Software Qa Engineer Interview Preparation

Top 15 Software QA Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

1. What's the difference between verification and validation?

Verification means to check if the product meets the specification while validation checks if the product meets the customer's requirements. Essentially, verification is about ensuring that the product is built as per documentation and within requirements while validation checks if the product solves the customer's problem.

2. What tests do you perform for verifying user interfaces?

Here are the types of tests performed on user interfaces:

• Layout and visual tests that verify object placement, font size/color, and visual elements
• Functional tests such as buttons, links, and navigation
• Compatibility tests for various devices, screen resolutions, and OS
• Performance tests for load and response times
• Security tests that verify SSL and cookies

3. How do you manage defects?

Defect management is a key responsibility of QA engineers. Here are some steps to manage defects:

• Document the defect accurately
• Perform root cause analysis
• Fix and test the defect
• Verify that the defect is truly fixed
• Close the defect as resolved or deferred
• Determine if there are any trends or patterns that suggests any broader issues

4. What is a test case, and what is its purpose?

A test case is a documented procedure that outlines the steps to be taken, the input data to be used, and the expected result of the test. Testing cases are written to ensure that the system meets the requirements and functions correctly. These cases are also used to help identify defects and issues that may exist in the system being tested.

5. What's the difference between regression testing and retesting?

Regression testing involves running tests on already tested software to ensure that newly made changes have not created new problems. Retesting is running previously failed tests again to ensure that problems have been fixed, and it is working as expected.

6. What's a smoke test, and what is it for?

A smoke test is a simple test that is used to verify if the critical functions of the software are working correctly. It is performed at the beginning of a testing cycle to ensure that the build is stable or that no critical issues are present. The goal is to ensure that the software is stable enough for further testing to begin, and if there are any critical errors found, the software build is rejected.

7. What is a bug life cycle?

The bug life cycle includes the following states:

• New: A new bug is discovered, and the QA engineer creates a bug report
• Assigned: The bug report is assigned to a developer to work on it
• Open: Developer works on the bug
• Fixed: Developer fixed the defect and sent the report back to QA
• Closed: QA verifies the defect is resolved and marks it closed
• Reopened: If the defect reappeared, the bug is reopened and goes through the process again

8. What types of testing have you performed?

As an experienced QA engineer, my testing experience includes:

• Functional testing
• Regression testing
• Integration testing
• Automation testing
• Usability testing
• Load testing
• Performance testing
• Security testing

9. What is a traceability matrix?

A traceability matrix is a table that links and maps requirements to test cases. By doing this, teams can ensure that all requirements have corresponding test cases and help find where a possible issue might exist. Tracking requirements and its progress in a traceability matrix enables you to understand which tests are related to which requirements, thereby ensuring complete coverage of requirements with test cases.

10. What's the difference between QA and QC?

Quality assurance (QA) is focused on preventing quality problems by ensuring that processes are in place to stop them from occurring. Quality control (QC) is focused on finding quality problems by identifying defects through tests, inspections, reviews, and other techniques. In short, QA is focused on processes, while QC is all about detecting and fixing issues within a product or process.

11. How do you approach testing for performance?

Here's how to approach performance testing:

• Set-up metrics and goals to be achieved by testing.
• Identify the crucial scenarios where performance testing needs to be performed.
• Identify the expected behavior of the system/application at the time of the test.
• Create a meticulous test data plan and test environment; take into account the production equivalent data and target architecture such as software, hardware, and network.
• Select the right performance testing tool according to the resource and budget constraint.

12. What is your approach when you discover that the testing of an application is taking too long?

Here are some actions that can be taken to tackle the speed issue:

• Optimize the test cases and focus on testing critical functionality of the application.
• Adjust test scope and adopt risk-based testing.
• Enable parallel testing with a distributed testing structure.
• Utilize automation testing and script optimization for complicated and repetitive test cases.

13. What are the benefits of automation testing?

Benefits of automation testing include:

• Better test coverage since more test coverage can be done with automation testing.
• Reusability of test cases for various testing stages, compared to manual testing.
• Increased amount of time available to test engineers, along with decreased testing time, resulting in lower costs.
• More accurate and reliable comparison of test results.
• Overall improving the quality of the applications under test.

14. How do you approach testing activities for agile development methodologies?

There are different testing techniques used for agile methodologies:

• Test-driven development, also known as TDD, helps to increase the quality of code before the coding process is complete.
• Behavior-driven development, also known as BDD, ensures that testing is focused on meeting the customer's requirements.
• Exploratory testing is done during sprint reviews or daily stand-ups, helping the team to identify defects that may have been missed during other testing phases.
• Adopting continuous integration testing practices enabling consistent and frequent releases of software.

15. What are some qualities of a successful QA engineer?

The top qualities of a successful QA engineer include:

• An analytical mind and inquisitive nature
• Attention to detail and excellent problem-solving skills
• Strong communication skills to work effectively with team members
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Experience with software testing methodologies and tools
• Understanding of Agile and other development methodologies

With these questions and answers, you'll be able to assess the QA engineer's knowledge and skillset. By hiring the right QA engineer, you will be able to ensure product quality at every stage in the software development life cycle.

How to Prepare for Software QA Engineer Interview

Interviews can be nerve-wracking especially if you are not prepared for it. But with the right preparation, you can ace your Software QA Engineer interview. Here are some tips to help you ace your interview.

1. Research the company

The first step to prepare for an interview is to research the company you are interviewing with. Learn about their products, vision, mission, and culture. This information can help you in answering interview questions and make you stand out from other candidates.

2. Brush up on technical skills

As a Software QA Engineer, you will be tested on your technical skills. Make sure to review your software testing knowledge, testing methodologies, and tools. You might also want to review programming languages, operating systems, databases, and other technical skills that are relevant to the job. Refresh your memory by reviewing coding challenges, sample projects, and coding exercises.

3. Prepare for commonly asked questions

Prepare answers to commonly asked questions such as behavioral questions, situational questions, and technical questions. Some common questions are:

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• What is your experience with software testing tools?
• What is your experience with agile methodology?
• How do you handle conflicts with your team members?
• What testing frameworks have you worked with?
• How do you approach regression testing?
• What was the most challenging bug you've found?

Remember to answer these questions truthfully and provide examples to support your answers. You can also use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.

4. Be prepared to ask questions

At the end of the interview, you will be given a chance to ask questions about the company, position, or team. Prepare some questions that show your interest in the company and the job. Some questions you may want to ask are:

• What are the biggest challenges the team is currently facing?
• What does the career path look like for someone in this position?
• What is the team structure and how is it organized?
• What kind of projects will I be working on?

5. Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice makes perfect. Practice answering commonly asked questions using the STAR method. You can also do mock interviews with friends or family members. This will help you feel more confident during the actual interview.

Preparing for a Software QA Engineer interview can be overwhelming but remember to prepare well and have a positive mindset. Good luck!