“What Happens When a User Types Facebook.com In A Browser”: Top Interview Questions for QA Engineer

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Preparing for an interview is a challenge for both the candidate and the manager. It is necessary to compose easy-to-understand questions that will help to comprehensively test the candidate’s knowledge. We’ve discussed with Quality Engineering Manager Kostya Mizgirev what to ask at a QA Tester’s interview, what logical tasks to use, as well as how to show readiness for learning if you’re a Trainee or Junior specialist.

The expert has 10 years of experience in the IT field, 7 of them in interviewing QA specialists. He created a QA department from scratch at an outsourcing company Inoxoft. He’s also helped create a free academy at the company. Kostya Mizgirev has also worked at Epam as a QA Resource Manager, where he helped QA specialists from Junior to Senior and Team Lead with their professional growth. Now he is a responsible specialist for the quality of iOS/Android apps, QA processes, release management, and continuous delivery at PUMB. In total, he has conducted over 300 interviews.

Technical Recruiter ITExpert Yana Chyzh shared the top questions at the QA interview to determine the candidate’s mindset and cultural fit. The expert helps to find a job for IT specialists in Ukraine and all over the world.

Bonus: the best books both for beginners in testing and for QA Team Leads.

Skills Every Junior, Middle, Senior, and QA Team Lead QA Professional Should Have

QA Engineer (Quality Assurance Engineer) is a specialist involved in software testing at all stages of development. They test the product’s requirements and design, as well as all its features. They reproduce specific scenarios to check if the product meets direct and indirect requirements.

QA Engineer should:

• Understand the software development cycle.
• Know the types and levels of testing.
• Be able to read technical documentation.
• Compile test documentation.
• Monitor and track improvements and bug fixes.
• Be able to work with test cases, test lists, checklists, and bug trackers.

Additional technologies:

1. Ability to work with HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and HTTP to test web applications.
2. For easier testing of mobile apps, you need to be able to work with Genymotion, VirtualBox, and iOS Simulator.
3. Knowledge of SQL and ability to work with databases.

Yana Chyzh

Technical Recruiter at ITExpert

“In addition to technical skills, QA testers should have a confident level of English. The developed ability to process large amounts of data, identify unpredictable cases, and understand potential problems with software also matters a lot. Moreover, QA Engineers should be flexible. Testers often work with different types of projects and requirements. Therefore, QA specialists need to adapt to changes quickly.

And, of course, the tester cannot work without attention to detail. That’s due to the fact they must detect even the slightest errors or inconsistencies in the software.”

Kostya Mizgirev

Quality Engineering Manager

“In a very general way, here is what a tester should know for a successful interview depending on the level:

Trainee: this is a person with no experience. For instance, the one who has read a book on QA testing (let’s say, Kaner or Rex Black) or has finished a course. He/she understands the basic theory and knows why testing is needed at all and what stages it consists of, but has not yet worked on real projects. This category also includes specialists who came to a small project, and worked there for up to six months but haven’t yet developed enough to qualify for the role of Junior QA Engineer.

Junior: the level implies a good knowledge of the theory and minimal experience, an understanding of the specifics of the project and roles in it. The work of the Junior QA Engineers has yet to be monitored and the overall result verified.

Middle: this specialist no longer needs supervision. A Middle QA tester can work independently, although he/she has some gaps in knowledge compared to Senior QA.

Senior: the level assumes expert knowledge of test theory, understanding of the domain area of your product, as well as web and mobile apps knowledge. They should already understand how the application works “under the hood”. In my understanding, to test something, a specialist should know how it works. For example, you work as a tester at BMW. The car is moving, but thanks to what? What does it have inside? What processes occur when the car is running? How can you come up with a test plan for a brake system if you don’t know what it is and how it works?

Team Lead: the ability to manage a team, plan the work, change the workload if necessary, and mark the skill set of a person and tasks is a must. It is also important to understand how to motivate people and work with conflicts. The team lead needs to see how people can develop working on a project, and find a match between how a person wants to develop and what value this will bring to the company.”

Quality Assurance Interview Questions to Hire the Best QA Testers

A QA Engineer interview in a company lasts an average of 1–2 hours and usually consists of three blocks: theory and testing experience, a block with questions to test the candidate’s soft skills, and mindset, and an English proficiency test (if needed). Let’s analyze the main ones.

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Technical questions to test a candidate’s skills

The focus of the interview and the questions for a QA engineer depend on what the company does. For example, mobile testing features are important for Android/iOS products. GameDev companies usually look for a tester who knows what sniffers are and how to work with them. Basic SQL queries are needed on any project where there are databases.

Kostya Mizgirev

Quality Engineering Manager

“Once, I came across an interesting concept of conducting interviews. These weren’t standard boring theory QA questions. Instead, candidates were asked their thoughts on a particular concept: for example, “What do you think about …” 

Later, I created my “template” with QA interview questions on various topics, where each question follows from the previous one.

These are the interview topics for QA Engineer:

• basic theory;
• testing levels and types;
• testing stages;
• test documentation;
• requirements, standards, and guidelines;
• errors and bugs;
• web and mobile applications operations;
• web applications testing features;
• mobile testing features.

I also ask what the specialist wants to become when he/she “grows up” professionally, as well as how he/she solves conflicts.

I usually start with extensive interview questions for the tester (for example, about the mobile testing features). If the candidate is familiar with the topic, I start digging deeper. For example, I can ask what the mobile application consists of, what is the Android Activity Lifecycle, etc.”

QA questions to check the candidate’s soft skills and cultural fit 

What to ask to understand a candidate’s values and motivations better? Advised by Technical Recruiter at ITExpert.

Yana Chyzh

Technical Recruiter at ITExpert

“Hiring managers may ask different types of questions in the QA interview to evaluate both candidate’s technical and soft skills.

Here are some questions to test soft skills:

• Tell us about a time when you had to work with developers and you disagreed with their approach to testing. How did you deal with this situation?
• How do you manage your time and organize your work? How do you prioritize tasks and ensure they are completed on time?
• How do you detect and resolve conflicts in your work environment? Give an example of when you had to face a conflict situation and how you were able to solve it.

Manual/Automation QA Engineer interview questions to test cultural fit:

• How do you see a collaboration of QA with other team members?
• How do you adapt to new situations and changes in the work environment?
• How do you understand and implement testing processes according to development methodology (e.g. Agile, Scrum)?
• What are your main values in work and life in general?

Such questions at the interview will help to assess how the candidate fits into your company’s culture and values, how they perceive cooperation and communication in the team, their flexibility, and adaptability to change.”

Logic tests for QA engineers 

To test practical skills, theoretical questions at a QA tester interview may not be enough. Therefore, the interviewer prepares logical tests. They collect web pages or functional requirements that help to create a hypothetical situation. For example, the candidate has to find bugs and share the main test cases that come to mind for a fictional product. At the same time, the interviewer asks additional questions to understand the logic that will guide the specialist.

Two tricky logic questions from Google that can be used:

1. You have 8 identical balls. Determine the heaviest of them with the help of scales and two weights.

Six balls should be divided into two groups of three and weighed. After the group with the heavier ball is determined, take any two from it and weigh them. If there is the heaviest ball among them, it will be noticed. If the weight is the same, the last one will be the heaviest. If there was no heaviest ball among the groups of three, it is among the remaining two balls.

2. What makes the phrase “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog?” unique?

It contains all the letters of the English alphabet. The task will help to check how attentive a candidate is.

MUST READ: 15 Tricky Interview Questions from Tech Giants

Let‘s also analyze logical tasks for a QA Tester with Kostya Mizgirev.

Kostya Mizgirev

Quality Engineering Manager

“I like to ask how the internet works and what happens behind the scenes when a user types Facebook.com in a browser. The more senior a person is, the more he/she tells. Candidates usually recall requests and protocols, how the browser knows where Facebook is located, talk about servers, load balancers, etc. Junior specialists usually answer that a request is sent to the DNS server, the Facebook IP address is found, etc. Senior “digs” deeper.

I also offer all kinds of case tasks: for example, if there is such a situation, you need to write a test plan for testing the Facebook login page. What types of testing does the candidate use in this case and why? I like it when a person not only understands the theory but can also “apply” it for real experience.”

*A test task for a tester is also supposed. It is especially common to give them to Junior-level specialists.

How to Successfully Conduct an Interview: General Tips for IT Recruiters

Kostya Mizgirev has shared with us some of the most important tips & tricks which you might not know: 

• Do not correct the candidate’s answers right after he/she gives you it to your technical questions. If you point out several times that they were wrong, the specialist may “close up” and not answer the following questions. Listen to everything the candidate says and be neutral. If a candidate is interested in whether he/she answered correctly, you can say that feedback will be provided after the interview with recommendations, regardless of the result. Do not put pressure on the “weak” point, too.

• Be polite. Keep in mind that you are the face of your company. From a conversation with you, the candidate gets the impression of the company as a whole.

• If you understand that the candidate lacks knowledge during the first half of the interview, you can provide the specialist with feedback and the necessary recommendations on what to read and where to find the necessary information. Remember that today’s Junior QA tester may later become a “rock star”. And they will remember how you communicated with them.

• Try to keep 45 minutes with your questions, and also leave 10 minutes for the candidate’s questions. Write feedback immediately after the interview. For example, theory — 5 points of 5, API testing — 3, web testing — 4, soft skills — 5, etc.

How to Successfully Pass an Interview: Tips for QA Candidates from Trainee to Senior

Useful tips from our experts.

Kostya Mizgirev

Quality Engineering Manager

“Realize that it’s okay to worry about the result. Also, accept the fact that you cannot know everything.

If you don’t know something, tell the hiring manager or technical interviewer directly about it. At the same time, ask where you can find the necessary information so that you could find out the answer and fill the knowledge gap.
For Trainee/Junior QA specialists: It is important to show a willingness to constantly learn and develop. I often ask what heights a candidate wants to reach in his career. Most people claim that they want to grow into QA Automation Engineers in approximately two years. I ask them: okay, how do you plan to achieve your goal? How will you develop your skills, what will you read and learn? The answer “I don’t know yet, I just want to become a QA Automation Engineer” is a red flag for me. An IT specialist at the beginning of his career should have a clear plan of action.”

Yana Chyzh

Technical Recruiter at ITExpert

“The main criterion for success during the interview is a thorough preparation for it. Before the interview, research the company, the position, and its requirements. Prepare questions. Getting to know the company, its product, projects, and values will help to highlight interest and demonstrate that you want to work there.

Be specific: try to give examples from your previous experience. This will help demonstrate expertise and real experience, and stand out from other candidates.

Important to know: a little experience should not deter the candidate! Even with little experience, you can demonstrate your potential, willingness to learn and develop. Focus on your strengths, skills, and qualities that can be useful as a QA specialist. Tell the hiring manager about situations when you showed your knowledge and got the desired result. And remember: Viam supervadet vadens — The one who walks will overcome the road!”

Bonus: Books to Help You Succeed in An Interview

More than half of the 2,000 book readers surveyed in the Thrift Book study admit that they read the most during the summer. If you are one of them, and also planning to look for a new job, this collection of recommendations from Kostya Mizgirev will be especially useful then. It will help fill gaps in knowledge and get into the company of your dreams.

• Hands-On Mobile App Testing: A Guide for Mobile Testers and Anyone Involved in the Mobile App Business by Daniel Knott — different testing solutions for Android and iOS in plain language. The book is useful for all levels of specialists.

• Software Testing: An ISTQB-BCS Certified Tester Foundation guide by Brian Hambling — examples and exercises for beginners in Quality Assurance Engineering.

• Agile Testing: A Practical Guide for Testers and Agile Teams by Lisa Crispin & Janet Gregory — agile software development methodology from a QA tester’s point of view.

• Computer Networks, Global Edition by Andrew Tanenbaum & David Wetherall — how networks work from within. The book is suitable for senior-level QA testers.

• Leading Quality: How Great Leaders Deliver High-Quality Software and Accelerate Growth by Ronald Cummings-John & Owais Peer — the methods that successful leaders use to make strategic decisions and the tools that help achieve team goals. Good to read if you are a QA Lead.

• Engineering Management for the Rest of Us by Sarah Drasner — team management advice from the Director of Engineering & Core Developer Web at Google.

• The Ideal Executive: Why You Cannot Be One and What to Do About It, A New Paradigm for Management by Ph.D. Adizes & Ichak Kalderon —  advice on what a leader should do to avoid bad management, how to structure a company, and solve conflicts.

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni — a world bestseller about 5 flaws of any team such as mutual distrust, unpretentiousness, irresponsibility, fear of conflicts, and indifference to results. Why do these flaws occur? How to diagnose and eliminate them? The publication is included in the top 20 best business books according to goodreads.com. The author has many years of experience advising top managers of Fortune 500 companies.

• Collaborating with the Enemy: How to Work with People You Don’t Agree with or Like or Trust by Adam Kahane — tips on how to reconcile the parties to the conflict. The author is a facilitator with experience in more than 50 countries around the world. He has advised civil servants, politicians, businessmen, and more. Currently heads the Reos Partners consulting company.

Are you looking for a QA Engineer? Contact ITExpert to hire the best market specialists faster and easier! We’ve been recruiting IT specialists in Ukraine and around the world — from the USA to Israel — for more than 7 years. Let’s find technical talent for your team!