Quality Assurance Engineer Assistant Interview Questions

Interviewer: Good morning, thank you for joining us today. Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background?

Candidate: Yes, good morning. My name is Sarah and I recently graduated from college with a degree in Computer Science. Throughout my academic career, I've completed various coding and testing projects which have helped me develop my skills in quality assurance.

Interviewer: That sounds great, Sarah. Can you explain to us what quality assurance means to you?

Candidate: Sure, to me, quality assurance means ensuring that delivered products meet customer expectations and specifications. It involves testing the products thoroughly, identifying and solving defects, and ensuring they are meeting quality standards.

Interviewer: That's an excellent definition. Can you describe a testing scenario where you encountered a significant challenge?

Candidate: Sure, I was working on a testing project for an app that monitored activity on a user's computer, and the challenge was to test it without slowing down the system. It was tricky because we had to ensure that the app was not interfering with other system processes while still doing what it was designed to do. To overcome this, we had to perform load and stress testing and also used a variety of automated tools to increase the accuracy of our test results.

Interviewer: That's impressive, Sarah. Can you tell me about a time you identified a significant bug in software?

Candidate: Sure, I once worked on a project for an e-commerce website, and we found a significant bug in the ordering system. When the user tried to purchase the product, the transaction failed, and the user was redirected to a broken admin page. To fix it, we had to perform an in-depth investigation, and we found that the issue was caused by an incorrect code while handling the transaction. We resolved the problem by modifying the code and retesting until it was working correctly.

Interviewer: Great job, Sarah. Can you tell me about a time you had to collaborate with other teams to resolve an issue?

Candidate: Sure. Once, I had to work closely with a development team on a project, and we encountered an issue where the application was not loading. To resolve the issue, we had to perform load and stress tests across a distributed system, which required coordination between multiple teams. We also had to monitor resources, run diagnostics, and create a workaround to keep the application available to users. It was a challenging experience, but we were able to resolve the issue quickly by collaborating effectively.

Interviewer: That's excellent collaboration experience, Sarah. Can describe a situation where you had to give critical feedback to a team member?

Candidate: Yes, I had to give feedback to a colleague who had missed a critical bug in a test report. She was relatively new to the team, and I knew that the feedback would be difficult for her. But I did not want that bug to slip through to the production phase. I made sure to be honest and fair in my assessment, and explained why the error was significant while providing helpful suggestions for how to prevent this issue from happening in the future.

Interviewer: That's great to hear, Sarah. How do you stay up-to-date with the latest testing and quality assurance technology?

Candidate: I try to participate in ongoing education and training programs. I also follow industry blogs related to quality assurance and testing to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices. Additionally, I network with other professionals in the field and attend related conferences and events to learn about new testing methodologies and tools.

Interviewer: That's a fantastic approach, Sarah. We always appreciate team members who remain current. Can you tell me about a time you had to prioritize multiple tasks?

Candidate: Sure, as part of my previous project, I had to prioritize several tasks that came my way simultaneously. The first step was to understand the urgency and severity of each task, then I used a prioritization matrix to assign a priority value to each task. Once I did that, it allowed me to focus on tasks requiring immediate attention while delegating tasks with a lower priority. It helped me to manage my time and ensure that goals were accomplished on time.

Interviewer: That sounds like an effective method. Can you tell us a little bit about your experience with test documentation and reporting?

Candidate: Sure, I have experience with different test management tools like JIRA, Microsoft TFS, and HP Quality Center. I am skilled in developing Test Plans, Test Cases, and Test Reports, and I understand the significance and importance of maintaining accurate test documentation, such as progress reports, test metrics, and traceability matrix. In my previous positions, I have also learned how to create detailed testing reports and communicate critical defects to management in a manner that is clear and concise.

Interviewer: That's good to hear, Sarah. Can you tell me a little bit about your experience with Agile methodologies?

Candidate: Of course. I have experience working in a Scrum environment and understand the importance of daily stand-ups, sprints, and backlogs. I have also worked with Agile methodologies, such as Kanban, and have experience with Agile testing processes such as development-driven testing, test-driven development, and behavior-driven development.

Interviewer: That's excellent experience, Sarah. Can you tell me about a time you had to provide technical support to clients?

Candidate: Yes, I worked as a technical support representative for a software company last summer, where the critical responsibilities of my position was to provide extensive technical support to clients over the phone or email. I was responsible for troubleshooting technical issues and guiding the customers through the process of resolving the errors, which required an excellent knowledge of the software and the ability to communicate technical information to non-technical individuals in a clear and concise manner.

Interviewer: That's great experience, Sarah. Can you give an example of a situation where a client’s issue was difficult to diagnose?

Candidate: Sure. A customer once reached out to me regarding an issue with the software, but since they were located overseas, it was challenging to communicate the issue effectively due to the language barrier, and remote diagnostics was an obstacle. I used various testing and diagnostic tools to try to identify the problem, but eventually identified the issue by going through a series of steps guided by detailed questions to get to the root of the problem. Finally, I was able to identify the problem and walk through the customer through the steps to solve the issue.

Interviewer: That's impressive, Sarah. Can you tell me about a time you had to explain complex technical issues to non-technical stakeholders?

Candidate: Sure. As part of a previous project, I had to create a detailed test report for the management team who were non-technical stakeholders. I relied on my excellent communication skills to explain the complex testing issues in a way they could understand, avoiding technical jargon and using real-life examples. I also provided charts and graphs to help clarify the meaning of the test results while keeping the presentation brief and straightforward.

Interviewer: Excellent, Sarah. Lastly, can you tell us about your long-term career aspirations?

Candidate: Well, I am passionate about quality assurance and software testing, and i hope to continue to learn and grow in this field. I want to develop leadership skills and eventually become a Quality Assurance Manager. Over time, I want to build a comprehensive understanding of all development-related disciplines so that I can provide a strong foundation for the teams I manage, creating effective and efficient workflows while improving the delivery of high quality software products.

Interviewer: That's a great goal to have, Sarah. We wish you the best of luck in your career. Thanks for taking the time to interview with us today.

Candidate: Thank you for your time, It was a pleasure being interviewed.

Scenario Questions

1. Scenario: As a Quality Assurance Engineer Assistant, you need to test the functionality of a banking app. What test cases would you create to ensure the app securely stores user's personal information, such as bank account numbers and social security numbers?

Candidate Answer: First, I would create test cases to ensure that user's personal information is properly encrypted and stored securely in a database. Then, I would create test cases to simulate hacking attempts and ensure that the app has sufficient security measures in place to protect against these attempts. Finally, I would create test cases to ensure that the user's data cannot be accessed by unauthorized personnel or third-party apps.

2. Scenario: You have been tasked with testing a new e-commerce website. What performance metrics would you use to ensure that the website is functional and user-friendly?

Candidate Answer: The first metric I would use is page load time. This is important because users will quickly leave a website that takes too long to load. I would also track the number of clicks it takes for users to complete their desired action, such as making a purchase. Additionally, I would create test cases to simulate high traffic volumes and ensure that the website can handle the load without crashing or slowing down.

3. Scenario: You are testing a mobile app for a travel booking company. What test cases would you create to ensure that the app accurately displays flight prices and availability?

Candidate Answer: Firstly, I would create test cases to ensure that the app correctly pulls in data from the airline's database, including the correct prices and availability for flights. I would also create test cases to ensure that the app correctly displays this information to users, including any taxes or fees associated with the booking. Additionally, I would test the app under various network conditions to ensure that it can handle slow or spotty connections without compromising the accuracy of the data.

4. Scenario: You have been given a software application to test, which is critical to the day-to-day operation of a hospital. What are some test cases you would create to ensure the application functions properly?

Candidate Answer: First and foremost, I would create test cases to ensure that the application is 100% accurate and consistent in dealing with patient data, medication and equipment orders, and schedules. As it is a critical daily-use application, there should be a zero-error margin. I would also create test cases to simulate emergency situations to ensure that the application works properly under high-stress conditions, including network crashes or hardware failures. Finally, I would perform various usability testing to ensure ease of use and navigation.

5. Scenario: You have been assigned to test a new scheduling software for a large event management company. What test cases would you create to ensure the application works properly and meets the company's needs?

Candidate Answer: I would start with creating test cases that cover various event types including conferences, workshops, and concerts, as the software needs to be easy to adapt to different types of events. Then, I would test the features that are important to the event management process, such as email communication, attendees' check in, assigning seats or tables, time duration for each engagement, low internet connectivity (offline feature), etc. Finally, I would emphasize critical security and scability testing to ensure the application could be widely used from a single event to thousands.