3 Ways to Protect Your Testing Career

1. If you are already employed as a software tester, this is the time to build your QA testing knowledge. In a poor economy, you want to be the most valuable tester with a broad understanding of many testing areas. If you can do many types of testing, you are the one managers want to keep.
    
2. If you are looking for a software QA job, this is the time to build your credentials. You want your resume to go to the top of the stack so you can get the interview. Certifications and micro-credentials can help do that. If two job candidates appear to be essentially equal, who will the hiring manager choose: the tester on the Official U.S. List of Certified & Credentialed Software Testers™ or the one who isn't? 
    
3. If you are a QA manager, this is the time to build your team's capacity. During a recession, teams are asked to do more with less. Certifications and micro-credentials provide teams with common QA terminologies and principles. This makes them more efficient so they can get the work done, something higher-level management will notice and appreciate.

Find Testers for Your QA Team 

If you need to add full-time or freelance software testers, start by searching the AT*Work™ directory of software testers available for hire. It's free to use.

AT*SQA's AT*Work™ directory makes it easier for employers and available testers to find each other.

• AT*Work features testers who are independent/freelance or currently between jobs due to layoffs or career changes.
• Employers can search for testers by skill and see testers who have proven their knowledge through one or more certifications or credentials earned through AT*SQA or ASTQB. These include our ISTQB and AT*SQA certifications plus our AT*Micro™ micro-credentials. 

Employers: Search for testers now. Testers: Learn how to opt-in to appear in AT*Work™.

Looking for a Job? Share Your AT*Work™ Profile

If you are actively searching for a job, include a link to your AT*Work on your resume, in your emails, and in correspondence with hiring managers.

It's easy. Here are the steps:

• Go to the AT*Work search page
• Enter information that will bring up your profile
• Click on your profile
• Then copy the URL for that page and paste it wherever you need it

Note that the profile lists your location, but for privacy reasons, users won't see your name until they create an account, agree to the terms of use, and log in.

This is a quick way to share your certifications, credentials, skills, and experience levels with one simple addition. Feel free to use the logo above!

How Do You Compare?
The Official U.S. List™ and Testing Tiers® Software Tester Rankings

As a professional on the Official U.S. List of Certified & Credentialed Software Testers™, you have shown your commitment to working efficiently with U.S. companies and their software development teams by:

• Demonstrating your American English ability through the exam registration process. 
• Passing AT*SQA's official American English version of your ISTQB certification exam, AT*SQA certification exam, and/or AT*SQA micro-credential exam.
• Continuing to improve as a tester by building your level in the Testing Tiers® software tester rankings. 

The only way you can appear on the Official U.S. List and the AT*Work™ directory of testers for hire is by taking your ISTQB certifications, AT*SQA certifications, and AT*SQA micro-credentials through AT*SQA. Learn more now. Of course, AT*SQA will also add you to the ISTQB SCR if you pass an ISTQB certification exam.