Top 10 QA Interview Questions

Last Updated on 2024-10-11

Are you starting a QA recruitment effort? These top QA interview questions will undoubtedly help you find the best talent for your needs.

Ensuring the quality of your software product is always a challenging endeavor. You will need a dedicated team to check and test (and recheck and retest) your software for bugs and other issues. Hence, software Quality Assurance (QA) is critical for your development team.

But how do you recruit the best QA for your team? How can you determine if a candidate has the right skills for the tasks at hand? Well, it’s the same way you find bugs when testing code—by asking the right questions.

Now is a good time to note that it’s perfectly fine to ask interviewees general questions at the start. However, you will need to ask more specific questions during the interview process to assess their skills and determine if they fit your company culture.

But before listing the top QA interview questions, let’s briefly explain what QAs do and their qualifications first.

Software Quality Assurance

Creating great software with real value is the end goal for any business. However, you can’t achieve this if your software is full of bugs and errors. This is why QA should always be a part of your software development process. But what exactly does a QA tester do?

QA Roles and Responsibilities

Here are the general daily responsibilities of a QA:

• Layout the QA process for the fulfillment of all product requirements
• Plan and design test plans, cases, and scenarios
• Schedule and carry out test activities in all development stages to correct bugs and errors
• Prepare test documentation for error analyses
• Collaborate with developers and other stakeholders for testing failures troubleshooting
• Communicate to managers and other stakeholders about QA processes, activities, and progresses
• Monitor performance using tools to discover system vulnerabilities

To make your job posting more transparent, include tasks specific to your project. Now, let us look at the skills required from a software QA.

QA Skills Requirement

Being a software quality tester means having technical knowledge about the whole software development life cycle. QAs should also possess the right soft skills to work with diverse teams. Here are the qualities you should look for from QA applicants:

• A degree or certificate in computer science or any related field
• Expertise in QA methodologies and test management software
• Extensive knowledge of programming languages and testing technologies and tools
• Experience in QA testing
• Proficient in creating technical documentation
• Attentive to details
• Problem-solver and analytical
• Have great task organization and management skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Team player

These skills are critical for QAs to fulfill their responsibilities. However, the applicant’s resume and portfolio are not enough to tell if they possess said skills. That is why it is crucial to interview them further to assess their fit for your organization.

Top QA Interview Questions

As the interviewer, you must remember that the QA position carries integral responsibilities. That is why it is perfectly fine to ask interviewees general questions at the start. However, it would be best to ask more QA-relevant questions to assess the applicants’ prowess in the field.

1. What are the differences between functional and non-functional testing?

Testing software is generally done in two ways: Functional and Non-Functional. Both testing processes are vital to ensure the overall quality and reliability of the software. QAs should know how to explain the basic differences between these two methods.

Sample answer:

Functional testing is based on the business requirements. On the other hand, non-functional tests are done based on performance requirements. Functional testing verifies whether the app can perform its intended operations, while non-functional testing helps prove whether the app will behave in specific situations as intended.

2. In your experience, what was the most significant “catch” you ever made?

This question will help candidates show off their skills as a QA tester. As the interviewer, you must pay attention to why the candidate chose to investigate this particular incident and how they corrected it. 

Perhaps more importantly, this question allows the candidate to demonstrate their passion for the work and understanding of how their role impacts the organization. Tracking down a major bug can feel like working as a detective on an unsolved mystery – they’d better have the passion for finding clues and tracking down leads!

Sample answer:

I noticed that our system was processing 10% fewer transactions than the previous quarter. After two days of investigating, I discovered that our payment processor shifted over account numbers under certain conditions. We quickly fixed the bug and got our system running normally.

3. How do you usually write a test case?

Don’t expect applicants to have a quick answer to this question. Instead, pay attention to their detail-orientedness and how clearly they can articulate their thoughts.

Experienced QAs will know that not they can’t just write any test cases. They will ask questions about the platforms, browsers, and devices before formulating their test cases.

4. Can you tell me the difference between validation and verification?

QA testers know that verification and validation are two critical parts of the QA process. And, they use both to test the quality and performance of the software.

Sample answer:

We use the verification process during the development stage of the software. On the other hand, validation evaluates the functionality after it is fully developed. I have always used verification as my continuous testing process during the development stage. Once each functionality is fully ready, I perform the validation process as the final test.

5. Is documentation important in QA? Why?

Technical documentation is essential throughout the software development life cycle. From being a referential material to being a guide, let the applicants explain why they need to document their every step as a QA.

6. Priority and severity are commonly used in QA. What are they?

QAs must know the distinction between the two terms. It will help with proper project management.

Sample answer:

Severity is the term to explain how difficult it is to fix a bug or issue. Priority, meanwhile, describes or ranks how important it is to resolve an issue.

7. For you, when should QA start?

This question will help see how applicants choose to explain the importance of doing QA tests. Sometimes, they will need to convince developers and stakeholders that QA should start as soon as possible. Providing the benefits of starting QA at the beginning can help the software development process, in general, run smoother and more effectively.

8. How much testing should be enough?

QAs should know the difference between exhaustive and efficient testing. They must acknowledge that testing needs to have a clear and definite goal. Knowing what to test will allow them to define their testing process.

9. Tell me about the time when you have to convince a manager about the activities of your quality assurance team.

This question will allow you to test candidates’ communication skills. Pay attention to their interpersonal style and how they persuade stakeholders to accept certain QA activities.

10. Describe the time when you have to decide without complete information regarding a critical situation.

QAs should know how to evaluate situations, especially during critical moments in software development. Allow the candidates to explain what criteria they used to make such decisions.

These questions will help you further assess your QA applicants. However, you need to ask more relevant questions to check if they are suitable for your organization.

Hire a Top QA Team Today!

You don’t have to go through the hassle of finding, testing, and interviewing QA candidates. From QA analysts to managers, Full Scale has the best talent for you and your business.

As an offshore company, Full Scale specializes in providing services to help our clients with their software development needs. Our recruitment process ensures that we only hire the best talent to help our partners.

Watch how our recruitment and assessment program ensures companies like yours have access to qualified talent. 

Hire a QA Tester from Full Scale Today!