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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: jeromedawg on July 23, 2021, 08:17:10 PM
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Hi all,
Just curious if any of you in technical positions have ever included beta testing on your resume. If so, how and where do you put the experience?
I'm currently beta testing a product but I can't really say anything about it because of an NDA hahaha. I'm wondering if I can still put the experience on my resume though and just very generally reference what it is (video/security camera device) without disclosing the company or the specific product.
The note on disclosure states: "Unless otherwise stated explicitly, under no circumstances should you attempt to sell your beta product, post about your beta product on social media, or indicate that you participated in this beta, before the project starts, during the project, and after the project ends."
Thoughts?
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So they say you can't disclose that you took part in the beta.
In theory you are breaching that if you are/were not somehow part of another beta too.
After it launches, all fine.
Depending on the job you seek, beta testing helps or not.
Testing job, sure.
Job in the domain of the beta tested product, maybe.
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I'm struggling to imagine a situation you did such extensive effort on beta testing that would warrant putting on your resume at all.
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So they say you can't disclose that you took part in the beta.
In theory you are breaching that if you are/were not somehow part of another beta too.
After it launches, all fine.
Depending on the job you seek, beta testing helps or not.
Testing job, sure.
Job in the domain of the beta tested product, maybe.
I'm struggling to imagine a situation you did such extensive effort on beta testing that would warrant putting on your resume at all.
A jobs I'm looking to consider applying for is with a company that makes media streaming hardware devices, which is why I was asking. Though the products are inherently different in purpose the commonalities are that both A) are hardware devices and B) involve streaming.
Anyway, it sounds like it's probably something I'd want to avoid listing on my resume or even mentioning in an interview UNLESS the beta is over?
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So they say you can't disclose that you took part in the beta.
In theory you are breaching that if you are/were not somehow part of another beta too.
After it launches, all fine.
Depending on the job you seek, beta testing helps or not.
Testing job, sure.
Job in the domain of the beta tested product, maybe.
I'm struggling to imagine a situation you did such extensive effort on beta testing that would warrant putting on your resume at all.
A jobs I'm looking to consider applying for is with a company that makes media streaming hardware devices, which is why I was asking. Though the products are inherently different in purpose the commonalities are that both A) are hardware devices and B) involve streaming.
Anyway, it sounds like it's probably something I'd want to avoid listing on my resume or even mentioning in an interview UNLESS the beta is over?
At most I would mention it at the interview stage.
Are you otherwise qualified for the job? If so then you don't need it.
If you aren't qualified for the job without the beta testing experience, then you probably won't get screened in anyway even if you do list it, as they can't verify anything about it.
But I would absolutely look sideways at a resume that indicated something was covered under an NDA, that would make me think the applicant has poor judgement even listing it, because if I were the one running the test, I would be unimpressed with it even being vaguely listed on someone's written resume.
If a question was asked about specific relevant experience though and the applicant said that they had such experience but can't discuss it at this time due to an NDA, that wouldn't bother me at all.
Note: this is all my personal perspective coloured by my personal biases based on my own industry
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At most I would mention it at the interview stage.
Are you otherwise qualified for the job? If so then you don't need it.
If you aren't qualified for the job without the beta testing experience, then you probably won't get screened in anyway even if you do list it, as they can't verify anything about it.
But I would absolutely look sideways at a resume that indicated something was covered under an NDA, that would make me think the applicant has poor judgement even listing it, because if I were the one running the test, I would be unimpressed with it even being vaguely listed on someone's written resume.
If a question was asked about specific relevant experience though and the applicant said that they had such experience but can't discuss it at this time due to an NDA, that wouldn't bother me at all.
Note: this is all my personal perspective coloured by my personal biases based on my own industry
I work in the similar industry to OP and feel similarly.
I've worked at tech companies that have similar programs (where you can beta test products that are covered by strict NDAs - in a lot of cases you aren't even supposed to tell your spouse/partner about the product). I would find listing them on the beta pretty awkward as a result.
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Thanks all.
I'll leave it out haha. If anything, I think the only time I would mention it is if I'm in an interview and we're discussing a related topic where it *might* be appropriate to bring up because of some relevant experience, etc.
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I wouldn't list it under job experience for all the reasons others have said. So don't try to list "Beta Tester, October 2020 to present, Company under NDA" or anything like that.
If you have a section on your resume where you list keywords of applicable skills, I think it'd be OK to list it as a generic skill: "Skills include: Unix, Microsoft Office, beta testing, agile methodologies..."
Then if it comes up during an interview, I think you could talk about it generically, like that you wrote up bug reports, or did weekly status reports, or helped with product installation, or whatever. Obviously stay away from any specifics about the product or the company, and maybe not even the industry. If they ask for anything too specific I think you could just say that your current work is under NDA and expect them to understand that and be OK with it.
(I've been involved on the company side of software R&D and testing for a Dow 30 tech company's beta testing program, and was also involved in hiring for them and another S&P500 tech company. I'd add that generally, beta testing is a nice to have, but it's probably not going to move the needle a great deal in any case. So even if you don't list it, you're probably not hurting your chances much if at all.)
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Unless the product is super cool or super dangerous, that's a very weird "skill" to put on a resume.
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Unless the product is super cool or super dangerous, that's a very weird "skill" to put on a resume.
"Beta Tester for a new Tesla Coil like Concept - Company Undisclosed"
LOL