, with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to enhance software performance and user experience
Bad example:
QA engineer with some experience in computer science and working on software quality. Worked in roles where I looked for issues and tested software. Have done both automated and manual testing, and tried to solve problems to make software better. Focused on improving how software works and how users interact with it
On the other hand, a resume summary can be ineffective if it lacks specific information about how your skills align with the job description, or fails to paint a picture of your unique qualities and talents. The graphic above shows some of the pitfalls to avoid when creating your resume summary.
Work History
Next, list your relevant employment history and any key achievements that show you're suitable for a QA engineer position. Mention only the most appropriate and relevant jobs you've had in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent and working backwards. Add your job title, the name of the employer, the location of the role and your dates of employment.
In addition, include a few bullet points under each job, highlighting your key achievements so the hiring managermanager can see how they led to successful outcomes. Back up each point with evidence to show how you meet the job description.
A good resume work experience section includes your most relevant previous jobs and highlights your key achievements in each role. To make the best possible impression on hiring managers, make sure each entry in your work experience section references skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you added value to each role with quantifiable evidence and outcomes. There are some examples of strong resume work experience sections below.
Good example:
Quality Assurance Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Nexis Quality Solutions, Arlington
- Enhanced product quality by implementing a robust QA process, reducing defects by 30% within six months
- Spearheaded cross-functional team training, increasing testing efficiency and reducing bug resolution time by 25%
- Developed automated testing scripts, cutting manual testing time by 40% and increasing overall productivity
Bad example:
Quality Assurance Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Nexis Quality Solutions, Arlington
- Improved team performance through effective collaboration and communication
- Contributed to product development with innovative solutions
- Assisted in various projects to enhance quality assurance processes
Above, you can see a weaker example of a resume work experience section to best avoid. Less effective resume work experience sections might take a more vague, descriptive approach to previous jobs. They focus on responsibilities and everyday duties rather than referencing career achievements and the value you've added for previous employers.
Educational Achievements
In your education section, include details of your most relevant QA engineer qualifications and educational achievements.
Opportunities as a QA engineer and similar roles in the sector usually require a specialist degree. If you have a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree, be sure to mention this in your resume. You might also want to list any qualifications that highlight your defect tracking systems or manual testing techniques.
Include any qualifications relevant to the role. For each, add the name and level of the award, the institution name, its location and your dates of study. Include bullet points to show any specialist modules you studied, awards or exceptional grades and achievements that can set you apart from other candidates. These will all contribute to creating a positive impression on employers.
If you organized or participated in any clubs or societies while at university, or you took part in any voluntary work, you could also mention these here.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, 2017 - 2020
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Skills
The skills section of a quality assurance engineer resume is a chance to list any skills you have that match those of the job description. You could include SQL querying skills, critical thinking or any other skills that show you're a suitable candidate. Additionally, read the job description to make sure your skills match those required for QA engineer positions. You could also include some unique skills that help you stand out as a candidate.
Listing hard skillsskills on your QA engineer resume
Hard skills are the key technical skills required for QA engineer positions. They include specific industry knowledge and abilities that you could learn on the job, or through a specialist qualification. Furthermore, these skills are essential for a QA engineer resume as they showcase your expertise in the field. It's best to aim for four or five key hard skillsskills that match the job description. These can really showcase your suitability for the job.
The best resume hard skillsskills sections focus on specific technical skills necessary for the job, showcasing skills that you have particular expertise in. There are some examples of valuable hard skillsskills for a QA engineer resume below.
- Manual testing techniques
- Automation testing tools
- SQL querying skills
How to list soft skillsskills on your QA engineer resume
In your soft skills list, include any personal characteristics that make you a good fit for a QA engineer job. Soft skillsskills tend to be more universal than hard skillsskills, but they're no less important. In fact, as technology develops, soft skillsskills are growing in importance for recruiters and employers, so be sure to add several of these to your resume. In this section, add four of five transferable skills that match the job description.
An effective QA engineer resume soft skillsskills section should be targeted to include skills that reflect your personality and unique characteristics, while also matching the job description. The graphic below includes some examples of good resume soft skillsskills.
- Attention to detail
- Critical thinking
- Effective communication
Certifications
Your certifications section is the place to mention any relevant professional QA engineer certifications, licenses or qualifications. These could be professional accreditations and licenses, or certifications that improve your level of suitability for the position. Therefore, include the details of any licenses and professional certifications required for QA engineer roles, along with completion dates so employers can see you're up-to-date.
Below you can find several examples of certifications for a quality assurance engineer resume:
- ISTQB Foundation Level, 2022
- Certified ScrumMaster, 2022
- CSTE Certification, 2022
Optional Sections
There are several additional sections you could add to a quality assurance engineer resume, to improve your chances of success. Take a look at the sections below and add any that help you show how and why you're right for the job.
Hobbies and Interests
Hobbies and interests can be a useful way of showing your skills and experience beyond your work and education. These are particularly useful for your resume if you're short of work experience and need to showcase a particular skill or experience. Just make sure any hobbies and interests you include in your resume add genuine insight into your personality, in ways other sections of the resume can't.
Voluntary Work
Listing volunteer work is another useful way to prove your relevant experience for QA engineer roles. Add your volunteer job title or role, the name of the organization, its location and the dates you were involved.
References
Although it's rare to include references on a QA engineer resume, some employers may ask for it. Don't add references unless they're specifically mentioned by the employer in the job advert. Be sure to prepare your referees in advance, so they've agreed to provide a reference and are ready to be contacted.
References are available upon request.
Best action words for your QA engineer resume
Start each bullet point in your work experience section with a strong verb to show actions you took. Add strong verbs from the list below to create a greater impact with your work experience section.
- Test
- Analyze
- Validate
- Document
- Troubleshoot
- Execute
- Inspect
- Verify
- Monitor
- Automate
If you need help creating a resume that impresses HR managers, take a look at Jobseeker's professional resume templates. You can also access beautiful cover letter templates that help your application stand out.
Example of a QA engineer resume
The QA engineer resume example below incorporates all the information from above into a full-designed resume template, so you can see how a final resume will look:
112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY
•
violet.thomas@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/violet–thomas123
Results-driven QA Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and extensive experience as a Quality Assurance Specialist. Proficient in designing and executing comprehensive test plans, identifying and documenting software defects, and collaborating with development teams to ensure high-quality software delivery. Skilled in automated and manual testing, with a strong focus on improving software performance, reliability, and user experience. Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, coupled with a deep understanding of software development life cycles and agile methodologies.
Quality Assurance Specialist
2020
-2022
Precision Quality Solutions, Inc (Hialeah)
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive QA process, reducing defect rates by 30% within the first year
- Led cross-functional teams in executing automated test scripts, increasing testing efficiency by 40%
- Conducted root cause analysis on critical issues, resulting in a 25% improvement in product reliability and customer satisfaction
Manual testing techniques
Automation testing tools
SQL querying skills
Attention to detail
Critical thinking
Effective communication
ISTQB Foundation Level
Certified ScrumMaster
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Tips for QA engineer resumes
Tips to write the best resume
- Quantify your career achievements by including evidence of your impact throughout your resume.
- Adapt your resume depending on the job you're applying for. Take a look at the job description and make sure you reference all the required key skills and experience.
- Add each relevant job in reverse-chronological order, beginning with your current or most recent position and working back from there.
- Use a clear, professional resume format to make your document as accessible as possible, including a readable font and appropriate headings, margins and line spacing. This will make your resume easier for recruiters and hiring managers to read.
- Make a strong first impression with a concise, impactful QA engineer resume summary that showcases your key qualities.
Avoid these common mistakes on your resume
- Don't use an unprofessional email address. Instead, opt for a simple email address based on your name.
- Don't mention hobbies or interests unless they help you prove a skill required for the role, that you haven't included elsewhere.
- Don't clutter your QA engineer resume with too much information. Keep everything focused on showcasing your relevant skills and achievements.
- Don't use overly complex formatting and layouts that can make your QA engineer resume harder to read, and less scannable for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
- Don't include personal details beyond your name, location and contact details. Adding your age, gender, nationality or a photo can create unwanted hiring bias.
Guide to making your resume ATS-friendly
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are increasingly taking responsibility for the management and processing of job applications, helping hiring practices to become more efficient. This can include screening resumes by scanning and ranking each application according to how closely it matches the job description. When drafting your QA engineer resume, there are a few guidelines to follow to give you the best chance of passing the ATS screening stage and progressing with your application.
Follow these simple rules when writing your resume, to make sure it's ATS compliant:
- Use a traditional resume format, such as reverse-chronological or functional. These will give your resume a structure that's easier for ATS systems to scan.
- Include keywords throughout your resume that align with the job description. ATS software tends to compare your resume to the job description for points of similarity, so careful, considered use of keywords should help your chances of success.
- Use clear headings that break your resume up into readable, scannable sections that match the standard content employers expect from a resume.
- Use design elements that help make your resume more readable. These might include white space, clear, professional fonts and subtle color accents to help certain elements stand out.
- Adopt simple, professional language to keep your resume as concise as possible. This tends to make your document more readable, and easier for ATS software to scan.
For tips and ideas to help you draft a professional resume to get noticed by employers, read our expert career articles and check out our detailed resume examples.
Frequently Asked Questions for a QA engineer resume
Alongside your QA engineer resume, it's important to produce a professional cover letter that creates a similar positive impact on the reader.
In some situations, a full, professional cover letter may not be necessary. Check the job advert and decide whether to write a formal cover letter, or if a brief email is more suitable.
If you decide you want to write a traditional cover letter, follow the standard letter-writing conventions around layout and structure. In the main body of the letter, write an opening paragraph to introduce yourself and explain why you're applying for the QA engineer role. Your second paragraph is typically where you highlight your key relevant skills and achievements. Finally, close by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and leave a call to action to encourage the hiring managermanager to make contact with you.
You can create a professional cover letter in just a few simple, easy-to-follow steps using Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates.
Writing a QA engineer resume with no experience needn't be a daunting task. There are still plenty of ways to impress hiring managers with your resume. Select a resume format that emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience, such as a functional format. Make the most of additional sections such as hobbies and interests, volunteer work, certifications and internships. These can help you showcase skills that you've developed outside traditional work settings.
A strong resume headline can give the reader an immediate idea of your suitability for QA engineer jobs. Resume headlines are also a powerful way of increasing your resume's chances of passing the ATS stage. They reference the job title and some of the keywords that match the job description. Write a concise headline including the job title, a reference to your experience or track record and one or two key skills.
Here's an example of a strong resume headline:
- Junior QA Engineer Seeking Opportunities
- Quality Assurance Specialist & Tester
- Expert Senior QA Engineer Specialist
The top resume format for your applications will vary according to a couple of factors. First, how much professional experience you have. Second, what type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. For entry-level roles, or situations where you're changing to a new career, a functional resume is often the best option. This places your skills and education above your work experience. Once you have some relevant work experience, and for senior positions, a reverse chronological resume format is typically best. This emphasizes your work experience, which will probably be the key thing employers want to know about.
Takeaways for a winning QA engineer resume
Writing a strong, impactful resume is about using your experience to demonstrate your relevant skills and achievements. You can do this through your work history or other resume sections. Pick a resume format that matches your experience levels, and tailor the content of your resume to reflect the details of the job description.
Jobseeker has a wealth of resume tools, including resume templates and examples, to help you create a winning job application. Sign up today to get started. To make the best possible impression with your applications, write a cover letter with the help of Jobseeker. You can also find plenty of expert-designed cover letter examples for inspiration.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
