A letter to the hiring manager of software testers: 10 years later

Rosie Sherry wrote an excellent article titled “To the Hiring Managers and Recruiters of Software Testers” nearly 10 years ago! In it, she covered areas like how testing had moved to more process-based, rather than about helping create great products. The difference between certification and other ways to get education in the craft, as well as the skills involved. 

We thought it would be great to share an updated 2025 version, focused on the current market and including how the role has changed and evolved. This time, from a current recruiter's perspective! So, whether the job title you are looking for is a QA Analyst, Exploratory Tester, SDET(Software Development Engineer in Test) or Quality Engineer, read on. 

Dearest hiring manager, 

I hear you're looking to add a new software tester to your team, and I think I can help you. I have spent the past nine years working with testers and hiring managers like yourself, helping them to find each other. Let me tell you a little more about the current market for testers in the UK. 

The current UK hiring market for software testers

I won't lie to you, it’s been a turbulent few years for many software testers. Redundancies have been high. In 2023, nearly 2,000 tech companies made significant layoffs, resulting in over 260,000 tech workers out of their jobs by December. 

Job cuts have continued to plague the industry, with over 81,000 tech workers laid off in 2024, according to Verdict.co.uk. Unfortunately, it's often our wonderful testing departments who are hit first, and arguably the hardest. Now more than ever, they are craving stability and companies that see and appreciate their value. Bear with them, they might be wary initially, redundancy can have a lasting impact on an individual, but they will reward the right company with fierce loyalty and their best work.

Like every facet of tech, testing changes fast. There is always a hot new tool or framework, and sometimes it can be hard to keep up! Don’t forget you’re investing in a person, not just a list of skills. Don’t ever lose the human touch in your recruitment process, and make it as inclusive as possible. 

The software testing certification or experience debate: which is more valuable? 

What about certifications? I hear you ask, are they still relevant? That’s a great question, and not one I can answer alone. However, for what it is worth, real-world experience will always outweigh a certificate for me. That said, there are way more options available now to a budding tester looking to grow their software testing career. Look out for those who invest time in online courses to upskill, particularly the highly regarded Software Testing Essentials Certification from the Ministry of Testing. It is a modern introduction to the world of software testing. It's created with a forward-thinking lens and with current experts from within the software testing industry. At its core is the development of a portfolio of work so that those taking the certificate come away with a practical body of work demonstrating their learning. 

It takes a village (community) to build a tester 

On that note, now more than ever community is so important to testers. Whether they are experienced software testers or aspiring ones looking to learn more to progress their journeys, meetups are a great and free way to network. The Ministry of Testing Manchester meetup saw over fifty attendees in January, and the new London meetup was attended by over one hundred in its first two outings (January and April). You may also see conference events like TestBash, Agile Testing Days, Peers Con, and the Testing Atelier mentioned on CVs or cover letters. Take note of these. The best testers out there are active in the community, sharing knowledge with others and helping to make the testers of the UK the best they can be. Chances are, if a CV mentions running, speaking at or attending events like this, they are someone you’re going to want to talk to.

Key skills for the modern software tester in 2025

Now, to skills. How do you tell who can walk the walk, not just talk the talk? There are so many roles, titles and other skills in testing that it can be hard to know where to start. You need to first identify what it is your company needs. What are your pain points? And, where will a tester add true value to your project? A specialist recruiter like me will be able to help pull together a cohesive job specification that you can take to market to attract the right talent. I see too many companies asking for things like automation experience with no clue what they want or need to automate. To attract the best, you must first understand what you truly need. 

Don’t get too bogged down in specifics. Any skilled Tester worth their salt will be able to pick up on new things. An example would be someone who’s experienced in Cypress but not Playwright. If you take the time to learn the similarities between certain tools, this will help you widen your talent pool. 

The best CV won't just be a long list of skills, they will be able to tell you what they did, why they did it and how it improved things. Testers don’t always sell themselves the best on their CVs, as one or two pages isn’t a lot of space to tell you all the things they do and have experience in. Interviews are a two-way process, and you must create an experience that allows them to best highlight their knowledge. 

A Ministry of Testing Profile can be an excellent place to find out about a candidate. Think of it as a living CV. Not only does it demonstrate an interest in the wider testing community, but it also acts as a showcase of their involvement and contributions. There you can see everything from articles, conference attendance, talks and a wide range of other contributions. You can even see who is open for work, teaching, mentoring and more. Check out Ady Stokes MoT profile page as an example of an established software tester’s profile. 

Improving the recruitment experience for software testers and hiring managers 

Both candidates and hiring managers need to make improvements, but by working together, we can improve the recruitment journey. Here are my suggestions for both sides of the fence!

Candidates: Keep your skills and CV up to date. Make it concise and an accurate representation of your skills and experience. Learn the power of a network, get involved with the community even when you aren’t job seeking, they will be your greatest asset should that time come! How to get more involved with the MoT community. 

Hiring Managers: Thoroughly understand the role and the why behind the gap you are looking to fill. You need to know what makes testers tick to attract the best of the best. Don't always look for the “perfect match”, there are many incredible testers looking for work who could add huge value despite not ticking all your boxes right off the bat. Generally, testers are continuous learners and can pick up things quickly. Use that. 

To sum up

Testers are some of the most passionate, curious and hardworking people you will ever meet. I implore you to see their value and treat them accordingly, not just in the recruitment process, but once they have joined you. Take some time to thoroughly understand the role of a tester in your organisation and the value they add. If you aren't familiar with the role or perhaps it's your first time recruiting a tester, there are some amazing resources out there to help! 

Check out the articles on What makes a good software tester?, and What makes software testers tick?, in the references.  

There are also specialist recruiters out there, like me, who solely dedicate their time to sourcing and placing the best testing talent. So, if you are a hiring manager looking for top software testing talent or a software tester seeking your next opportunity, don’t be afraid to reach out for support. 

I hope this helps, and good luck! 

Your sincerely

Gabbi Trotter

Software Testing Recruiter- Searchability 

References: 

• To the Hiring Managers and Recruiters of Software, Rosie Sherry - Article
• What is software testing?, Ady Stokes - Article
• Searchability recruitment agency website
• Ministry of Testing Software Essential Certificate 
• Ministry of Testing meetups list 
• TestBash 2025, October 1 - October 2, 2025 - Software Testing and Quality Engineering conference
• Testing Peers Conference
• Testing Atelier Conference 
• What makes a good software tester?, Kate Paulk - Article
• What makes software testers tick?, Federico Toledo, PhD - Article