In the competitive IT world today, each tester wishes to become something special. Imagine this: Ramesh, a manual tester from Hyderabad, wakes up one day to find his work not so relevant as his company begins to use automation tools. Priya, on the contrary, who was familiar with both manual and automation testing, not only retained her job but was also promoted. This is reality for most testers. Learning both manual and automation testing today is not just a bonus skill, it’s survival, growth, and career security. In this blog, we’ll understand why it’s important to learn both, how the industry is changing and what this means for your future.
What Is Manual and Automation Testing?
Manual Testing
Manual testing is the process of testing software applications without employing any automating tools. A tester acts like an end user, manually running test cases and verifying whether the application works as intended.
Real-Life Example of Manual Testing
Suppose you are working with an online ticket reservation application. As a tester, you launch the application, press the “Book Ticket” button, select a date, and press “Pay.” You carefully watch everything. This is manual testing.
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Automation Testing
It is the process of writing code or scripts to test software functionality automatically. Automation tools such as Selenium, TestNG, Cypress, and Playwright are utilized to minimize human intervention and accelerate testing.
Real-Life Example of Automation Testing
You compose a script that opens the ticket booking application automatically, picks a date, enters payment information, and books without manually clicking. That’s automation!
Why Testers Must Learn Both Manual and Automation in 2025
Industry Is Moving Fast – Be Ready!
According to NASSCOM’s report in 2024, over 80% of Indian software firms are automating their testing processes to save time and minimize manual effort. But there’s a catch here — these same firms still expect testers to:
- Understand product workflows
- Write manual test cases
- Think like users
- Write automation scripts
- Maintain automation frameworks
- Integrate with CI/CD tools
This is the reason manual and automation knowledge together is not a choice anymore. It is the new basic need in 2025.
Employers Want Dual Skilled Testers
A LinkedIn India job report in 2024 indicated that those job titles such as “QA Automation Engineer” and “Full Stack Tester” are increasing 2X more compared to manual tester roles.
Top Job Descriptions (Real Examples)
- Wipro job posting: “Seeking QA professionals with skills in manual and automation testing (Selenium or Cypress).”
- TCS job posting: “Need to know manual testing and basic automation tools. Having knowledge of CI/CD would be a bonus.”
You can very well understand that if you know manual testing alone, you will be left out. Companies are offering 20–30% more salaries to those testers who have the ability to do both.
Industry Metrics That Prove the Shift
Key Stats You Should Know
These are some strong facts that attest to the increasing significance of understanding both manual and automation:
- 92% of Indian tech firms utilize automation tools (Capgemini World Quality Report, 2023)
- 61% of QA recruitment notifications demand experience in manual as well as automation (Naukri.com data, Q1 2025)
- Organizations providing ₹4.5 LPA for manual-only testers, and ₹6.5–9 LPA for both-knowing testers
This significantly proves that the future lies with multi-skilled testers.
Benefits of Learning Both Manual and Automation
Boost Your Job Opportunities
Learning both opens doors to roles like:
- QA Engineer
- Automation Tester
- SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test)
- Full Stack Tester
- Test Lead
Whether you’re applying to MNCs, startups, or product-based companies, this dual skill makes your resume stand out.
You Will Understand Testing in Depth
Manual testing equips you with good thinking and analysis skills, while automation equips you with tech power. Together, you become a balanced QA professional.
How to Start Learning Both – A Simple Roadmap
Master Manual Testing
- Learn SDLC, STLC, Agile
- Practice writing test cases and bug reports
- Use tools like Jira or TestLink
Learn Basic Automation
- Pick one tool (Selenium recommended)
- Learn Java basics + TestNG
Write sample automation scripts
Combine Both & Build Projects
- Build 2–3 mini projects (E-commerce, login forms, etc.)
- Upload to GitHub
- Prepare resume + mock interviews
You can learn this full roadmap from institutes like Frontlines Edutech, which support Telugu students from zero knowledge to job-ready level.
Conclusion
In this rapidly evolving IT era, only knowing manual or only knowing automation is not sufficient. The actual career development is in being proficient in both sides of testing. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to begin.
Even if you are a Telugu speaking student from a small town, do not worry. Today’s resources make learning a cakewalk. Just remain disciplined, take the correct roadmap, and take guidance from mentors or platforms like Frontlines Edutech.
Begin now. Don’t wait for the industry push you push yourself prior to that.
Suggested Articles:
Manual vs Automation vs Full Stack Testing – What Should You Learn?
What Is Full Stack Testing? A Beginner-Friendly Guide
Is Full Stack Testing a Good Career Option in 2025?
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