5 Steps to get your first job as a QA Manual Tester

I know first hand getting a job in an area where you have no experience it’s not easy. But thanks to the great demand that exists today all around the globe, we have a shot at making it a little quicker with the right tools and advice.
Here is mine:

1. Set up your LinkedIn profile
   The number one way for recruiters to find you is on LinkedIn. Setup a new profile adding skills such as:
   - Manual Testing
   - Regression Testing
   - Functional/Non-Functional Testing
   - Quality Assurance
   - Defect Identification
   Add the courses and certifications you have on the Education/Courses section.
   Earn badges for topics related to QA/ Testing, like HTML/CSS, SQL Database, Management, etc
   Add in the title of your profile the work you are doing. i.e: “Manual QA Trainee”, something that indicates the recruiter the career path you are taking.
2. Learn the basics of the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle)
   If you don’t have any experience in the IT field, more specifically in Software Development, the first thing you need to do is to learn the basics of the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle). Most companies have similar ways of working so it is important to understand what are you doing, why are you doing it and how.
   Learn more about SDLC
   Take a free course on SDLC: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/software-development-lifecycle
3. Complete some courses on Testing / QA
   There are out there a lot of free courses on QA and having that in your LinkedIn profile and resume can make the difference to a recruiter.
   Some great courses to do:
   https://www.coursera.org/learn/introduction-software-testing
   https://www.coursera.org/learn/black-box-white-box-testing
   https://www.coursera.org/projects/start-your-api-testing-journey-with-postman-tool
4. Get a certification
   Certified testers many times are prioritized over those who are not. And the most recognized certification for beginners is the ISTQB Foundation Level. The exam is a 40 question multiple choice that covers topics like SDLC, methodologies, difference between different testing techniques and standards for testing and template creation. It’s not free, but it’s worth it.
5. Start applying to jobs
   Get on the Job section on LinkedIn and start applying to Jr/ trainee QA jobs. Start messaging recruiters and let them know you are open to your first job in that field, ask them to consider you. There are a lot of opportunities, IT schools offered by the same companies that are out there looking for candidates.

Good luck!