15 QA Interview Questions and Answers

If you’re looking for a job in quality assurance (QA), you’ll need to be prepared to answer some tough questions. QA interview questions will vary depending on the position you’re applying for, but will generally focus on your experience, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of QA processes.

In this guide, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to answer common QA interview questions, as well as a list of sample questions and answers that you can use to help you prepare.

Why do you want to become a quality assurance professional?

This question is a great way to learn more about the applicant’s motivations and goals. It can also help you determine whether they are passionate about quality assurance, which can be an important factor in their success as a QA professional. When asking this question, it can be helpful to explain what inspired you to pursue a career in quality assurance yourself.

Example: “I want to become a quality assurance professional because I am passionate about helping companies create high-quality products that meet customer needs. I have always been interested in technology, so working in software development has always been appealing to me. I think being a part of a team that creates innovative solutions would be very rewarding.”

What’s your experience in QA?

This question is a great way to gauge your experience level and how you can apply it to the role. If you’re applying for an entry-level position, explain what you’ve learned in school or through internships. If you have more experience, highlight some of your most recent projects and accomplishments.

Example: “I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in computer science last year, so I’m fairly new to the field. However, I did complete an internship at a software company where I tested several applications. I also completed a project that helped me learn how to test websites and mobile apps.”

What’s your least favorite part of quality assurance?

This question is a great way to see how you react to challenges in your work. It’s important for employers to know that you enjoy the majority of your job and are willing to put forth effort to improve any aspects you don’t like. Your answer should show that you’re flexible, but also honest about what you dislike.

Example: “My least favorite part of quality assurance is when I find bugs or errors in software after it has been released to customers. This means that users may have experienced issues with the product before we could fix them. While this isn’t something I can control, I do my best to ensure that our team releases high-quality products as often as possible.”

How would you approach testing a new piece of software?

This question can help the interviewer understand your testing process and how you apply it to new software. Use examples from past projects or experiences to explain how you would approach this task, especially if you have experience with a specific type of software.

Example: “I would first read through the requirements for the software and create test cases based on those specifications. Then I would run my test cases to ensure they meet the requirements and identify any issues that need to be fixed. After fixing the issues, I would rerun the tests until all requirements are met. Finally, I would submit my report to management.”

Can you describe the software testing life cycle you use at your current job?

The interviewer may ask you this question to see how well you understand the software testing life cycle and whether you can apply it in your current role. Use your answer to explain what steps you take during each phase of the software testing life cycle, including defining requirements, creating test cases, executing tests and reporting results.

Example: “At my current job, I use a waterfall approach for software testing. This means that I first define requirements before moving on to create test cases. Once I have created test cases, I execute them and report any bugs or issues I find. Then, I repeat these steps until all requirements are met. Afterward, I move onto the next project.”

How do you determine the release date for a project?

This question helps the interviewer evaluate your ability to work with a team and make decisions. Use examples from past projects where you had to collaborate with others on a release date or discuss how you would decide on one if you haven’t yet.

Example: “I’ve worked on several projects that required me to determine the release date, but I always try to involve my team in the decision-making process. For example, when working on a project for a client who needed an update every two weeks, I discussed the best time frame for our QA team to complete testing while still meeting the deadline. In this case, we decided on a biweekly release schedule.”

What are the qualities you think a QA engineer should have?

This question is a great way to see if you have the same qualities as other QA engineers. It also allows you to show your knowledge of what it takes to be successful in this role. When answering, think about which skills and traits are most important for someone in this position.

Example: “I believe that being organized is one of the most important qualities a QA engineer can have. This helps them stay on top of their work and ensures they’re able to find any issues before they become major problems. I also think it’s important to have excellent communication skills. A QA engineer needs to be able to clearly explain their findings so others understand what they’re talking about. Finally, I think patience is an essential quality because testing can take quite some time.”

What are the different types of software testing?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the different types of software testing. You can list out all the different types and explain what each one does.

Example: “There are many different types of software testing, including functional testing, unit testing, integration testing, system testing, regression testing, load testing, usability testing, beta testing, alpha testing and smoke testing. Each type of testing has its own purpose and uses. For example, functional testing checks if an application works as it should. Unit testing checks if individual units work correctly. Integration testing checks if two or more applications work together. System testing checks if the entire system functions properly.”

Can you explain what stress testing is?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of QA testing. Stress testing is a type of software testing that involves putting the system under heavy loads and monitoring its performance. It’s used to ensure that the application can handle peak traffic, which is important for many businesses. Your answer should include an explanation of what stress testing is and how you’ve performed it in the past.

Example: “Stress testing is a method of software testing where I put the system under heavy loads to see if it can perform well. This is especially useful when working on projects with large user bases because it allows me to identify any issues before they become major problems. In my last role, I would use tools like JMeter to simulate thousands of users accessing the website at once.”

What is static testing and what are its subcategories?

This question tests your knowledge of the different types of testing. It also allows you to show that you can apply what you know about static testing to a real-world situation.

Example: “Static testing is a type of software testing where the tester analyzes the code without executing it. There are two subcategories of static testing, which are syntax and semantic. In syntax testing, I check for errors in the source code by using tools like compilers or linting tools. Semantic testing checks if the program’s behavior matches its requirements.”

What are the differences between cosmetic and severe defects?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the different types of defects. Your answer should include an explanation of what each type is and how they differ from one another.

Example: “Cosmetic defects are small issues that don’t affect the functionality of the software or application. For example, if there’s a spelling error in the user interface, this would be considered a cosmetic defect. Severe defects, on the other hand, are more serious and can cause major problems with the software or application. If there’s a bug that causes the system to crash, this would be considered a severe defect.”

What are some tools you use to test functionality?

This question can help the interviewer understand your technical skills and how you apply them to a project. Use examples of tools you’ve used in previous roles, and if you haven’t worked as a QA tester before, consider mentioning some tools you’d like to try.

Example: “I use Selenium for functional testing because it’s an open-source tool that allows me to write test cases in different programming languages. I also use Cucumber for acceptance testing since it helps me automate my tests by using business requirements. For load testing, I use JMeter, which is a free application that lets me create performance benchmarks and stress test applications.”

How do you determine the quality of code?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the software development process and how you can contribute to a team. Use examples from previous experience that highlight your critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.

Example: “I use several methods to determine the quality of code. One method I use is static analysis, which involves running a program over the source code to check for errors in syntax, runtime errors and other issues. Another method is unit testing, where I write test cases to ensure the application functions as expected. Finally, I also perform usability testing to see if the application meets user requirements.”

How do you test for usability?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your knowledge of the testing process and how it relates to quality assurance. Use examples from past projects where you tested for usability, or explain what steps you would take to test for usability in your next role.

Example: “I’ve worked on several projects that required me to test for usability. In my last position, I was tasked with finding bugs within the user interface. To do so, I used a variety of tools including automated software and manual testing methods. I also performed tasks similar to those users would perform when using the application to ensure I didn’t miss any issues.”

What is automated testing? Have you used it?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of QA testing. It also allows you to show the interviewer that you have experience with automated testing and can use it in your daily work.

Example: “Automated testing is when a computer program runs tests on an application or website. I’ve used automated testing for many years, as it’s one of my favorite ways to ensure quality within applications. In fact, I prefer using automated testing over manual testing because it saves time and resources while still providing thorough results.”