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Hey there! Applying for jobs is rarely fun but almost always necessary at some point in every career.
The tips below distill the most effective job application approaches with hard numbers to back them up. I‘ll also offer specific suggestions to showcase your QA testing skills throughout the process.
So let‘s get started and land you that next great gig!
Overview:
Here‘s what we‘ll cover to set you up for job search success:
1. Tap Into Your Network – Leverage personal and professional connections for introductions and referrals
2. Optimize Your Profiles – Spruce up your LinkedIn and resume to catch recruiters‘ attention
3. Utilize Job Boards – Identify the best sites to apply for QA testing roles
Bonus: QA Testing Sample Cover Letter – Make your application stand out
Way #1: Tap Into Your Network
Referrals give applicants a major edge. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, referrals account for nearly 40% of all hires while only making up about 7% of all applicants.
Reaching out to your existing network takes some effort up front but yields better results over blind internet applications.
Connect With Friends, Former Colleagues, Professors
Think through who you know that works in roles or companies you‘d be interested in. Start broad by creating a master list then narrow it down to the most relevant people to contact.
- Friends from college – Did any study computer science or work in tech? Reach out!
- Former colleagues – Past team members may have leads or open roles.
- Professors – Faculty often have industry connections for star students.
- Family friends – You never know who they know until you ask!
Use Social Media
Post on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Slack groups saying you‘re exploring new career options in QA testing. Give an overview of your background and invite people to connect if they have relevant advice or opportunities to share.
The transparency may surprise you with leads. According to LinkedIn‘s Global Talent Trends 2022 report, 85% of jobs are never posted publicly. Tapping your tribe can surface many of those hidden gems.
Attend Local Meetups
In-person events related to software testing, quality assurance, or broader tech specialties allow you to organically mingle with potential mentors and hiring managers from solid companies.
Seek out relevant Meetup.com groups or regional tech associations to join. The face time can foster fruitful connections.
Track Your Outreach
Maintain a simple spreadsheet to monitor your network outreach efforts. Document the date, person/group, method, response, and any next steps. Setting reminders to follow up persistently pays off.
Way #2: Optimize Your Profiles
While personal pitches help, don‘t neglect profiles that make you discoverable to recruiters as well.
Below are tips for showcasing your QA skills online.
Boost Your LinkedIn Presence
LinkedIn operates essentially as the internet‘s professional network and job mega-hub now boasting over 875 million members.
Stand out by:
- Adding a professional headshot
- Customizing your background photo
- Showcasing core skills, certifications and volunteering
- Harnessing rich media like images, presentations, videos
- Publishing posts to establish thought leadership
Check that your experience summary at the top tightly aligns with QA testing roles you want to be contacted about.
Spruce up previous position descriptions to emphasize software testing achievements using metrics. For example:
Performed integration testing for client ecommerce platform handling $800K monthly transactions. Identified critical defects prior to production improving customer experience.
Polish Your Resume
Beyond networking conversations and online spaces, your resume remains the artifact that gets evaluated earliest.
QA testers should highlight specialized expertise up top including:
- SDLC methodologies applied
- Domains tested
- Tools utilized
- Technical skills leveraged
- Key testing accomplishments
For ideas, browse these QA resume samples then craft your own tailored version.
Set Up Job Alerts
Job hunting can feel like a part-time gig itself between networking and submitting applications.
Save yourself energy by setting up automated alerts to be notified of newly posted roles matching your target titles, skills, companies on preferred sites like Google Jobs, ZipRecruiter, Indeed, Monster, etc.
This allows passive progress while you actively network.
Way #3: Utilize Job Boards
While referrals carry more weight, you still want to cast a wide net and capitalize on general public job listings relevant to your goals.
Below, we‘ll explore the top job boards for QA testing roles specifically.
Know the Best Sites to Find Open QA Roles
The key sites software testers should monitor include:
- Indeed – World‘s #1 job site database including listings aggregated from company career pages, other major job boards, etc
- Dice – specialized technology career hub with sophisticated filtering specifically for tech roles
- Test Collab – database focused exclusively on QA testing job opportunities
- Software Testing Club – job board associated with the Software Testing Club community platform
- LinkedIn – beyond networking connections, excellent source of direct job listings across industries
- Angel List – go-to spot to find roles with startups and technology companies
For more boards, browse this list of over 30 focused specifically on software QA openings.
Create Keyword-Rich Profiles
The sites above allow you to create robust searchable profiles highlighting your specialized QA expertise.
Be sure to include keywords recruiters search to match open roles with qualified candidates. Relevant terms include:
- QA Engineer
- Software Tester
- Test Automation Engineer
- Quality Assurance Analyst
- QA Lead
- SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test)
Expand each position description to incorporate related skills like:
- Defect Tracking
- Test Planning
- Regression Testing
- Accessibility / Usability Testing
- Security Testing
- Performance Testing
Set Up Job Alerts
Just as with LinkedIn and Google Jobs, enable email notifications for new postings on these boards that match your target QA titles, skills and companies.
Applying promptly raises chances so automated alerts keep you in the loop.
Bonus: QA Testing Sample Cover Letter
Make individual applications really stand out with a intro letter tailored specifically to the open role.
Let’s dissect a template showcasing your awesome QA competencies:
Dear Hiring Manager,
When I discovered the opening for a QA Tester on your careers page, I was thrilled by the alignment with my expertise in test automation for consumer mobile applications.
Across 5 years working within Agile teams at high-growth tech startups, I have designed and implemented test automation frameworks spanning end-to-end UI flows, API, unit test coverage driving significant quality improvements pre-production.
My experience includes:
* Launching test automation in Selenium Webdriver & Appium available 24/7 for on-demand regression across iOS, Android, web apps
* Creating Postman collections to efficiently validate new API endpoints automatically merged into CI/CD pipeline
* Partnering directly with devs to drive unit test coverage from 23% to over 65% QoQ through coaching sessions
I was also impressed to see your organization’s mission to enhance health outcomes through improved patient engagement. My aunt is a two-time breast cancer survivor so developing apps that connect users to better manage their health is a cause I am passionate about as well.
I would love to discuss more how my automation expertise and commitment to shipping dependable mobile healthcare apps can support your innovations improving lives. Please let me know appropriate next steps to be considered for the QA Tester role. You can reach me at 555-555-5555 or [email protected]. Thanks!
Sincerely,
[Your Name] Let‘s analyze the key elements that make this sample cover letter compelling:
- Matched Skills – Right up front, called out specialized expertise in test automation directly relevant to the role
- Achievement Stats – Quantified the software testing impact made – UI to Unit test coverage jumps
- Cultural Alignment – Expressed passion connected to their health outcomes mission for extra fit
- Clear Next Steps – Shared contact info and suggested meeting to advance consideration
For more cover letter examples and templates to showcase your stellar testing abilities applying for your next gig, review this collection of QA resources.
Now you‘re equipped to go crush your upcoming job search leveraging insider tips! I know with preparation and persistence, you’ll land that ideal QA testing position in no time.
Let me know if any other advice would be helpful. Happy to chat more over email or a quick video call. Just ping me anytime!
You’ve got this. Go get that dream job!