CV and LinkedIn keywords for a QA / Test Engineer
The skills, tools, standards and professional registrations South African recruiters search for when they fill qa / test engineer roles (also advertised as Software Tester, Test Analyst, Automation Tester). Copy what is true for you, then check your CV against the list below.
Professional registration
| Body | Designation recruiters look for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ISTQB | ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) | Advanced and test automation levels for senior roles |
Write the category and status exactly, for example "Candidate" or "Professional". A registration body on its own, with no category, tells a recruiter very little. Never list a registration you do not currently hold.
Core skills
Tools and software
Standards, legislation and contracts
Check your CV or LinkedIn profile against this list
Headline examples
The pattern: role, registration, sector or speciality, one proof point. Keep it under 220 characters so it shows in full on mobile.
How to use these keywords
- Show coverage or defect numbers: tests automated, regression time cut.
- Automation tools are the main filter. List the framework and language.
- Name the systems you tested and their industry.
- Mirror the advert. If it says "ISTQB", write "ISTQB", not a shortened version. Applicant tracking systems match words, not meaning.
- Only use keywords your experience backs up. An interviewer will ask about every one of them.
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Which keywords should a QA / Test Engineer put on a CV in South Africa?
Start with the skills recruiters filter on: test automation, manual testing, regression testing, test plans, test cases, API testing. Add the tools you use (Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, Postman) and the standards or laws you work under (ISTQB, agile, ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119). Use the advert's exact wording wherever your experience matches.
Does a QA / Test Engineer need professional registration?
ISTQB registration as ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) is what South African recruiters most often look for in this field. Advanced and test automation levels for senior roles. Put the category and status in your headline, for example "Candidate" or "Professional".
Where do the keywords go on LinkedIn?
Headline first, then the first two lines of your About section, then the Skills section and the first bullet of each recent role. Recruiter search weights the headline and current job title most.
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