According to recent global statistics, the software testing market has evolved to a net worth of 40 billion USD. Specialists are expecting that by 2027, it will grow further by 7%. The rapid rise of the software development industry has made a lot of tech enthusiasts switch their careers to becoming QA testers. If you are interested in learning manual testing skills, check out all the insights we have shared in our Manual Testing Tutorial.

Pursuing a career in Manual Testing has a lot of benefits. As per the mentioned statistics, there will always be demand for software testers in various IT companies all over the world. This will help you thrive in a dynamic environment facilitating your growth, knowledge, and understanding of software. Secondly, it will offer you high salaries, boost your reputation, and give you the global recognition that you deserve. According to popular surveys, a manual tester’s salary in the US ranges from $63,000 to $105,000. 

With such perks, you must be wondering, what are the skills that you must require to become a successful QA manual tester? Well, speaking of our company – Inevitable Infotech – the manual tester skills we look for are knowledge of programming, Agile testing, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), cross-browser/cross-platform testing skills, and acquaintance with testing tools & techniques. Let’s have a look at them in detail.

Manual Testing Skills for Freshers

1. Programming Knowledge

It is one of the most basic and vital manual testing skills for freshers. You may not have to be as good as a software developer. Nevertheless, having a basic understanding of the functionality of the language used can help a tester identify potential errors before time. 

2. Understanding the Basics

Having a basic understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle is also required. This is one of the most sought-after manual testing skills companies are looking for. It helps speed up the process of software development while also making you efficient in your problem-solving. 

3. Attention to Detail

Software development companies are always looking for manual tester skills like attention to detail. The process of manual testing is in itself a rigorous one. You have to set up, execute, and record the response of software in a particular environment, over and over again. The more you can hold attention, without getting fatigued, the more you will have an edge over other manual testers. 

4. Analytical Skills

Other important manual testing skills include analytics. An ideal manual tester must have the ability to critically think, observe, and provide his/her feedback. Since there are a lot of automated tools already available in the market, manual testers must have acute analytical thinking to be able to set themselves apart from automated tools. 

5. Creating Test Cases

As a QA manual tester, you must also be aware of what are test cases and how to create them. The process is very simple, one must analyze and understand the requirements of a project. Then they must strategize all the necessary test cases that the software must be eligible for. Then he/she must create those test cases for the software to record its response.

6. Test Execution and Reporting

Execution and reporting require a manual tester to know how to use certain techniques and tools to run a test. It is considered to be valuable manual testing skills in a resume when a candidate is well-versed in a variety of testing tools. They must also be very strong at communication to create comprehensive reports. 

7. Bug Tracking and Management

The main manual tester skills that we look for include Bug Tracking and Management. It is very difficult to identify a bug in the developmental stages of software. Learning a few tools that give you accurate results, helps. However, it is the candidate’s ability to closely look at things and predict a bug that is highly valued in the software development industry.

8. Test Documentation

Finally, the Software QA Tester must know how to create comprehensive documents. As a manual QA tester, you must collaborate with the team of developers constantly, to help improve the performance of the product. Therefore, knowing how to produce test documentation is also highly sought after in the industry.

Sample Manual Tester Resume for Entry-Level Candidates

As a QA testing company, our team needs to go through thousands of applications and resumes every day. With such a high level of exposure, one thing that we have understood is that a simple, yet confident resume is always preferred above everything else. Here’s an example of one, that you could follow as a fresher:

Manual Testing Skills for Experienced Testers

1. Understanding of Software Development Processes

If you are in the industry for 1-2 years, companies are going to expect you to have an in-depth understanding of the Software Development Processes. That includes learning various methodologies like Waterfall, Scrum, Lean, Kanban, etc. 

2. Knowledge of Different Testing Methodologies

Experienced manual tester skills are slightly different from those of freshers. For instance, once you have made your way to the industry you must know various test types including performance testing, security testing, cross-browser testing, and more. 

3. Understanding of Agile and Scrum methodologies

Agile testing methodologies are very popular as they are directly correlated with customer requirements. Agile development also ensures that the software that is built is very high in quality and advanced in its performance. So as an experienced tester, these QA tester skills will be required to get hired. 

4. SQL and Database Knowledge

Domain-specific knowledge of SQL and databases is also one of the most important software testing skills. As an experienced tester, the concepts, ideas, and knowledge about how to interact with the Database Management System should be crystal clear to you. 

5. Advanced Test Case Design

Learning how to create advanced test case design is also important. Advanced Test Cases are required to find intrinsic bugs in complex projects. For instance, you must have knowledge of Black-box, White-box, and other experience-based techniques. 

6. Test Data Management

Test data management or in other words, project management is an essential manual testing skill for an experienced tester. You should have the leadership quality to create and direct test data management platforms in an easy and comprehensible way. 

7. Test Automation Integration

Now that you are good with bug detection the other requirement in your resume will be Test Automation Integration. This way, you can reduce the time of rigorously testing software and simply write a test code to let the computer do the hard work. 

8. Risk-Based Testing

Finally, you will be expected to handle risk-based testing. It simply implies that you will be in charge of risk management in testing activities. You will be responsible for creating and offering a framework where the developers, the stakeholders, and other important people involved in the project come together to discuss all the risk factors.

Sample Resume for an Experienced Manual Tester

It is very easily understandable that the resume of an Experienced Manual Tester must be different from that of a fresher. If you have already been in the industry for more than 2 years, your resume must highlight the projects you have completed, and the companies you have worked with, along with an updated portfolio. It ideally should look like this: 

Complete List of Manual Tester Skills to Add to Your Resume 

Here are all the Manual Testing Skills that you can browse through and add to your resume:

1. Test Planning and Design Skills

Test Case DesignTest PlanningTest Documentation
Test Strategy DevelopmentTest Data ManagementTest Environment Setup
Test ScenariosTest ValidationTest Verification
Requirement AnalysisTest Environment ConfigurationTest Data Generation
Risk-Based TestingTest EstimationTest Prioritization
Test TraceabilityTest Process Improvement

2. Test Execution and Reporting Skills

Data IntegrityData ValidationDefect Tracking
Test ReportingTest Result Analysis

3. Testing Types Knowledge

Regression TestingUser Acceptance Testing (UAT)Functional Testing
Usability TestingExploratory TestingSmoke Testing
Cross-Browser TestingCompatibility TestingPerformance Testing
White Box TestingBlack-Box TestingBoundary Value Analysis
Equivalence PartitioningCompatibility TestingMobile Testing
API TestingETL (Extract, Transform, Load)Web Testing
GUI Testing

4. Tools and Software Skills

JiraSeleniumQTP (QuickTest Professional)
ToadAndroidXML
HTMLSQL ServerPL/SQL
Windows XPUnixWeb Services

5. Methodologies

Defect Lifecycle ManagementSDLC (Software Development Life Cycle)
Agile and Scrum methodologies

6. Soft Skills

Communication SkillsProblem-SolvingAttention to Detail
Time ManagementTeam Collaboration

How to Improve Your Skills as a Manual Tester?

1. Focus on Continuous Learning

The best way to sharpen your manual testing skills is to keep on learning. The software development industry is very dynamic. There is the advent of something new every day. The only way you can stay ahead in the game is by always learning new techniques, tools, and methodologies of QA software testing. 

As a fresher, what you can do to upskill yourself in the field is by availing of several online courses and resources. A lot of websites offer these manual testing skills tests to help you self-analyze your growth. You can also get certifications from trusted websites that can make your resume stand out. 

2. Mentoring and Networking

Another way you can improve your manual tester skills is by networking. There are several online forums where software developers, testers, engineers, etc. come together to post queries or find solutions. Look out to participate in those forums and seek mentors for yourself to guide you on the right path. 

3. Personal Projects

It is not necessary to always work on other people’s projects. As a skilled manual tester, you can even have your own projects. You can sign up with these QA tester community forums and find unsolvable queries to work on. Once you find something that suits your interest, you can work on solving to self-evaluate your knowledge of software.

4. Attending Conferences and Workshops

Last but not least, attend as many conferences and workshops as possible. Keep in mind that software QA testing does not have a one-fixed formula. It’s an industry that is growing into different corners every minute. So the more you expose yourself to other people’s talks and experiences, the better you will be equipped to deal with your challenges. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, know that with a basic idea of coding languages and a knack for software, you can become a highly sought QA tester in the industry. A lot of people are switching to software testing to improve their careers. Software development companies or QA testing companies are always looking for the right candidate to test their projects. And now, you can become a part of our team too! At Inevitable Infotech, we put our best minds into solving software developmental problems for our clients. And we are always looking for manual testers for hire. Check out our available job opportunities to advance your manual testing career.

FAQs 

How do I become a successful manual tester?

To become a successful manual tester, one must have some knowledge of programming languages. They should learn about SDLC, Agile testing, and techniques, and must have critical thinking along with a problem-solving attitude. A manual tester with a high level of communication skills is deeply valued in the industry. 

Which skill is required for manual testing?

The software testing skills in demand are Attention to detail, analytical skills, creating, executing, and reporting test cases, bug tracking and management, project management, etc. 

How can I improve my QA skills?

You can improve your QA testing skills by continuously learning new things. Plus, appearing for self-evaluating mock tests for manual testers can also help you improve. Other than that having a community of mentor and talented software engineers, attending conferences and workshops, also help in the long run.

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