Software Tester CV examples

XXWhen you’re writing a CV, you should make sure it’s as error-free as your test reports hope to be. Recruiters don’t want to trawl through unnecessary fluff – they’re scanning for someone who knows their way around bug tracking and QA processes.

This guide will show you how to give your CV maximum impact, whether you specialise in manual testing, automation, or a bit of both. From skills to experience, your CV will pass every hiring manager’s test case.

Your CV should be logically structured and packed with the right information like your best test plan. It should be easy to follow for recruiters who need to quickly understand your qualifications, tools knowledge, and experience in ensuring software quality: a messy structure will only make them move onto other candidates.

Here’s the layout to follow:

• Name and contact details – Ensure your name and personal details are easily visible at the top. A photo is optional and depends on the role.
• Profile – A quick overview that summarises your testing experience, tools proficiency, and what makes you a valuable QA professional.
• Core skills – List technical abilities like test case design, automation frameworks, bug tracking, and agile collaboration.
• Work experience – Showcase your roles in reverse chronological order, clearly detailing your testing responsibilities and achievements.
• Education & certifications – Provide details on your academic background, including your degree, certifications, and specialised training.
• Additional info – Optionally mention side projects, relevant hobbies, professional members, and any related awards.

Stick to a clean, professional font complete with bullet points and clear headings, and aim for a CV no longer than two pages in length. Your format is just as important as its content, so don’t let visual mistakes overshadow your expertise.

Your CV profile is your chance to clearly show you’re a tester who ensures software is robust, user-friendly, and fit for release. Keep it sharp and relevant, showing both technical expertise and your approach to quality. If your profile is as generic as ‘Lorem Ipsum,’ recruiters won’t read past the first line: tailor it to the roles you’re applying for.

Here are some tips on what to include:

• Testing background – Mention manual, automated, or hybrid testing experience.
• Tools & frameworks – Include key ones like Selenium, JIRA, Postman, TestRail, or others relevant to the role.
• Soft skills – Emphasise analytical thinking, communication, and collaboration with dev teams.
• Project exposure – Mention the types of projects or systems you’ve tested (e.g., web apps, mobile platforms, APIs).
• Career goals – Clearly state what you’re looking for next, such as growth into automation, QA leadership, or domain-specific roles.

Your skills section should help recruiters quickly verify you’ve got what it takes to find, document, and verify bugs – efficiently and accurately. Recruiters are scanning for specific keywords, so take them from the job description and put them front and centre.

Tailor this section to the job spec, clearly listing your best assets. These might include test case creation, test automation (e.g., Selenium, Cypress), functional testing, regression testing, Agile/Scrum familiarity, API testing, or performance testing.

Now it’s time to show what you’ve tested, how you’ve contributed, and what value you delivered. Your work experience section is your chance to prove that you’re not just familiar with testing – you’ve done it successfully, in the real world, under tight deadlines and pressure. Employers want proof of hands-on experience.

Start with the most recent or relevant testing role and move backwards. Emphasise the environments you worked in (Agile, DevOps, Waterfall), the platforms tested (e.g. iOS, Android, Web), and the impact of your work – such as reducing release bugs or improving test coverage.

New to the industry? Include relevant projects, internships, or even personal testing work that demonstrates real QA skills.

• Outline – Introduce the employer and the types of projects or platforms you tested.
• Responsibilities – Highlight key testing tasks such as writing test cases, executing test plans, or reporting bugs. Use action verbs like “executed,” “automated,” and “documented.”
• Achievements – Emphasise results like reducing production bugs, increasing test efficiency, or contributing to successful launches. A great tip is to include figures that make your achievements feel more tangible and real.

Software testing roles don’t always require formal degrees, but relevant qualifications and certifications boost your credibility. Include degrees (e.g. Computer Science, IT) as well as short courses and vendor certifications. 

Your education section should be significantly shorter than the rest of your CV, as practical experience is always most important to recruiters.