QA / test analyst resume keywords that get past the ATS

QA and testing roles are screened for specific testing types, tools, and methodologies. If your resume doesn't name them, a capable tester can still get filtered. Here's what to include — only what you've genuinely done.

Testing types

The core screens: manual testing, automation testing, functional testing, regression testing, integration testing, system testing, UAT (user acceptance testing), smoke testing, performance testing, API testing. Name the types you've actually performed.

Automation tools and frameworks

Highly searchable: Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Appium, JUnit, TestNG, Cucumber, Postman, JMeter, SoapUI. Automation experience is a strong differentiator — list the tools you've worked with.

Process and artifacts

Common terms: test cases, test plans, test scripts, test strategy, defect tracking, bug reporting, test coverage, traceability, QA lifecycle. These show you understand the discipline, not just the clicking.

Tools and methodologies

Searchable and concrete: JIRA, TestRail, Zephyr, Azure DevOps, Agile, Scrum, SDLC, STLC, CI/CD. JIRA and Agile are near-standard — include what applies to you.

How to use them honestly

Mirror the specific posting. An automation-heavy role screens for Selenium and frameworks; a manual QA role emphasizes test cases and defect tracking. Match your real experience to the posting's language, show it in context, and keep a clean skills line. Leave off tools you haven't used.

The honest check

Before applying, confirm your resume names the testing types and tools the role screens for — and that you match the balance of manual vs. automation they want. Keywords get you past the filter; the right fit gets you the interview.