Manual Tester Resume—Sample & 25+ Writing Tips

Your manual tester resume will have to pass a test. An Applicant Tracking System scan to be exact. Unlucky for you, there won't be time for any beta testing. So you have to make sure it is 100% bug-free.

You’ve got the skills of a programmer and the knowledge of a range of test design approaches, and you fit the profile perfectly. Put it all together on a piece of paper and show the company you’re applying to that you’re the candidate they’re looking for.

In this guide you'll find:

• A manual tester resume example better than 95% of other applicants.
• How to put your skills and achievements on your manual tester resume.
• Proven techniques to help you land a manual testing job.
• How to write a manual tester resume that stands out.

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Looking for more software-engineer-related resume samples? See our guides:

• Cyber Security Resume Example
• Front-End Developer Resume Example 
• Quality Engineer Resume Example
• IT Project Manager Resume Example 
• Entry-Level Engineering Resume Example
• Programmer Resume Example
• Web Designer Resume Example
• Computer Technician Resume Example
• DevOps Resume Example 
• Full Stack Developer Resume Example
• Java Developer Resume Example
• Entry Level Software Engineer
• IT Director Resume Example
• Consultant Resume Example
• Network Engineer Resume Example
• Web Developer Resume Example
• Software Engineer Resume Example
• Computer Science Resume Example
• Scrum Master Resume Example
• Best Resume Examples for All Jobs

Sample Manual Tester Resume

Now, let’s get to the essence. Here’s the point-by-point method of writing a killer manual tester resume:

1. Use a Proper Manual Tester Resume Format

Formatting a resume is like testing software so it’s important that you make sure it is glitch-free and polished to the highest standard. Your resume format shows how well you pay attention to detail (which is SUCH an important skill as a manual tester).

Think of these guidelines as the preconditions required for successful implementation. Use these resume format guidelines: 

Manual Tester Resume Format

• List your experience in reverse-chronological order to show your most recent experiences first.
• Choose a resume font that is neat and easy to read such as Arial, Noto or Garamond.
• Set 1-inch resume margins on all sides.
• Add some white space for clarity.
• Outline your resume the following way: Personal information, Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, and Hobbies/Interests.
• Go for a simple resume template for enhanced readability. If you’re familiar with the tool, you might want to try LaTeX resume templates, too.
• Save your resume as a PDF to ensure cross-platform compatibility.

How long can your resume be? If you’re writing a manual tester resume for a fresher, one page should be enough. If you have more experience under your belt, a two-page resume is fine.

Expert Hint: A recent CareerBuilder study has shown that one of the major deal-breakers for recruiters are resumes that have typos and grammatical errors. Make your resume flawless with the help of a tool like Grammarly that will check your spelling and grammar. 

2. Write an Eye-Catching Resume Summary or Objective

The hiring manager is the “end-user” of your resume. You want to provide a document that, apart from being well-written, shows you off and clearly demonstrates your qualifications.

The truth is—you have only 7 seconds to impress the recruiter. Make them count with a comprehensive resume summary that will grab their attention and pass the unit testing phase. Add:

1. An adjective (professional, dedicated, hard-working)
2. “Manual tester”
3. Years of experience (3+, 4+)
4. What you do (carrying out manual tests, analyzing system specifications)
5. Two or three of your most prominent achievements (...improved software quality by 17%)

These manual tester resume samples will show you how to compile it: 

Manual Tester Resume Summary

Resourceful manual tester with 3 years experience in designing, developing and carrying out tests, as well as verifying software/hardware compatibility. Managed to improve regression testing by 34%. Competent in all areas of manual testing, from completing software tests to preparing and reviewing Software Intended Use Validation documents, and assisting in the development of user documentation. 

Hello. My name is Jane and I am a professional manual tester with experience in developing test plans and analyzing data and documentation in order to identify bugs and find areas for improvement. 

The second example definitely needs debugging. The first example shows quantifiable skills and the key information required to get the job. In your experience summary you’re basically saying: “Hey, look at me. I can do this and that and I will help your company achieve the business results that matter.” The second one doesn’t really say much. It’s bland, general and doesn’t have that OOMPH. 

For more inspiration, take a look at our resume summary examples article.

Don’t have anything to show off because you’re just a fresher? No worries. Make your resume stand out and include a well-written career objective statement that briefly states your short-term professional goals and shows that you have the key skills that match most of the pre-requisite requirements advertised in the manual tester job description.

Manual Testing Resume Objective

Hard-working computer science graduate with a degree from the University of Illinois (GPA 3.8). Contributed to 20+ GitHub projects. Completed two successful internships in both manual and automation testing. Managed to process more than 200+ bugs in 1 year. Looking for an opportunity to put my skills and training to work for Relabs.

A fresh U of I graduate with good practical knowledge in manual and automation testing. Ready to join a professional team to accelerate my career. 

Expert Hint: Write your resume profile after you are done putting your resume together. Take out the best chunks from your skills, achievements and experience and put them together into a short, consistent paragraph. 

3. Write a Solid Manual Tester Job Description and Skills Section

Because your experience is what matters, you need to be able to demonstrate that. If you want to land that dream job, your work experience section has to clearly illustrate your ability to handle complex and nuanced test scenarios.

How to make that happen? Let’s take a look:

• Start with your most recent job experience, then list the jobs you had before that, and so on.
• Each position should have at least 3 bullet points that describe your role and your achievements. But remember—use numbers to show your achievements. 
• Use powerful action verbs that will increase your chances of grabbing the attention of the hiring manager. 
• At the bottom of each entry add a “Key achievement” that shows off your most major quantifiable accomplishment.
• Carefully study the job ad and 5-6 essential phrases and refer to them in your job description section. 

How to make that work: The job ad wants these manual testing skills: Soap UI, front-end and back-end application testing, 508 compliance testing, mobile browser testing.

Manual Tester Job Description for a Resume

Manual Tester

Betap IT Services, Inc. 

2016-2019

• Actively used Soap UI to validate SOAP/WSDL and web services for Request and Response data validation. 
• Created 250+ test plans back-end and front-end application testing.
• Tested more than 150 confidential applications compliance with Section 508 standards.
• Found 10+ bugs a week using mobile browser testing tools (IE NetRenderer, LambdaTest).

• Tested applications using different iOS and Android mobile devices.
• Responsible for executing test cases.
• Performed manual testing of each build and then regression testing.
• Developed functional, integration test cases for user stories.

The good example will make the recruiter go: “Aha!” The experience you’ve described clearly puts you in the role, making you—you guessed it—the perfect candidate. The bad example doesn’t really show what you can do and what tools you have been using in your previous jobs. That doesn’t tell the recruiter a thing. 

When it comes to your application, knowing what skills for a resume will get you more interviews is tricky business. But here’s an idea of what will prove that you have what it takes to be an accomplished manual tester.

Manual Testing Skills for a Resume 

• Test Planning/ Management
• Web & Mobile Technologies
• Knowledge of database/ SQL
• SDLC
• Selenium Web Driver
• JIRA
• QA
• Linux Commands
• Project Management
• Business Process
• Customer Support
• Written & Oral Communication
• Rational Analysis

Don’t just CTRL+C and CTRL+V the list. Target your resume, instead. Use the job ad as your guide and only add those soft and technical skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for. This way you’ll make sure you've got an ATS-friendly resume.

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4. Write Your Education Section Next

While most recruiters focus mostly on your work experience, your education section can be a great way to optimize your resume and help you pass that beta testing stage (especially if you are writing a resume with no experience). 

Research shows that the top 25% of college-educated workers with computer engineering and computer science majors earn more than $110k annually. So time to make your education section shine. You should include: 

• Most recent degree
• Name of the school you attended
• Major 
• Minor (if relevant)
• Year you graduated (or expect to graduate)
• GPA (only if it’s above 3.5) 
• Academic awards or honors
• Relevant coursework
• Internships 

Now, let’s take a closer look at an example:

Manual Tester Resume Example—Education

2014

BSc Software Engineering

Florida Institute of Technology

GPA: 3.7

Relevant coursework:

• Software Testing
• Software Metrics & Modelling
• Applied Statistics

Expert Hint: If you’re writing a manual testing resume with 1 year experience, add an extra “Awards” section where you can list scholarships.

5. Finish Your Resume With a Strong “Additional Information” Section

To make your resume stand out from your competitors, add an extra resume section. This will elevate your game and show the hiring manager you are passionate about the industry. Make sure you write about what’s relevant to your field.

If you have some of these up your sleeve, make sure to include them in your resume:

• Industry Blog
• Certifications (ISTQB, CSTE, CSQA, CSTP)
• Conferences
• Private / Additional Projects
• Groups and Meetups
• Languages

See this manual testing resume with 3 years experience example:

Sample Manual Testing Resume—Extra Sections

Certifications: 

• ISTQB
• ISTQB Agile Tester Certification

Additional Activities:

• Blogger at TesterPoint.com
• Member of the Tampa Bay Software QA and Testing Meetup

Conferences:

• ICSTM 2020 - International Conference on Software Testing Methods

Additional Activities:

• Actively attending numerous meetups
• Jogging
• Cooking

The first example is solid proof that you live and breathe software quality. The second one lists hobbies and interests irrelevant to the job.

One more thing—write a cover letter. 50% of hiring managers still expect to get one attached to a resume.

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Key Points

So in a nutshell, here’s how to write a professional manual tester resume:

• Use the manual tester resume template up top. Simply fill in the blanks and significantly increase your chances of getting hired. 
• List manual tester achievements in your resume summary and experience section. Remember, they should be quantifiable. This will prove that you’re the best candidate for the position.
• Include manual tester keywords and skills from the job ad.
• Write a manual tester cover letter to sell yourself and highlight what sets you apart from other candidates. 

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