How to get the most out of your MoT profile: Top tips for maximising value

You may be reading this with broad knowledge about the Ministry of Testing. If so, feel free to skip this first section. However, if you are new to software testing, the Ministry of Testing or are just getting started in general, let’s introduce the largest and most inclusive software testing community in the world, in their own words. 

Ministry of Testing is a community of practice for software testing and quality engineering professionals. We believe the software testing, quality engineering, and quality assurance professions deserve a space, a community, a network, and the possibility to expand.

Our mission is to advance our industry by any positive means possible.

We practice this by having the community at the heart of our philosophy for delivering:

• Community contributions in the form of articles, talks, testing trends, conversations, podcasts, courses, memories, memes and more! 
• Our (now annual) TestBash conference 
• Software testing certifications 
• A cared-for and active community

Ultimately, our goal is to thrive together. We exist because of the community and always hope they are better off with the Ministry of Testing.

Now that you are familiar with the Ministry of Testing, let’s jump into the article. 

Introduction

When someone types your name into a search engine, what shows up? A Job portal profile? A LinkedIn page? A website? Or something more engaging?

If you have a role related to software testing, such as a software tester or quality engineer, your Ministry of Testing (MoT) profile can be that something that makes you stand out. The MoT profile is different from other account profiles. It’s much more than a community membership. It’s a mirror. It’s a self-reflection of you and your career. A special way to signal the testing world and say, “Here’s who I am. Here’s what I do, and this is where I’m headed.”

Think of it like this: a CV sits still like a snapshot. You generally update it when something big changes, like a promotion or a new job.  In stark contrast, an MoT profile moves with you. It grows when you grow. Every article, every talk, and every answer you provide. It’s all there, stitched into your professional story.

In this article, we will explore how a Ministry of Testing profile can help your career, contribute to building your network, help you get recognised for your knowledge and contributions, and even boost your professional confidence.

Why does having a Ministry of Testing profile matter?

Many testers create a Ministry of Testing profile simply to access great resources, such as 99 essential resources to help software testers, or post questions on The Ministry of Testing Club Forum. That’s a great start. But don’t stop there. Your profile can help you shape your career and public identity.

A good profile speaks for itself. It shows the shape and direction of your journey. It’s not just about the job titles you’ve held, but the questions you’ve asked, the ideas you’ve shared, and the ways you’ve shown up for the community. 

Let’s unpack the different types of benefits your MoT profile can bring.

Professional benefits to help you rise above the noise

A lot is happening in the world of technology and software testing. Social media and professional platforms such as LinkedIn are filled with buzzwords and noise. Making a good, solid, and recognised reputation is harder than ever.

But here’s what your MoT profile can do to help you build an online reputation:

• It shows a footprint of your testing journey
• It displays your interests, contributions, and skills all in one place
• It helps others, like recruiters, peers, or future collaborators, see what makes you different and worth contacting 
• It demonstrates that you are not just someone looking for a job, but you’re seriously involved in the wider software testing community

Figure 1: Rahul Parwal's testing journey showcased through achievements, interests, and contributions.

You might be thinking, “But I already have a LinkedIn profile.” That’s true, but MoT is completely testing-focused. It attracts the right kind of attention from within the testing world. It is built for testers and by testers. So the people who will find you here already speak your language. It’s a platform made for great things to happen. Those looking for help or answers to questions get support and help. Those looking for work get recommendations, guidance, CV reviews and job suggestions from the job board. 

A portfolio is stronger than the most detailed CVs

CVs are static snapshots. MoT profiles, on the other hand, are like dynamic stories. They’re alive and auto-updated with every talk you give, every answer you write, and every course or certification you do.

Your contributions and activity can become your ultimate portfolio in the testing community.

Here’s how you can think about it in terms of various sizes and types: 

🟢 Small contributions

These are things that are easy to start with, fun to do, and valuable to many!

• Add a glossary entry
• Share a testing meme
• Add a memory or story from your testing journey
• Answer a question on The Club

🟡 Medium contributions

These things are great if you want to share your voice and add your perspective.

• Write an article or blog post
• Give a 404 talk or 99-second talk
• Present an online talk 
• Appear on the TWiT (This Week in Testing) stage

🔴 Large contributions

These are impactful and inspiring contributions with a wide impact on the wider testing community.

• Deliver a TestBash talk
• Run a workshop
• Create an on-demand course
• Contribute to certifications
• Host a TWiT episode

Pro Tip: Start small, grow naturally, and have fun along the way! Every contribution helps build your portfolio as well as make the community a better place.

Each contribution comes with badges and community stars. However, it’s not just about collecting achievements, although earning badges and community stars can be enticing. It’s about reflecting on action. Each piece isn’t a trophy. It’s a signal. You’re not watching from the sidelines. You’re in the game.

Preparing for the future? Proof of your work helps

Hiring managers aren’t just scanning resumes anymore. They’re clicking links and searching for you on the web. Companies are looking for signs of curiosity, growth, and action before they get you on board.

If your profile is active, it gives them something most CVs cannot: verifiable evidence. Proof that you think, care, and contribute your knowledge to the wider community. Proof of your work is going to be the future of applying for tech roles. Building a portfolio of your work will also make you future-ready. 

Ask yourself: What does your available professional profile say about you right now? And what do you want it to say a year from now?

Becoming a Pro member can unlock even more

There’s a lot you can do with a free account. But a MoT Pro membership takes things to a different level.

It can give you:

• Access to exclusive live and virtual events
• A growing library of courses 
• Discounts on TestBash and certifications
• A catalogue of expert talks, workshops, podcasts and articles
• This week in testing sessions, to stay sharp
• Create collections to guide your learning journey
• Insights on the latest testing trends
• Access to the community Slack space that stays active 24/7
• Networking with leaders in the software testing and quality engineering fields

and so, so much more.

Think of it as a curated experience for serious professional software testers. You’re not just browsing. You’re building. Not just consuming but actually growing. With MoT Professional membership, you can advance your career to reach new heights with a supportive community on your side. You are already a continuous learner to keep up to date with the industry. MoT is at the forefront of community research and delivering information, learning and certifications to keep you not only up to date but ahead of the curve, giving you an advantage at your work and in your career. 

Ministry of Testing has everything you need, from resources, education, events and network, to validation that you are on the right track. Also, you get both individual and team subscription options.

Community benefits to unlock the hidden doors

Who knows you is more important than who you know? 
- James Clear

When you show up in the community by writing, speaking, or commenting, you create your digital footprints. Your Ministry of Testing (MoT) profile gathers them all. These signals also help you connect to the wider testing community.

When others see you and not just what you do, but how you think, the doors to various opportunities start to open. Not always loudly. Sometimes quietly. Unexpectedly. But they open.

Your profile connects you to the people who notice:

• Your skills, through talks, articles, and certifications
• Your interests, through the questions you ask and the ideas you share
• Your openness, to mentor, to learn, to collaborate

You won’t always see it happening. But it’s happening. This is how your name travels. This is how you become known.

Figure 2: Rosie Sherry leads the community through testing passion and decades of experience.

Personal benefits to help you show up in small but meaningful ways

Not everything is about titles or teams. Sometimes, it’s about pausing and reflecting. Your MoT profile is like a professional journal. It keeps a record of how far you’ve come.

You might use it to:

• Track your growth over time
• Summarise your testing story
• Feel more confident about what you’ve achieved

During my Testbash 2024 talk on “Productizing Yourself”, someone asked me how I showcase all that I do with a CV. I responded that: 

“I have never made a CV (in the last 6 years). I am my CV. My work is my CV. My portfolio is my CV.”

That got a huge round of applause from the attendees. 

However, if you want to see what I do as part of my testing career, I can comfortably say that my MoT profile is also my CV. It’s a good reflection and a live story of my career journey. I think it speaks louder than any resume can ever do. Now, through the Observatory, you can share what you do outside the Ministry of Testing to show on your profile too! 

Welcome to the MoTaverse

The Ministry of Testing is not just a website for testers. It’s a complete world in itself. We call it the MoTaverse. It’s a beautiful space of learning, career advancement, and opportunities for software testers, quality engineers and all quality professionals. A place where we are better together. A place where we can make better sense of all the knowledge out there.

If you haven’t explored the full range of the MoTaverse yet, here’s what you’re part of:

• Over 150,000 testers around the globe
• 1,000+ expert-led talks
• 24+ courses, ready when you are
• 700+ members jumping into TestBash
• 404 articles on testing and quality engineering
• Growing certifications focused on real testing skills
• Weekly learning circles
• A job board built just for testers
• And yes, memes, meetups, memories, and much more.

Figure 3: The MoTaverse in numbers

Your profile is like a passport in the MoTaverse. It lets you explore, connect and belong.  

The MoTaverse is here to help you and your team grow. To conduct community-driven research, expand our collective knowledge, inspire new ideas, and connect people, leading to insights and the latest and most valuable content. All so that you can make better decisions about how to ship better quality software.

One profile. Many possibilities.

When someone searches “your name” or “testers in [your city]”. What do you think they will find? If you are in the MoTaverse, they are most likely to find your MoT profile on top. 

It’s searchable. It’s shareable. It’s SEO-friendly. It’s a one-click insight into your testing life.

MoT Profiles are increasingly showing within Google Search and ChatGPT results. They are fast becoming the way to stand out in a crowded market.

Figure 4: Ministry of Testing profiles boost your discoverability through strong SEO.

It works like a personal site without the work of building one. You don’t need a flashy portfolio. You need a place that reflects your story. And with MoTaverse, that place already exists. You just have to shape your identity. And remember, you can add what you have done publicly elsewhere, too! 

What should you highlight on your MoT profile?

A great profile doesn’t try to say everything. It says what matters. It speaks with intention and care. It demonstrates your confidence and showcases what you bring to the table and areas where you are still growing.

Let’s explore the building blocks of a strong MoT profile.

Authenticity Speaks Louder Than Words

Your skills are valuable. But your authenticity is magnetic. With MoT profiles, you can showcase your authenticity in the form of:

• Badges are awarded for contributions and participation
• Verified profile badge that signals trust and commitment to potential recruiters.
• Community stars that recognise your willingness to help and share. It also states your reasons for contributions. To know the various possibilities, check out the MoT community algorithm.
• MoT Certifications to add credibility to your expertise in testing, automation, and beyond.

Figure. 5: Ben Dowen’s verified profile showcases his passion for quality, learning, and contributions at MoT.

Each of these tells the story of someone who is active, visible, and committed to their craft. Not just someone present, but rather someone who is doing.

Let the world know you’re open to…

There’s a simple section on your profile called “Open to.” It might look small. It’s not.

It tells the world how you’d like to connect and what you could do for them. 

• Want to work? Activate that option.
• Want to write, teach, speak, or mentor? Let people know you are available.
• Open to internships or collaboration? Tell the world through your profile.

Activating yourself as ‘Open To’ adds you to an Open To public list for people to view your availability. You never know what message might land in your inbox. For members, it has led to jobs, opportunities and projects they might otherwise not have known about. 

Figure 6: Ministry of Testing Open to… public list

Showcase your presence and personality

Profiles that stand out don’t just showcase skills. They express a personality.  With MoT profiles, you can let others see the human behind the handle:

• Your interests
• Your location
• Your pronouns
• Your online presence in places like LinkedIn, YouTube, Bluesky or your own blog or website 

You’re more than a job title. Let that truth echo through your profile.

Figure 7: Ady Stokes MoT profile talks about his passion and contributions to the MoTaverse.

Contributions that tell a story

In today’s high-demand market, your work should speak for you. With MoT profiles, you can showcase your:

• Inside MoTaverse work such as talks, workshops, articles, etc., that you work on and contribute to the MoTaverse.
• Outside MoTaverse work can count too. Through the Observatory, you can link to things you’ve written, created, or led elsewhere.
• Work with others. When you tag other people, it not only builds your own profile but also builds theirs. We can build each other up, it’s a win-win-win!
• Follow others and get followed. MoT profiles also give an option to follow others, pretty much the same way as social media platforms do. You can keep up with people you’re interested in, and others can follow you to stay updated on your latest contributions.

Be mindful that you don’t need hundreds of entries to showcase your contributions. Strive to be consistent. If you are consistent, you can easily show your range in a quick time.

How to build a great MoT profile

If you have just made a MoT profile, chances are high that your profile looks a little empty right now. That’s okay. Everyone starts somewhere, and the good news is, it doesn’t take much to breathe life into your MoT profile.

Here are some quick wins that can help you build some good momentum:

Start small, start smart

Try this:

• Add a clear, friendly profile photo. Real faces build trust.
• Write a short bio that says who you are and what you're into. Keep it real. Avoid AI-generated bio.
• Mention your interests. They make your profile more searchable and more you.
• Link it to your blog, LinkedIn, YouTube, or whatever shows your professional side.
• Got a great story from a meetup or TestBash? Share it. Memories matter. Examples:
  • Ady Stokes at Nordic Testing Days 2025
  • Me reading "The Testing Planet" with our budding software testers at ifm
• Use Satellites to add extra context (side projects, tools you love, etc.).
• Add testing terms or topics you care about to the Glossary.

Each step might feel small. But together, they shape a profile others want to explore.

Show up in The (MoT) Club

The (MoT) Club is where great testing conversations happen every day, across every timezone.

Want to build momentum fast? Join in:

• Ask a thoughtful question. Curiosity is a signal.
• Share a tip that worked for you. Your real experience will resonate with others.
• Help someone in a discussion thread or take part in a poll.
• Attend a session live or catch up with the replay.
• Pick up a badge, maybe even become a Community Star.

The more you contribute, the more connected you become. And the more visible you are not just to others, but to yourself. Here are more details on the MoT Community algorithm if you want to show up in the MoTaverse.

Make your profile clickable and approachable

When someone lands on your profile, your first impression matters a lot. Here are a few tips that can help you optimise your profile:

For clickability

• Craft a profile title that reflects what you’re exploring. E.g., “Tester diving into AI + Accessibility”
• Use a professional photo and make sure to keep it warm and human.
• Keep your skills and achievements updated.
• Write a short “About Me” section that sounds like you, not an AI bot.
• Link to talks, blog posts, or anything you’re proud of.

Little touches like these invite people to learn more about you.

For approachability

• Add your location. It helps with local events and meetups.
• Tick your “Open to” boxes. It tells people how they can reach out or collaborate.
• List your key interests. They’re conversation starters waiting to happen.

Your profile isn’t just a summary. It’s a handshake, an invitation, a “Hey, this is who I am.”

Figure 8: My MoT own profile optimised to convey approachability

To sum up

Your MoT profile is more than a page on a platform. It’s an ongoing story of what you learn, how you grow, your contributions, and connections.  It’s not about being perfect or polished. It’s about being present and part of the community.

Be Visible. Be Curious. Be Involved. Be Consistent.

If you are new to the MoTaverse, take a short pause for a moment and ask yourself:

• Does my current profile reflect who I am right now?
• What opportunities could it unlock if I gave it a little love?
• Am I willing to show up in this community, not just scroll through it occasionally?

Take the first step. Sign Up or Log in to the Ministry of Testing. Update one thing. Share one insight. Add to a Glossary definition (Pro members). Your future self will thank you for it, and so might someone who’s been waiting to find a tester just like you.

Happy testing!