How to craft a great tester resume

Testers play a major role in the technology industry, helping to check core software components for vital errors or areas in need of optimization. Earning a job as a tester requires you to write a resume that showcases your qualifications, including your work experience, skills, and educational credentials for the role of a tester.

In this guide, we teach you 5 key steps for writing a great resume as a tester. Continue reading to learn all about how to:

• Choose the best format for your tester resume
• Create a compelling resume summary as a tester
• Select key tester skills to feature on your resume
• Describe your experience as a tester effectively
• List your educational credentials as a tester concisely

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1. Choose the best format for your tester resume

The first step to writing a great tester resume is to choose the best format for your needs.

Though you can format a resume however you see fit, there are three main types of formats you can choose from as a base for your resume. These include:

• Reverse-Chronological: A reverse-chronological (RC) resume prioritizes work experience above all else. This resume is the standard format that most people write resumes in and is generally expected by employers. However, if you lack sufficient work experience as a tester, you can opt for an alternative format instead.
• Functional: Functional resumes are the main type of alternative format for resumes. Instead of focusing on work experience, a functional resume instead emphasizes education, skills, and unpaid experiences (such as internships or volunteer work). This can be a good format option for new graduates who do not yet have work experience.
• Hybrid: A hybrid resume splits the focus more evenly between all sections of a resume. This allows the applicant to show off each section a little bit without having to go too in-depth on any particular section. Applicants who are changing career paths often use this format.

Beginning to write a resume is always the same, no matter which format you are using — you should start by creating a header. This header should include your name, professional title, and professional contact information so that it is easy for the employer to find.

2. Create a compelling resume summary as a tester

A resume summary comes after your header but before the first section of your resume.

In this summary, you should aim to compel the employer to remain interested in your resume and continue reading. To do so, your summary should include a concise overview of your professional history, including specializations.

Additionally, a summary should include a brief statement on what type of employment or opportunities you are looking for as a job applicant.

Why is this correct?

This summary goes over the basics of their work history and discusses the specialized area of expertise the applicant has. Then, it continues to capture the reader’s attention by clearly stating what types of opportunities the applicant is looking for, letting the employer know right off the bat whether or not they are a good fit.

3. Select key tester skills to feature on your resume

Any good resume will include a variety of different skills, both technical and interpersonal.

Technical skills typically require little explanation, as they more plainly describe what a tester is skillful in (i.e. “Proficiency in Coding Languages”). By comparison, interpersonal skills generally need a bit more explanation — for example, if a tester says they have leadership skills, what kind of leadership and how was it applied in the workplace?

As such, technical skills can often be listed in a short “Skills” section, while interpersonal skills should be used in your work experience descriptions to provide greater context.

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4. Describe your experience as a tester effectively

To describe a work experience effectively on a tester's resume, it is crucial to include only highly relevant details that showcase the real-life value you have to offer as an applicant.

Additionally, your work experience section should be as easy as possible for the employer to skim through. An employer has likely received many other resumes besides yours, so the simpler you make it for the employer to find key points of information, the better.

5. List your educational credentials as a tester concisely

The final step to completing your tester’s resume is to fill in your education section.

Unless you plan on using a functional-style resume, your education section can be relatively short and to the point. The key information that needs to be included in your education section is your highest level of education, the institution you attended, and when you graduated or completed.