If you're planning to start a career in software testing, one of the first questions you’ll face is: “Where do I begin?” Should you jump into manual testing? Start learning tools like Jira or Postman? Or dive straight into API or automation testing?
It’s a valid concern because the QA field is broad and filled with tools, terms, and roles. As a beginner, it’s important not to get overwhelmed by advanced topics too early. You need a clear, step-by-step roadmap that builds your confidence and prepares you for your first job.
This blog will help you understand exactly what to learn first, why order matters, and how Cinute Digital’s stepwise approach can help you transition smoothly into QA, whether you're a fresher or switching careers.
New to QA? Start here: Complete Guide to Software Testing Courses
Table of Contents
- Why Choosing the Right Starting Point Matters
- Start with Manual Testing Basics
- Add Basic Tools: Jira, Postman and Excel
- When to Move into API or Automation
- Why Order of Learning Matters
- Real-Life Example: Why I Started with Manual
- How Cinute Digital Structures Your Learning Path
- Related Blogs to Follow Next
- FAQs on What to Learn First in QA
- Conclusion
Start with Manual Testing Basics
The most beginner-friendly and essential entry point in QA is manual testing. It gives you the foundational knowledge you need to become a software tester, even without any programming background.
By starting with manual testing, you’ll understand how software testing fits into the software development lifecycle. You’ll also learn how to read requirement documents, write test cases, execute them, and report bugs clearly. These skills are the core responsibilities in nearly every QA job.
At Cinute Digital, we always begin with manual testing during the first phase of training. It’s where students build their “tester’s mindset” and learn how to evaluate applications from a user’s point of view.
Add Basic Tools: Jira, Postman and Excel
Once you’re comfortable with concepts like SDLC, test case writing, and bug reporting, it’s time to start working with tools. The most beginner-friendly QA tools you should learn early on include:
- Jira – for bug tracking and project coordination
- Excel or TestRail – for documenting test cases
- Postman – to get a feel for APIS and backend testing basics
These tools are used across manual and automation roles, and learning them helps you become job-ready even before touching automation scripts.
Explore tools with our guide: Top Software Testing Tools for Beginners
When to Move into API or Automation
After you've built a solid manual testing foundation and are confident using tools like Jira and Postman, you can begin learning API testing or automation.
API testing with Postman introduces you to backend validation and how different systems communicate. It’s an essential skill in modern QA and often preferred even over UI testing in some domains.
You can take your next step into automation using Selenium (with Java or Python), supported by frameworks like TestNG or Pytest. But automation is not the right starting point unless you already understand how test cases work or how bugs are documented.
Need help comparing? Check out: Manual vs Automation Testing
Why Order of Learning Matters
Jumping straight into automation or API testing without manual testing experience often leads to confusion. You may learn how to write a test script, but if you don’t know why you're writing that script or what you’re trying to validate, the entire testing process becomes mechanical.
By starting with manual, moving into tools, and then exploring automation or APIs, you follow a natural progression that mirrors how real QA teams are structured. You don’t just learn tools, you understand process, logic, collaboration, and business context.
Real-Life Example: Why I Started with Manual
Ravi, a B.Com graduate from Ahmedabad, joined Cinute Digital’s QA course in 2024 with no IT background. He was initially excited by automation but was advised to begin with manual testing.
In his first month, Ravi wrote test cases for a demo e-commerce app, logged bugs in Jira, and used Postman for login validation. This hands-on practice helped him confidently answer real-world interview questions later. By month three, he had started learning Selenium with Java and was placed in a QA Automation internship at ₹4 LPA.
Ravi’s story is proof that starting with manual doesn't slow you down, it speeds up your real-world readiness.
How Cinute Digital Structures Your Learning Path
At Cinute Digital, we’ve structured our courses to match real hiring expectations. We begin with manual testing, then introduce tools, followed by API testing and automation, so you’re never overwhelmed and always moving forward with clarity.
You’re not just taught, you’re prepared to work.
Start structured learning: Manual + Automation Testing Course
Related Blogs to Follow Next
To continue your QA journey, check out:
- How to Become a Software Tester in 2025
- Manual Testing vs Automation Testing
- Top Software Testing Tools for Beginners
- Complete Guide to Software Testing Courses
FAQs on What to Learn First in QA
Should I learn manual or automation first?
Start with manual testing. It builds your foundation before you jump into scripting or automation tools.
Is it okay to skip tools like Jira and Postman?
No. Tools are a part of the job. Even manual testers are expected to know Jira and sometimes Postman.
Can I do API testing without coding?
Yes. Postman allows non-coders to send API requests and validate responses easily.
How soon can I move to automation?
You can start learning automation after 1–2 months of manual testing + tool usage practice.
Is manual testing still relevant in 2025?
Absolutely. Every automation tester starts as a manual tester. And many companies still rely heavily on manual testing for UI, usability, and new feature validation.
Conclusion
When it comes to starting your QA career, the path is clear, begin with manual testing. Understand the fundamentals, learn the tools recruiters care about, and slowly transition into automation or APIs as your confidence grows.
Cinute Digital’s step-by-step training ensures that no matter where you start, you’ll finish job-ready. We guide you from day one with concepts, tools, projects, and placement support, because your first step deserves the right direction.