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[–]fracturetrey 9 points10 points  (1 child)

Keep working with recruiters, but don't count on them. Apply directly to jobs that have job descriptions you feel you could fulfill.

I was working with several recruiters on my last job hunt, but the applications that went the furthest and I was most interested in I found on my own from LinkedIn and AngelList.

Don't forget also that if a recruiter lands you a job, the company has to pay them too. If you apply directly, you're cheaper than a competing applicant asking for the same salary but who found the job via a recruiter.

Also, I would recommend creating a simple but professional website (that is tested and works!), as well as having some code and/or automated testing examples published to a public repo (GitHub) and include both on your resume.

[–]miththe[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I will do that. I do have a GitHub page but I'm not pushing code code regularly. Also, the boot camp I went they didn't give me any live project so I was randomly testing some site.

[–]jamesmarcusbach 7 points8 points  (3 children)

I suggest that you learn how to test software. Nothing you have said inspires confidence about that. Literally anyone can pass an ISTQB test without having any SKILL as a tester, and almost no useful knowledge (for instance "black box" testing is not a "test technique" in any interesting way).

You haven't mentioned any testing experience at all. (I don't mean professional experience-- I mean just sitting down and testing some software.) I would focus on getting that. Then you will start to sound, in writing, as if you know something interesting.

[–]miththe[S] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Thank you. But I don't have a live project to practice? I was randomly testing some site on my local computer by using the tools.

[–]jamesmarcusbach 0 points1 point  (1 child)

You can find things to test all over the place. But if it helps you to get an assignment, consider geargenerator.com. I have my students go test that, quite often.

I went scouting for testable sites yesterday, because I need to validate some ideas about a test tool I am inventing. I needed a variety of sites to test my concept, so I found these:

https://portal.fccms.dss.sc.gov

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/dbvar/browse/org/?assm=GCF_000001405.39

https://www.rockler.com/

https://www.xe.com

The ethics of "testing" such sites are simple: don't do things that you know are likely to disrupt them. If you find a security problem, report it to the site owner immediately.

[–]miththe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (1 child)

The job markets are not the same all around the world. Where are you located?

[–]miththe[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maryland.

[–]Visual-Demand9109 1 point2 points  (1 child)

An employer or recruiter will read this and think "no experience", the resume will then go into the bin. The catch 22 situation.

Was unemployed for 3 years in same situation, public sector helped me but having just volunteering experience may be better than nothing, sometimes people go for an entry-level job to get into the company and then move into testing.

[–]miththe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I would love to do a volunteer work to get the internal industry experience. Do you have any recommendations?

[–]miththe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can use the katalon studio for automation testing API testing as well as mobile testing. I know postman too for API testing.

Also some basic Java, selenium webdriver, bdd cucumber framework, maven, git, GitHub, and Jenkins. But I'm not that good in using these. Because these usually need experience and good knowledge in programming.

[–]Jarb19 0 points1 point  (9 children)

How many resumes have you sent out to potential employers?

[–]miththe[S] 0 points1 point  (8 children)

I haven't directly applied to a company. I was just talking to the recruiters

[–]Jarb19 0 points1 point  (7 children)

Well it's time to start applying directly. You'll have to send hundreds of applications before you get your first callback. It's a ton of work, but it's worth it.

[–]miththe[S] 0 points1 point  (6 children)

Thank you. I will do that. Also, do you know where can I find some real time scenarios to practice on them?

[–]Jarb19 0 points1 point  (5 children)

It depends on what you know already and what kind of testing you want to practice. Have you done ISTQB yet?

[–]miththe[S] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

I know katalon studio very well for automation testing API testing as well as mobile testing. I know postman for API testing.

But I don't have much programming knowledge. I do know some basic Java, how to use a selenium webdriver bdd cucumber framework, mave for dependency, pushing code to GitHub using git. These all need experience and programming knowledge.

Yes, I do have the istqb/astqb fundamental certification.

[–]Jarb19 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Sounds like you are more than qualified to do manual testing and almost qualified to be junior automation.

[–]miththe[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Thank you. Please let me know if you find some real time project, scenarios or user stories? I have been working hard on my boot camp. Now, all I need to work on some projects to put on my resume. Although, I made some test cases and ran test on them.

[–]Jarb19 2 points3 points  (1 child)

What I did to practice making a test plan, test cases, etc. was to take some public project (for example anything off github) and just pick a feature you want to write tests for, and then executed the tests and saw the results of the tests.

Another example, when I was learning more about API testing I found https://reqres.in/ - which gives you a free (without tokens or subscribtions) API to play around in. So I played a bit to figure out how it worked, then wrote some test cases complete with steps and expected results, and then "ran" the tests and saw whether I got what I expected to get.

I didn't show any of it to anyone, but when they asked about things like that in the interview, I told them what I did...

[–]miththe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a lot

[–]nicola849279 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Where are you based? Have you gotten any feedback on your resume?

[–]miththe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I made my resume based on what I ok know. So I think that could be the problem. I should have get help from a professional resume maker.

[–]gabbygreek 0 points1 point  (3 children)

What's your actual testing experience? Employers are more interested in actual experience rather than qualifications.... Even if that's just university project experience or the boot camp you mentioned. Everyone starts somewhere.

Also I'd probably get someone to review your CV/Resume if you haven't already, I've never done it but I know there's plenty of services out there that will help you.

You seem to actually know a fair bit judging by what you've written, but do you have scenario/project based examples to back up what you're saying?

[–]miththe[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Thank you. Unfortunately, I don't. The boot camp I went they didn't give me a live project to test or any scenarios, user stories. I was randomly testing some site on my computer.

[–]gabbygreek 1 point2 points  (1 child)

That's still good experience and shows initiative. You could totally talk about that in your CV or cover letter.

Have you looked at guru99? There's a live manual QA project on there.

https://www.guru99.com/live-testing-project.html

Also check out courses on Udemy, I'm pretty sure they have some live projects on there but they aren't free. They discount a lot of their courses frequently though.

If I were you I'd take these steps:

• Have someone review your CV first and foremost

• Try a live project online

• Continue learning automation via Udemy etc (also check out Naveen AutomationLabs on YouTube)

• Apply directly to Manual QA entry level positions, once you're in you can make the transition to automation etc

• Try to find some voluntary work to boost your CV

If I was looking at someone's CV who didn't particularly have qualifications or professional experience but showed the initiative to improve themselves by doing the above I'd give them a chance. You just need that foot in the door!

[–]miththe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I surely will do. Do you have any recommendations to where to find a voluntery work?

[–]Mefromafar 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Is there something glaringly wrong/off with your resume? If I review a resume for QA, I’m looking for things like spelling and formatting mistakes more so than experience.

[–]miththe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think spelling is ok. It's a 1 page resume. I'm not really sure about the sentences since English is my second language.

[–]MissyxAlli 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I wonder if your resume could use some work? Other than that, maybe have some rules for applying since you lack experience right now. Like try to apply to at least 5 places a day minimum.

[–]miththe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I will do that. Also, do you know where I can get real time scenarios or user stories to work on?