20 User Stories Interview Questions and Answers

A user story is a short, simple description of a functionality that will be delivered to an end user. In agile software development, user stories are used to capture requirements from the customer’s perspective. User stories are an important part of the agile development process, and as such, interviewers often ask questions about them. If you are interviewing for a position that involves agile development, it is important that you are prepared to answer questions about user stories. In this article, we will discuss some common questions about user stories and how you should answer them.

User Stories Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked User Stories interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is a user story?

A user story is a short, simple description of a feature or functionality that a user or customer would like to see in an application. User stories are typically used in agile software development as a way to capture requirements from customers or users.

2. What are the characteristics of a good user story?

There are a few key characteristics of a good user story. A user story should be short and concise, so that it is easy to understand. It should also be specific, so that it is clear what the user is trying to accomplish. Additionally, a user story should be independent, so that it can be worked on separately from other user stories. Finally, a user story should be testable, so that you can verify that the user story has been completed successfully.

3. Can you explain what INVEST stands for in relation to user stories?

INVEST is an acronym that stands for Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, and Testable. These are all qualities that make for a good user story, and so INVEST is a good framework to keep in mind when creating user stories.

4. How do you write an effective user story?

User stories should be short, simple descriptions of a feature from the perspective of the user. They should be written in a way that is easy for everyone to understand, and should be specific enough that they can be used to guide development. A good user story should be something that can be completed in a few hours, and should be small enough that it can be easily implemented.

5. Is it possible to use more than one persona while writing a user story? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to use more than one persona while writing a user story. This can be done by creating a user story that is relevant to more than one persona. For example, a user story that is relevant to both a customer and a customer service representative would be something like “As a customer, I want to be able to contact customer service so that I can get help with my purchase.”

6. Why should we use user stories instead of functional requirements?

User stories are a more user-centric way of thinking about the requirements for a project. They focus on what the user needs and wants from the system, rather than on the specific functions that the system needs to perform. This can help to ensure that the final product is more user-friendly and intuitive.

7. Do all projects require user stories? Why or why not?

User stories are not required for every project, but they can be helpful in many cases. User stories help to define the functionality that a project should have from the perspective of the user. This can be helpful in ensuring that the project meets the needs of the user and that the user is able to use the project as intended.

8. What’s your opinion on using fictional characters as personas in user stories?

I think it can be helpful to use fictional characters as personas in user stories, as it can help to create a more concrete and relatable image of the target user. Additionally, it can help to make the user story more engaging and interesting to read. However, I think it is important to not get too caught up in the details of the persona, and to make sure that the user story still accurately reflects the needs of the target user.

9. What are acceptance criteria and how can they be used with user stories?

Acceptance criteria are the specific conditions that a software product must meet in order to be accepted by the customer. They are often used in conjunction with user stories, which are brief descriptions of a feature from the perspective of the user. By including acceptance criteria with user stories, developers can be sure that they are building the product the customer wants.

10. What’s the difference between a feature and a user story?

A feature is a broad description of something that a software product should be able to do. A user story is a specific, concrete example of how a user would use that feature. User stories are used to help developers understand the functionality that users need and how they will use it.

11. What does a “done” user story look like?

A “done” user story should be small, self-contained, and testable. It should represent a single, valuable functionality from the user’s perspective. Once a user story is complete, it should be able to be used or tested by the customer or user.

12. Can you give me some examples of real-world user stories that were successfully implemented?

There are many examples of user stories that have been successfully implemented. One example is the story of a user who wants to be able to search for a specific product on a website. This user story would be implemented by creating a search bar on the website that allows users to input the product they are looking for. Another example is the story of a user who wants to be able to filter search results by price. This user story would be implemented by adding a price filter to the search results page.

13. What are some common mistakes that occur when implementing user stories?

There are a few common mistakes that can occur when implementing user stories. One is not properly understanding the customer or user’s needs. This can lead to stories that are either too specific and not general enough, or too general and not specific enough. Another mistake is not involving the customer or user in the story creation process. This can lead to stories that do not accurately reflect the customer or user’s needs. Finally, another mistake is not properly prioritizing the stories. This can lead to a situation where the most important stories are not implemented first, and the less important stories are implemented instead.

14. What are the different types of user stories?

User stories can be classified in a few different ways, but one common way to think about them is in terms of the level of detail they provide. A high-level user story might simply describe the goal that a user is trying to achieve, without going into any detail about how that goal will be accomplished. A low-level user story, on the other hand, would provide more specific details about how the user will achieve their goal. Another common way to think about user stories is in terms of the type of user they are describing. For example, you might have a user story that describes a goal that a customer is trying to achieve, or a user story that describes a goal that an internal employee is trying to achieve.

15. Should every member of the team participate in creating user stories? Why or why not?

While it is important that every member of the team understands the user stories and how they relate to the project, it is not necessary for every member to participate in their creation. Typically, it is the product owner or business analyst who is responsible for creating user stories. However, if team members have input or ideas that they feel would be beneficial to include, they should absolutely share them. The goal is to create user stories that accurately reflect the needs and wants of the user, and the more input that is gathered, the better.

16. What do you think about using user stories in place of a traditional project schedule?

I think that user stories can be a great way to keep track of progress on a project, especially if the project is being developed in an agile way. I like that user stories can be easily divided into smaller tasks that can be completed in a shorter time frame, and that they can be prioritized based on the needs of the user. I think that using user stories can help to keep the project on track and ensure that the end result is something that the user actually wants and needs.

17. What are technical tasks versus business tasks in the context of user stories?

Technical tasks are the implementation details of a user story that need to be completed in order for the story to be considered done. Business tasks are the goals that the user story is trying to achieve and can be thought of as the “why” of the story. For example, a technical task might be to create a button on a website, while a business task might be to increase website conversions by making it easier for users to take the desired action.

18. Describe a time when you failed to deliver on a user story. What happened?

I was working on a project where we were trying to create a new feature for our website. We were trying to add a new way for users to search for products. I was in charge of creating the search function. I worked on it for a week and then showed it to the team. It didn’t work. I had to go back to the drawing board and try again. I eventually got it to work, but it was a frustrating experience.

19. Have you ever had to remove a user story from a product backlog? If so, why?

Yes, there have been times when a user story had to be removed from a product backlog. There can be a few reasons for this. Maybe the story is no longer relevant, or maybe it has been superseded by another story. In any case, the reason for removing a user story should be communicated to the team so that everyone is on the same page.

20. Tell me about a time when you successfully completed a complex user story. What did you learn from this experience?

I was once tasked with creating a user story that involved a lot of different moving parts. I learned that it is important to break the story down into smaller, more manageable pieces. I also learned that it is important to get input from other stakeholders to make sure that the story is complete and that all of the necessary details are included.