Find Top QA Talent In 2023: Why Recruitment is Key

Ben Fellows

At Loop, we have interviewed more than 250+ different candidates in our time across job postings and our in-house recruitment efforts. We focus on a range of candidates from technical to non-technical backgrounds. Through this experience, we have identified several key takeaways about the challenges and benefits of hiring QA professionals.

The quality assurance (QA) industry plays a critical role in ensuring that software products and systems are of high quality and meet the requirements of their users. However, finding qualified QA professionals can be a challenge for companies, especially if they rely solely on job posting to fill these positions. There are several reasons why recruitment is 10x better than job posting when it comes to hiring QA professionals.

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Industry Awareness Is Low

Only 3 out of 10 candidates we interviewed had heard of the QA career path, although nearly 100% had heard of software development. The three that had heard of QA often came from technical backgrounds. This highlights the low industry awareness of the QA industry and the job opportunities it offers.

This can make it difficult for companies to attract top talent through job posting alone, as these individuals may not even realize that QA is a viable career path for them. Recruitment allows companies to proactively seek out and identify individuals who may have the skills and experience needed for a QA role, even if they are not actively looking for a new job. This means that companies can tap into a pool of potential candidates who may not have considered a QA career before, increasing their chances of finding top talent.

The Workforce Does Not Believe They Have the Skills

Only 2 out of 10 candidates we interviewed said that they would have applied to a QA job. They often expressed that they didn't know what the necessary skills were to be successful and expressed surprise that they could be capable of doing the job.

This highlights the lack of trained and skilled workers in the QA industry, as well as the belief that individuals may not have the necessary skills or training to pursue a QA career. Recruitment allows companies to identify and train individuals with the potential to succeed in a QA role, even if they do not have previous experience in the field.

This means that companies can invest in the training and development of their employees, helping them acquire the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a QA role.

Job Descriptions May Not be Great Representations of the Job

It is not uncommon for job descriptions to be overly vague or unrealistic, which can lead to a lack of qualified candidates applying for QA positions. This is especially true for entry-level QA roles, where individuals may not have the exact skills and experience listed in the job description.

Recruitment allows companies to be more flexible in their hiring criteria and consider individuals who may not meet all of the requirements listed in a job posting, but who have the potential to succeed in a QA role with the right training and development. This means that companies can hire individuals who have the potential to grow and develop in a QA role, rather than being limited to only those who meet all of the requirements listed in a job posting.

The Best Candidates Often Don't Have Existing QA Experience

When it comes to recruitment, the best candidates for QA positions often don't have existing QA experience. This is because QA requires a specific set of skills and knowledge that can be learned and developed through training and experience. Therefore, companies should not be discouraged if they don't find candidates with QA experience in their job search.

Instead, they should focus on identifying individuals who have the right combination of technical skills, problem-solving ability, and attention to detail that are necessary for success in a QA role.

Recruitment allows companies to consider a wider range of candidates and assess their potential to succeed in a QA role, rather than being limited to only those with prior QA experience. This means that companies can bring on board top talent with the right combination of skills and attributes, rather than being limited to individuals with a specific job title or job history.

By using recruitment to identify and train top talent, companies can build a skilled and knowledgeable QA team that is well-equipped to deliver high-quality products and services.

LinkedIn Recruiter

When it comes to hiring for quality assurance (QA) roles, LinkedIn Recruiter can be your best friend. One of the key features of LinkedIn Recruiter is the ability to see candidates who are "open to opportunities." This means that these candidates are actively looking for new job opportunities and are open to being contacted by recruiters.

Using LinkedIn Recruiter, you can search for candidates based on a variety of criteria, including job title, industry, location, and more. You can also use advanced search filters to narrow down your search results and find the most relevant candidates.

Once you've found a candidate who is open to opportunities, you can reach out to them directly through LinkedIn. You can send them a message, invite them to connect, or even send them a job application.

One of the benefits of using LinkedIn Recruiter is that you can see a candidate's full profile, including their work experience, education, and skills. This allows you to get a better understanding of their qualifications and how they might fit into your organization.

Another advantage of LinkedIn Recruiter is that it gives you access to a large pool of talent. With millions of users on the platform, you have a greater chance of finding the perfect candidate for your open position.

Just remember, the best candidates for a QA position often don't know that QA even is an option.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, recruitment is 10x better than job posting when it comes to hiring QA professionals due to a variety of factors, including low industry awareness, a lack of trained and skilled workers, and the limitations of job descriptions.

By using recruitment, companies can proactively identify and train top talent, rather than relying on individuals who happen to see a job posting and apply. This allows companies to hire the best QA professionals, ensuring that they have a skilled and knowledgeable team in place to deliver high-quality products and services.

If you are interested in learning more about how to recruit QA candidates, you may want to check out more of our articles on hiring. This article provides tips and best practices for finding and hiring top QA professionals, including how to identify the right candidates, how to assess their skills and experience, and how to structure the recruitment process to ensure success.

By following these guidelines, you can improve your chances of finding and hiring the best QA professionals for your company.

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