📣Mixed Interview Questions
Tell me about yourself.
I have 4 years of experience as a QA Automation Engineer with expertise in Manual Testing, Automation Testing, UI testing, accessibility/508 compliance testing, and Backend API testing.
In my recent job, I worked on a crucial customer-facing .com application for Lowes Business. We completely revamped the website into a user-friendly platform, focusing on improving navigation and user experience. One of my key responsibilities was testing customers' profile creation feature called MyLowes. This involved tasks such as profile creation, item search, online order submission, applying eligible discounts, order tracking, and order history management.
My testing approach started with Backend-API testing, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the API endpoints documented in the open API documentation. After completing API automation, I performed various types of functional testing, including positive and negative tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests, to validate the application against requirements and acceptance criteria. Test management tools like Zyphre or QAlity were used for executing manual test cases, and I diligently added execution screenshots for reference.
Throughout the testing cycle, I reported defects in JIRA with supporting evidence and details, closely tracking their progress until closure. Regression testing played a crucial role in ensuring that new and fixed code did not have any adverse impacts on the application.
Accessibility testing was also a focus area, ensuring compliance with Section 508 standards. I utilized automated tools like JAWS and Axe to identify accessibility issues and provided mitigation plans. Once the development team resolved the issues, I retested the functionalities to ensure full compliance.
I actively participated in the Automation team, utilizing Jenkins jobs for scheduled or on-demand test executions. Analyzing the test results allowed me to uncover any hidden defects and ensure overall application quality.
These experiences reflect my commitment to maintaining quality throughout the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle).
How would you help the company?
Elevated User Experience: By diligently testing and validating CNBC's software applications, I can contribute to an enhanced user experience. Through comprehensive GUI-based testing, back-end data validation, and API validation, I ensure that the applications function smoothly, providing users with a seamless and reliable platform to access financial news. This attention to quality assurance directly translates into increased user satisfaction and loyalty.
Time and Cost Efficiency: Through the implementation of automation frameworks and tools, I can significantly expedite the testing process while maintaining a high level of accuracy. By automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks, I free up valuable resources, enabling the CNBC team to focus on other critical aspects of product development. This streamlined approach not only saves time but also reduces costs associated with manual testing efforts.
Rapid Release Cycles: With a robust automation setup, I can facilitate continuous integration and delivery practices, ensuring swift and frequent releases of CNBC's software products. By integrating automated tests into the development pipeline, I help identify any issues early on, allowing for prompt bug fixes and efficient iteration cycles. This agility in product releases gives CNBC a competitive edge by swiftly delivering new features and improvements to its audience.
Risk Mitigation: Through thorough testing and risk assessment, I play a vital role in mitigating potential risks associated with software releases. By identifying and addressing issues early in the development cycle, I help prevent critical bugs or vulnerabilities from impacting CNBC's operations and reputation. This proactive approach to risk management safeguards CNBC's brand and instills confidence in its users.
Continuous Improvement: As a dedicated QA professional, I actively seek opportunities to optimize and improve testing processes. By analyzing test results, identifying patterns, and implementing best practices, I contribute to the ongoing enhancement of CNBC's software quality. This commitment to continuous improvement fosters a culture of excellence within the organization and ensures that CNBC's applications are at the forefront of industry standards.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Through effective communication and collaboration with developers, business analysts, and stakeholders, I bridge the gap between different teams and align quality assurance efforts with CNBC's business goals. By actively participating in meetings, sharing valuable insights, and providing clear and concise test reports, I foster a collaborative environment focused on delivering high-quality software that meets CNBC's strategic objectives.
(@CNBC) Describe your projects.
Here are some specific examples of projects I have worked on as a QA Automation Engineer at CNBC:
GUI-Based Testing: I was involved in testing CNBC's mobile application across different platforms (iOS and Android). I designed and executed test cases to ensure seamless navigation, proper rendering of UI elements, and correct functionality of features such as live streaming, news articles, and stock market data display. I reported and tracked defects using a bug tracking system and worked closely with developers to resolve issues promptly.
Backend Data Validation: In collaboration with the development team, I verified the accuracy and consistency of data stored in CNBC's databases. For example, I conducted extensive data validation for the real-time stock market data displayed on CNBC's website and applications. This involved running SQL queries, performing data comparisons, and validating data against predefined business rules to ensure reliable and up-to-date information for users.
API Validation: I automated API tests using tools such as Postman and developed test scripts in languages like JavaScript. I validated API endpoints for various functionalities such as user authentication, content retrieval, and data submission. For instance, I extensively tested the API responsible for retrieving financial news articles, ensuring the correct response format, data integrity, and error handling.
Automation Suite Maintenance: I actively maintained and enhanced existing automation suites using frameworks like Selenium WebDriver and JUnit. For example, I worked on enhancing the test scripts for the application's login functionality to handle different scenarios, including valid and invalid credentials, error messages, and account lockouts. I also implemented test reporting mechanisms to provide comprehensive and actionable test results to the team.
Collaborative Support: As part of the functional team, I actively participated in daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospective meetings. I collaborated with developers, business analysts, and other stakeholders to clarify requirements, prioritize testing efforts, and ensure smooth communication within the team. I also provided assistance and guidance to team members on automation best practices, troubleshooting issues, and optimizing test execution time.
(@Lowe’s) Describe your projects.
In my previous role, I had the opportunity to work on a significant project at Lowe's, a leading home improvement company in the US. The project involved revamping Lowe's customer-facing .com application, which served as a crucial platform for the company's business operations. Our primary goal was to create a user-friendly website that would enhance the overall customer experience.
As a QA professional on this project, my main area of focus was testing the customers' profile creation feature, known as MyLowes. MyLowes allowed users to create their profiles, enabling personalized experiences and access to various features. These features included searching for items, submitting orders online, applying eligible discounts, tracking order history, updating orders, and much more.
During the website revamps, we worked diligently to ensure that users could easily navigate the site and find the products they needed. This involved conducting extensive GUI-based testing to verify that the website's interface was intuitive, responsive, and visually appealing. Additionally, I was responsible for testing the functionality of the MyLowes feature, ensuring that user profiles were created accurately, and all associated features functioned as expected.
To accomplish these testing tasks, I employed a range of methodologies and techniques. I designed and executed test cases to validate the various functionalities of MyLowes, such as profile creation, order placement, order tracking, and discount application. I also performed backend data validation to ensure that the information submitted by users was accurately stored and retrievable.
Throughout the project, I collaborated closely with developers, business analysts, and other stakeholders to ensure clear communication and alignment with project requirements. I reported and tracked defects using a bug-tracking system, providing detailed information and steps to reproduce issues. This enabled the development team to address and resolve the identified issues promptly.
Why would any product of CNBC need you as a QA that stands out from other candidates?
As a QA Automation Engineer, I can contribute to the success of CNBC's products in the following ways:
Improved Efficiency: By leveraging automation tools and frameworks, I can significantly enhance the efficiency of the testing process. Automated test suites can be executed repeatedly and reliably, reducing the time and effort required for manual testing. This allows for faster feedback on the quality of the product, enabling the development team to identify and address issues promptly, ultimately leading to quicker product releases and improved time-to-market.
Enhanced Test Coverage: Automation allows for extensive test coverage, ensuring that critical functionalities and scenarios are thoroughly tested. By designing comprehensive test cases and automating them, I can help identify potential bugs and defects early in the development cycle. This reduces the risk of releasing software with critical issues and improves the overall quality and reliability of CNBC's products.
Continuous Integration and Delivery: Automation plays a crucial role in enabling continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) practices. By integrating automated tests into the CI/CD pipeline, I can ensure that every code change is automatically validated, preventing the introduction of regressions. This helps maintain a high level of software quality, facilitates faster feedback loops, and enables rapid and frequent releases with confidence.
Early Bug Detection: Automation allows for the execution of tests on a regular basis, even during the development phase. This early testing can help identify and address issues in their initial stages, reducing the cost and effort of fixing them later in the development cycle. By detecting bugs early, I can contribute to the overall stability and robustness of CNBC's products, enhancing the user experience and minimizing the impact of potential issues.
Scalability and Maintainability: With a well-designed automation framework, I can create reusable test scripts and maintainable test suites. This allows for easy scalability as new features and functionalities are added to CNBC's products. By building a solid foundation for automation, I can help ensure that testing efforts can keep pace with the evolving requirements of the products, providing long-term value and reducing the overall maintenance burden.
Overall, my expertise in automation and quality assurance can help CNBC's products by improving efficiency, enhancing test coverage, enabling CI/CD practices, detecting bugs early, and providing scalability and maintainability. These contributions can ultimately result in higher product quality, increased customer satisfaction, and a competitive edge in the financial news channel industry.
How CNBC may use APIs for third-party integrations
As a media company, CNBC likely leverages various third-party platforms and services to enhance their content distribution, audience engagement, advertising, and analytics.
Some examples of how they could utilize APIs for these integrations:
Content Distribution APIs: Allow CNBC to syndicate articles and videos to third-party sites like Apple News, Google News, social media platforms, etc.
Advertising APIs: Can help serve and manage ads from networks like Google AdSense across CNBC sites/apps. Allows reporting on performance.
Social Media APIs: Enable integration with social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram to share content, track engagement, host video, etc.
Analytics APIs: Services like Parse.ly, Chartbeat, and Google Analytics provide APIs to track views, referrals, audience metrics, and inform editorial and ad decisions.
Video Streaming APIs: For delivering videos across sites/apps and platforms like Roku, Apple TV, etc. Handles playback, captions, quality.
Marketing Automation APIs: Integrate email marketing, push notifications, surveys, and other engagement channels.
Payment APIs: To allow subscription payments or donations/tips on articles. Can connect to payment gateways.
User Management APIs: Enable integration with identity providers like Google/Facebook for simplified login/registration.
As part of CNBC's QA team, Tasin likely extensively tests these APIs to ensure they are working as expected by validating response codes, performance metrics, payload schema, handling errors, etc. This is critical for smooth end-user experiences.
Can you explain the difference between manual testing and automated testing? How do you decide when to use each approach? And what percentage of each do you use in the job right now?
Interviewer: Absolutely! Manual testing and automated testing are two different approaches to quality assurance.
🤚 Manual testing involves a human tester executing test cases, step by step, to identify bugs, defects, or usability issues in a software application. It relies on human observation, intuition, and interaction with the application. Manual testing is usually more time-consuming and prone to human error, but it allows for exploratory testing and evaluating the user experience. 😊
🤖 On the other hand, automated testing involves the use of specialized software tools to execute pre-defined test scripts and compare the actual outcomes with expected results. Automation helps improve efficiency, speed, and accuracy in repetitive tasks and regression testing. It's especially beneficial for executing a large number of test cases and ensuring consistency. 🚀
The decision to use either manual or automated testing depends on several factors:
1️⃣ Complexity: If the functionality is straightforward and doesn't require extensive input validation or complex business logic, manual testing may suffice. For more intricate scenarios, automated testing can handle repetitive tasks effectively.
2️⃣ Test Frequency: If the tests need to be executed frequently, such as in a continuous integration environment, automation provides faster and more reliable results.
3️⃣ Time and Resources: Automated testing requires an initial investment in creating and maintaining test scripts. If time and resources are limited, focusing on critical functionality through manual testing might be preferred.
4️⃣ Usability and User Experience: Manual testing allows for subjective evaluation, exploring different user scenarios, and assessing the overall user experience.
Regarding the current job, we have a balanced approach. We allocate approximately 60% of the testing efforts to manual testing and 40% to automated testing. This distribution ensures thorough coverage while leveraging automation to expedite repetitive tasks and regression testing. 📊
For instance, let's consider a scenario where we have a mobile banking application. We allocate 70% of the testing effort to manual testing, focusing on usability, user experience, and complex business logic, ensuring the smooth interaction of users with the app. The remaining 30% is dedicated to automated testing, covering repetitive tasks like login/logout, transaction validation, and account balance verification. 📱💰
Have you worked with any test automation frameworks? Could you tell me about your experience with them?
🔧 One of the frameworks I have worked with is Selenium WebDriver, which is widely used for automating web applications. I have utilized Selenium WebDriver with programming languages like Java and Python to create robust and scalable automation scripts. It allowed me to interact with web elements, perform actions, and validate expected outcomes.
📱 Additionally, I have hands-on experience with Appium, an open-source framework for automating mobile applications. With Appium, I have automated tests for both Android and iOS platforms, enabling me to perform actions, verify UI elements, and test mobile-specific functionalities.
📊 Another framework I am proficient in is TestNG, which is a testing framework for Java. TestNG provides powerful features for test management, parallel execution, data-driven testing, and generating comprehensive test reports. I have utilized TestNG to organize and manage test suites effectively, allowing for easy maintenance and analysis of test results.
💻 Furthermore, I have worked with Cucumber, a behavior-driven development (BDD) framework that promotes collaboration between developers, testers, and stakeholders. With Cucumber, I have written feature files in a natural language format and mapped them to step definitions, facilitating clear communication and documentation of test scenarios.
🌐 Lastly, I have experience with RestAssured, a Java-based library for automating API testing. RestAssured allowed me to send HTTP requests, validate responses, and perform complex validations on JSON/XML data structures.
In my experience, leveraging these test automation frameworks has significantly increased the efficiency and effectiveness of my testing efforts. They have provided a structured approach to automation, enhanced maintainability, and facilitated collaboration with developers and stakeholders.
I continuously stay updated with the latest advancements in test automation frameworks and tools to adapt to evolving industry trends and ensure the highest level of quality in my automation testing practices.
How familiar are you with continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) processes? Can you explain their importance in automation testing?
🔄 Continuous integration involves the frequent integration of code changes from multiple developers into a shared repository. This practice helps detect integration issues early on by automatically building and testing the software with each code commit. I have worked extensively with Jenkins, a popular CI/CD tool, to automate build processes, trigger test executions, and generate build artifacts and reports.
🔀 Continuous delivery, on the other hand, takes CI a step further by automating the deployment process. It ensures that the software is always in a deployable state and can be released at any given time. With tools like Jenkins, Git, GitKraken, and GitHub, I have set up pipelines and configured jobs to streamline the release process, ensuring the consistent and reliable delivery of software updates.
The importance of CI/CD processes in automation testing cannot be overstated. Here's why:
1️⃣ Early Detection of Issues: By integrating code changes frequently, CI/CD enables prompt detection of integration issues, conflicts, and bugs. This allows for faster identification and resolution of problems, reducing the overall testing cycle time.
2️⃣ Faster Feedback Loop: Automated builds and test executions provide immediate feedback on the quality of the code changes. Test results and reports are readily available, enabling quick identification of failures and facilitating timely bug fixes.
3️⃣ Ensuring Code Stability: CI/CD processes ensure that the codebase remains stable and in a deployable state at all times. This promotes a consistent and reliable testing environment, reducing the chances of encountering unexpected issues during releases.
4️⃣ Test Coverage and Regression Testing: With automated test suites integrated into CI/CD pipelines, it becomes easier to execute comprehensive test coverage and regression testing with each code change. This helps maintain the quality of the software by ensuring that existing functionalities are not adversely affected by new code.
5️⃣ Faster Time-to-Market: CI/CD enables rapid and frequent releases, allowing organizations to deliver new features and bug fixes to customers more quickly. This agility helps businesses stay ahead in the competitive market and respond to customer needs in a timely manner.
In summary, CI/CD processes, supported by tools like Jenkins, Git, GitKraken, and GitHub, play a vital role in automation testing by improving efficiency, enhancing code stability, enabling faster feedback, and ensuring high-quality software releases.
What are the key challenges you've faced in setting up and maintaining an automated testing environment?
Scenario 1: Challenge: Infrastructure Configuration Question: Describe a scenario where you faced challenges in setting up the required infrastructure for an automated testing environment.
Candidate: Certainly! In one project, we were tasked with setting up an automated testing environment for a complex web application that required a distributed testing infrastructure. The challenge was to configure and manage a scalable infrastructure to handle the load and execute tests in parallel.
To overcome this challenge, we followed these steps:
Assessment: We thoroughly analyzed the project requirements, including the number of test cases, expected execution time, and the required number of test environments.
Collaboration: We collaborated closely with the IT and infrastructure teams to define the necessary hardware and software requirements, ensuring that the infrastructure met the demands of our automated testing.
Cloud-Based Solution: To achieve scalability and flexibility, we opted for a cloud-based infrastructure solution. This allowed us to provision and de-provision virtual machines as needed, based on the test execution demands.
Load Balancing: To distribute the load effectively, we implemented a load-balancing mechanism that automatically assigned test cases to available resources. This ensured optimal utilization of the infrastructure and reduced execution time.
Monitoring and Maintenance: We established monitoring tools and alerts to track resource usage, performance bottlenecks, and infrastructure health. This proactive approach helped us identify and address issues promptly.
By addressing the infrastructure configuration challenge through collaboration, leveraging cloud-based solutions, and implementing load balancing and monitoring mechanisms, we successfully set up a scalable and efficient automated testing environment for the project.
Scenario 2: Challenge: Test Script Maintenance Question: Share an experience where you faced challenges in maintaining automated test scripts for an evolving application.
Candidate: Certainly! In a project where I was responsible for automation testing, the application underwent frequent updates and enhancements. This posed challenges in maintaining the test scripts to align with the evolving application.
To address this challenge, I implemented the following strategies:
Regular Script Reviews: I conducted regular reviews of the test scripts to identify any outdated or deprecated elements due to application changes. This allowed me to proactively address maintenance needs and keep the scripts up to date.
Modular and Data-Driven Approach: I employed a modular and data-driven approach to test script design. By separating the test logic from the test data, I ensured that changes in the application's UI or functionality could be easily accommodated without significant modifications to the scripts.
Version Control System: I utilized a version control system, such as Git, to track changes to the test scripts. This allowed for easy rollback to previous versions if needed and ensured that the most recent and stable versions were readily accessible to the team.
Robust Locators and Object Repository: I focused on creating a robust object repository with reliable locators. By using unique and stable locators, such as CSS selectors or XPaths, I minimized the impact of UI changes on the test scripts. When needed, I performed periodic maintenance to update locators for any affected elements.
Collaboration with Developers: I maintained open lines of communication with the development team, participating in regular meetings and sharing insights about upcoming changes. This helped me anticipate changes that might impact the test scripts and allowed for early collaboration on adjustments or workaround solutions.
By implementing these strategies, I successfully addressed the challenges of test script maintenance in an evolving application. This approach ensured that the automation testing efforts remained efficient, reliable, and aligned with the changes in the application.
Test case prioritization is crucial, especially when working on large-scale projects with tight deadlines. Can you explain how you approach test case prioritization in such scenarios?
Candidate: Absolutely! Test case prioritization is essential to optimize testing efforts and ensure that critical functionalities are thoroughly tested within the given time constraints. Here's how I approach it:
1️⃣ Step 1: Understand the Requirements and Risks 📑🔍 I start by thoroughly understanding the project requirements, business objectives, and end-user expectations. This helps me identify critical functionalities and potential risks. I consider severity levels to classify the impact of defects and prioritize test cases accordingly.
2️⃣ Step 2: Categorize Test Cases by Severity and Priority 📊🎯 Based on the identified risks and severity levels, I categorize test cases into different priority levels. I use a combination of severity and priority definitions, such as high, medium, and low, to differentiate critical functionalities from less impactful ones.
🔴 High Severity, Low Priority (🔥, 🟢): An example of this combination would be a button on a website that is misaligned and does not match the surrounding elements. While this doesn't affect the functionality of the website, it is visually unappealing and should be fixed eventually. Representing the severity with the fiery 🔥 emoji and the low priority with the growing plant 🟢 emoji.
🔴 High Severity, High Priority (🔥, 🔥): On the other hand, a critical defect like a login page for a banking application not being secure and allowing users to access sensitive information without proper authentication falls into this category. This is a severe issue that must be fixed immediately. Both the severity and priority are represented by the fiery 🔥 emoji.
🟢 Low Severity, Low Priority (🌱, 🌱): Let's consider a typo in the terms and conditions of a mobile application. This doesn't affect the functionality of the application and is not a high priority to fix. The severity and priority are both low, depicted by the growing plant 🌱 emoji.
🟢 Low Severity, High Priority (🌱, 🔥): Lastly, imagine a website with a slow loading time that can negatively affect the user experience and lead to frustration. While this is not a critical issue, it is important to fix as soon as possible to improve the user experience. The severity is low, represented by the growing plant 🌱 emoji, but the priority is high, indicated by the fiery 🔥 emoji.
By incorporating these examples, we can better understand how severity and priority are combined in the test case prioritization process. It allows us to effectively allocate resources and address critical issues while maintaining a balanced approach to testing.
3️⃣ Step 3: Determine Critical and High-Priority Test Cases 🔍🔝 I focus on critical functionalities that have a high severity level and require immediate attention. These test cases address core features, critical workflows, or potential showstoppers. High-priority test cases cover important functionalities that impact the user experience or business-critical processes.
4️⃣ Step 4: Consider Test Coverage and Dependencies 🌐🧩 I analyze the test coverage and dependencies between test cases. I ensure that the essential end-to-end scenarios are covered, and dependencies are taken into account. If a particular test case is a prerequisite for multiple other test cases, it may receive higher priority to maintain logical test flow.
5️⃣ Step 5: Collaborate with Stakeholders and Development Team 🤝💻 I engage in regular discussions with stakeholders, including product owners, business analysts, and developers, to gain insights into their perspectives. This collaborative approach helps me understand their priorities, align testing efforts with project goals, and make informed decisions during test case prioritization.
6️⃣ Step 6: Continuously Monitor and Adjust Priorities ⏰🔄 Throughout the project lifecycle, I continuously monitor the progress, feedback, and emerging risks. If there are any changes in requirements or shifting priorities, I adapt the test case prioritization accordingly. This agile approach ensures that the testing efforts remain aligned with the evolving project needs.
By following this step-by-step approach, considering severity and priority, and incorporating feedback from stakeholders and the development team, I effectively prioritize test cases in large-scale projects with tight deadlines. This allows me to focus on critical functionalities while maintaining a balance between thorough testing and timely delivery.
Suppose you need to prioritize test cases for a product that has limited testing resources available. How would you decide which test cases to prioritize?
Candidate: Absolutely! Let me share an in-depth example of a challenging bug I encountered as a CNBC QA Automation Engineer, and how I approached troubleshooting and resolving it. 🐛🔍
Situation: We were testing a critical feature in the CNBC mobile application that displayed real-time financial data and stock market news. The bug revolved around the "Price Alert" functionality, where users could set alerts for specific stock prices. The bug manifested as intermittent failures in triggering the alerts, leading to missed opportunities for users and impacting their trading decisions. 📈💸
Troubleshooting and Resolution Approach: 🛠️🔧
1️⃣ Bug Reproduction: I started by thoroughly investigating and reproducing the bug consistently. I identified specific stocks, set various price thresholds, and simulated real-time market conditions to trigger the issue reliably. This allowed me to gather valuable data and set the stage for troubleshooting.
2️⃣ Isolation and Analysis: Once the bug was reproducible, I isolated it by narrowing down potential causes. I analyzed the codebase, including event listeners, data retrieval, and alert triggers. I examined server-side interactions, API responses, and database queries related to the "Price Alert" feature. Additionally, I scrutinized relevant logs, error messages, and network requests to gain deeper insights into the underlying problem. 🕵️♂️🔬
3️⃣ Collaboration: Given the complexity of the bug, I collaborated closely with the development, backend, and database teams. We conducted regular meetings to discuss findings, share insights, and brainstorm potential areas of concern. This collaborative approach fostered a comprehensive understanding of the problem and facilitated knowledge exchange. 🤝💡
4️⃣ Test Case Enhancement: Based on the insights gained from the investigation, I enhanced existing test cases and created new ones specifically targeting the "Price Alert" functionality. These test cases covered various scenarios, including different market conditions, time intervals, and user interactions. By validating the fixes against these robust test cases, we ensured a thorough resolution and prevented potential regressions. 🧪✅
5️⃣ Debugging and Fix Implementation: To identify the root cause, I employed advanced debugging techniques. This included stepping through the code, inspecting variables, and using conditional breakpoints to capture critical moments during alert triggering. Once the issue was pinpointed, I collaborated closely with the development team to implement the necessary fixes. Continuous communication and periodic code reviews ensured that the fixes aligned with the expected behavior and followed coding best practices. 🐞🔨
6️⃣ Regression Testing: After the fix implementation, I conducted extensive regression testing to ensure that the bug was resolved without introducing new issues. This involved retesting the "Price Alert" feature in various scenarios, conducting end-to-end tests, and validating that the alerts were triggered accurately and timely. Thorough regression testing assured the stability and reliability of the feature. 🔄🧪
7️⃣ Documentation and Knowledge Sharing: Throughout the entire troubleshooting and resolution process, I maintained detailed documentation of the bug, its root cause, the steps taken to fix it, and any relevant insights gained. This documentation served as a valuable resource for future reference, knowledge sharing within the team, and on-boarding new team members. 📝📚
By following this systematic approach, collaborating with relevant stakeholders, leveraging advanced debugging techniques, and conducting thorough regression testing, we were able to successfully troubleshoot and resolve the challenging bug. The resolution enhanced the reliability of the "Price Alert" feature, ensuring users received accurate notifications for their stock price thresholds. It also contributed to an improved trading experience for CNBC app users. 💪🚀
Have you ever worked with a person who was not doing their work? If so, how did you handle the situation? Please share your approach.
Candidate: Yes, I have encountered situations where I have worked with individuals who were not performing their work responsibilities effectively. In such cases, I believe in taking a proactive and constructive approach to address the issue. Here's how I would handle the situation:
1️⃣ Observation and Assessment: Firstly, I would carefully observe and assess the situation to ensure that there is a genuine problem with the individual's performance. It's essential to distinguish between occasional performance lapses and consistent underperformance to ensure fairness in addressing the issue.
2️⃣ Open and Honest Communication: I would initiate a conversation with the individual in a private and respectful manner. During this discussion, I would express my concerns regarding their work performance, clearly stating the observed issues and the impact it has on the team and project. It is crucial to provide specific examples to facilitate understanding and avoid generalizations.
3️⃣ Active Listening and Understanding: I would actively listen to the individual's perspective, allowing them to express any challenges, concerns, or personal circumstances that may have contributed to their under-performance. It is essential to approach the conversation with empathy and create a safe space for open dialogue.
4️⃣ Collaboration and Support: After understanding the root cause of the performance issue, I would collaborate with the individual to develop an action plan for improvement. This may involve providing additional training, resources, or guidance to help them overcome their challenges. By offering support and creating a supportive environment, I aim to motivate the individual to regain their productivity.
5️⃣ Setting Clear Expectations and Goals: It is important to establish clear expectations and goals with the individual. I would work with them to define specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives that align with their role and the team's objectives. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions would be scheduled to monitor progress and provide guidance along the way.
6️⃣ Escalation and Involvement of Management: If the underperformance continues despite providing support and clear expectations, I would escalate the matter to the appropriate management level. In collaboration with the management team, we would explore further actions, such as performance improvement plans, additional training, or reassignment of tasks, based on the company's policies and guidelines.
7️⃣ Documentation and Reporting: Throughout the process, I would maintain detailed documentation of the observed performance issues, actions taken, and any feedback provided. This documentation serves as a record of the efforts made to address the situation and can be used for further discussions with the management or HR, if necessary.
It is important to approach such situations with empathy, professionalism, and a focus on finding a solution that benefits both the individual and the team. By following this approach, I aim to support the under-performing individual in improving their work performance and contribute positively to the overall team's success.
(Without BDD) Give me an overview of the automation framework you have developed.
I have developed the automation framework from scratch. I have used IntelliJ as an IDE. First of all, I have created a maven project. The reason for that is to manage the dependencies smoothly. Also, with the help of Maven, I could easily execute my automation scripts from the terminal.
Upon creating the project, I added the required dependencies to my project with the help of the pom.xml file.
After that, I created a package called “command_provider” under src > test > java and added all the useful action classes under this package like web elements actions such as click, type, select, mouse hover, and also browser actions like open, close, and closing the popup, etc. Also, any custom assertions and “Wait For” methods.
Once those are done then, I created the “page_objects” package and created all the classes mapping the actual page from the applications. In those classes, I have added the locators of the designated pages and methods to perform actions.
After that, under src > test I created the “resources” folder, I created the config.properties file under the resources directory and added the configurable values into that file as key-value pair. I also have added a logger to the project. I have used “log4j” as a logger and added the configuration in the “log4j2.xml” file.
Then I created the “utilities” package under src > test > java and added some utility classes such as “LoadConfigFiles”, “ReadConfigFiles”, “DbConnection”, “DriverFactory” etc.
Finally, I have created the automation_tests package under src > test > java and added all the tests. I have used TestNG as a test runner and used all the appropriate annotations as per the tests needed.
I have created the “testng.xml” file in the project root directory and added all the tests inside that file which will be used during the execution from the terminal.
During the framework development process, I was committing and pushing my work into the Git Repository such as GitHub.
In the end, I tested my framework by executing it locally and as well Jenkins, and at the end of the execution, I was generating allure reports and maven surefire reports.
(With Cucumber/BDD) Give me an overview of the automation framework you have developed.
I have developed the automation framework from scratch. I have used IntelliJ as an IDE. First of all, I have created a maven project. The reason for that is to manage the dependencies smoothly. Also, with the help of Maven, I could easily execute my automation scripts from the terminal.
Upon creating the project, I added the required dependencies to my project with the help of the pom.xml file. Then I installed the required plugin as part of the BDD project such as Gherkin, and Cucumber for Java.
After that, under src > test I created the “resources” folder and under the resource folder, I created the “Features” directory and added the feature file. The feature files are written using Gherkin syntax.
Once those are done then I created the “step_defintions” package under src > test > java and created all the steps classes to match with the feature file and implement the Gherkin steps with the correct annotations. Initially, the method associated with the step will be empty and we will add those steps later as framework development progresses.
After that, I created a package called “command_provider” under src > test > java and added all the useful action classes under this package like web elements actions such as click, type, select, mouse hover, and also browser actions like open, close, and closing the popup, etc. Also, any custom assertions and “Wait For” methods.
Once those are done then, I created the “page_objects” package and created all the classes mapping the actual page from the applications. In those classes, I have added the locators of the designated pages and methods to perform actions.
Once the page objects are created then I created the config.properties file under the resources directory and added the configurable values into that file as key-value pair. I also have added a logger to the project. I have used “log4j” as a logger and added the configuration in the “log4j2.xml” file.
Then I created the “utilities” package under src > test > java and added some utility classes such as “LoadConfigFiles”, “ReadConfigFiles”, “DbConnection”, “DriverFactory” etc.
Then I implemented the steps with the actual code where I left the method initially empty under the “step_definitions” package. I also created the “Hook” class where I have added the repeatable method such as “openBrowser” and “closeBrowser” etc.
Then, I created the cucumber runner class where I specified the feature file path, glue the step definitions package, and added the required plugin. With the help of the Runner class, I can run the entire automation project from the terminal as well.
During the framework development process, I was pushing my work into the Git Repository such as GitHub.
In the end, I tested my framework by executing in locally and as well Jenkins, and at the end of the execution, I was generating cucumber reports.
🔒1️⃣ What would you do if management asks you to approve a release with critical defects?
Ans: ❌ No, we should not release the application with critical defects. 💬 Make sure the management team understands the impact of the critical defects in the application without fixing them, and that the quality of the product cannot be guaranteed.
🤔2️⃣ Hypothetical Question: you have a team of ten software developers that have worked on a product for 5 years. They now have to develop a new version of this application but only have 3 months to develop and test it. What would the QA estimate be?
Ans: 🧐 "I need more info and detail in order to give you my estimate".
👥3️⃣ Describe my ability to work in a team environment.
Ans: 💪 I'm a synergistic person! I enjoy finding ways to work more efficiently and sharing my knowledge with my coworkers. I believe that by sharing what I know, we can all benefit and improve our work together. To me, teamwork means collaborating, communicating, and supporting one another to achieve our common goals.
🤖4️⃣ Do you believe automation is more important than manual QA?
Ans: 🤔 It depends on the context and type of testing being performed. In some cases, such as service tests or regression tests, automation can be more efficient and effective than manual testing. However, in other cases such as graphic design, manual testing may be more important to ensure the aesthetics and user experience are up to standards. Ultimately, a combination of both automation and manual QA is often the best approach to ensure comprehensive testing and high-quality software.
In a critical emergency, would you release a product with known defects?
Ans: ❌ No, it is not recommended to release a product with known defects in a critical emergency. It is important to prioritize the safety and functionality of the software to prevent further issues.
How would you prioritize testing efforts when working with limited resources?
Ans: 🤔 Prioritizing testing efforts with limited resources can be challenging. It is important to identify the most critical features and functionalities of the software and prioritize testing efforts accordingly.
How do you ensure that your QA team stays up-to-date with the latest testing methodologies and technologies?
Ans: 📚 It is important to encourage continuous learning and development within the QA team. Providing training, attending conferences, and sharing resources can help keep the team up-to-date with the latest testing methodologies and technologies.
What measures would you take to ensure that your team delivers high-quality software within tight deadlines?
Ans: 🏃♀️💨 To ensure high-quality software within tight deadlines, it is important to prioritize testing efforts, automate where possible, and collaborate effectively with developers and other stakeholders.
How would you handle a situation where a developer disagrees with your testing approach?
Ans: 💬 Communication is key in this situation. It is important to listen to the developer's perspective, explain your approach, and try to find a solution that meets both parties needs.
What would you do if you discover a major bug in the software just before the release date?
Ans: 🚨 It is essential to report the bug immediately, determine its severity, and work with the development team to find a solution as quickly as possible.
How would you measure the effectiveness of your testing process?
Ans: 📊 There are different metrics to measure the effectiveness of a testing process, such as defect density, code coverage, and user satisfaction. It is important to select the appropriate metrics based on the project goals and measure them regularly.
How would you approach testing for a complex, multi-component system with multiple dependencies?
Ans: 🤝 Collaborating with developers and stakeholders is essential to understand the system's architecture and identify the critical components and dependencies. Prioritizing testing efforts and automating where possible can also help ensure comprehensive testing.
What is your approach to managing and mitigating risk in software development?
Ans: 🔍 Identifying potential risks early in the development process and implementing measures to mitigate them is key to successful software development. Risk management practices such as risk assessment, risk analysis, and risk mitigation planning can help manage and reduce risks.
How do you balance the need for speed with the need for quality in software development?
Ans: ⚖️ Balancing the need for speed with the need for quality can be challenging. It is important to prioritize testing efforts and automate where possible to ensure comprehensive testing. Collaboration and communication with developers and stakeholders can also help find the right balance between speed and quality.
Here are the main reasons I chose a career in testing over other options:
💬 Interviewer: Why did you choose testing?
👩 🏻💻 I chose testing because:
🔹 It is a critical yet undervalued role
Good testing can make or break a product. Testers play an important part in ensuring quality and managing risk.
🔹 It is intellectually challenging
Testing requires creative thinking, logical analysis and strong problem-solving skills. There are always new issues to uncover and complex problems to solve.
🔹 It allows me to learn deeply about a system
To thoroughly test a product, I must understand how it works from the inside out. This in-depth knowledge and system thinking are very valuable and interesting to acquire.
🔹 The stakes are high
Knowing that my work directly impacts customers and the success of a product gives testing a real sense of purpose and responsibility. The consequences of bugs make the work feel impactful.
🔹 It blends both the technical and creative sides of my skill set
Testing utilizes analytical and meticulous technical skills alongside creative, lateral thinking skills. I enjoy roles that utilize a balance of these strengths.
🔹 Continuous improvement mindset
Testing requires constantly re-evaluating and optimizing strategies, techniques and tools. I like the aspect of constantly improving processes.
In summary, I chose testing for the intellectual challenge, depth of knowledge required, high stakes impact, balanced skill set and opportunity for continual improvement it provides. The responsibility that comes with ensuring quality resonated with me the most.
Hope this explains my reasons for choosing a career in testing! Let me know if you have any other questions.
💬 Interviewer: What do you see yourself doing in 2-5 years?
👩🏼💻 I aspire to becoming a QA Manager.
💬 Interviewer: Why do you want to be a QA Manager?
👩🏼💻 For several reasons:
✅ I'm passionate about quality and catch issues early. I want to improve quality at a larger scale.
✅ I have strong technical testing knowledge and experience that I can leverage to lead a team.
✅ I've faced challenges due to poor management and want to solve those problems from a leadership role.
✅ I want to help develop and grow the skills of team members to do their best work.
✅ I enjoy problem-solving and optimization - and managing testing involves those challenges at a strategic level.
💬 Interviewer: What do you think you'll need to work on to become a QA Manager?
👩🏼💻 I'll need to develop:
🔸 Better people management skills like coaching, delegating and motivating team members
🔸 Strong communication and influencing skills to represent testing needs across the organization
🔸 Strategic thinking and the ability to optimize testing processes at a higher level
🔸 The confidence to make decisions and drive change initiatives
🔸 Knowledge of technologies to recommend appropriate tools for the team
Overall, becoming a QA Manager would allow me to improve quality and best practices at scale. I welcome the challenge of leading, developing and mentoring a team to deliver high quality results.
💬 Interviewer: Would you rather work in a team or alone?
👩💻 I enjoy both, but prefer a team environment for several reasons:
✅ Diverse perspectives and skills allow for better problem-solving
✅ Collaboration leads to more creative solutions and innovation
✅ Sharing knowledge and learning from others helps me grow my skills
✅ Team members can catch issues I miss and vice versa
✅ Working together towards shared goals is motivating
💬 Interviewer: What challenges do you face working in a team?
👩💻 When working in a team, challenges can include:
🔸 Ensuring effective communication
🔸 Managing interpersonal dynamics
🔸 Dealing with differences in work styles
🔸 Balancing dependencies while maintaining individual autonomy
🔸 Resolving conflicts in a constructive manner
💬 Interviewer: How do you overcome these challenges?
👩💻 I overcome challenges by:
✅ Actively listening to understand other perspectives first
✅ Communicating clearly and transparently
✅ Being flexible and willing to compromise
✅ Focusing on shared goals rather than individual priorities
✅ Identifying mutual "win-win" solutions
💬 Interviewer: While teamwork is valuable, can you also work independently?
👩💻 Yes, for certain tasks individual work suits my focused, methodical testing style. But overall, I prefer collaborating with a team where I can contribute, learn and improve the overall outcome through unity of effort.
Hope this interview-style response clearly explains my preference for teamwork while also acknowledging my ability to work independently when needed! Let me know if you have any other questions.
🎤 Interview Question: Give me 5 strong & weak points of yours.
💪 Strengths:
1️⃣ Leader
2️⃣ Public Relations & Management Skills
3️⃣ Team Player
4️⃣ Quick Learner & Hardworking
5️⃣ Good Communication Skills
🙁 Weaknesses:
🔸 Perfectionist - May Overwork
🎤 Interview Question: When should testing be stopped?
Answer 1: ❖ When the desired number of test cases have been executed. ❖ When the desired numbers of bugs have been found and the bug rate falls below a certain level. ❖ When testing becomes uneconomical. ❖ All identified defects have been addressed. ❖ Beta or alpha testing period ends. ❖ Budget and time deadline is near…..
Answer 2: 🤖 When it comes to testing, it's difficult to determine exactly when to stop. Modern software applications are complex and run in an interdependent environment, making complete testing impossible. ⏰ However, some factors to consider when deciding when to stop testing include:
Deadline
Completion of a certain percentage of test cases with passing results
Lack of budget for testing
Reaching a specific point of code, functionality, or requirements coverage
Bug rate falling below a certain level
Beta or alpha testing period ending.
💬 Interviewer: What should Development require of QA?
👩💻 Development should expect QA to:
✅ Thoroughly test their code from a fresh perspective
✅ Find bugs that slip through unit testing
✅ Validate specifications have been properly implemented
✅ Report defects in a clear, structured manner
✅ Re-test fixes to verify issues have been resolved properly
💬 Interviewer: And what should QA require of Development?
👩💻 QA should expect Development to:
🔸 Provide unit tested code whenever possible
🔸 Follow coding standards and best practices
🔸 Document any known issues or limitations
🔸 Provide details on new features and functionality
🔸 Be responsive, fixing high priority defects quickly
🔸 Perform root cause analysis to prevent regressions
💬 Interviewer: Why is this a two-way relationship?
👩💻 Testing and development depend on each other for success:
✅ Better code from dev allows QA to test more efficiently
✅ More thorough testing helps dev write better code next time
✅ Continuous feedback loop between teams improves quality
But both teams must have clear expectations and communicate openly for the relationship to really work well.
💬 Interviewer: Good points. Transparency and communication are definitely key.
👩💻 Absolutely! An environment of trust and collaboration breeds the most effective results.
Hope this interview-style explanation demonstrates my perspective on what each side should expect and require from the other to form a productive working relationship. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
💬 Interviewer: Give an example of your best and worst QA experiences.
😊 Me: One of my best experiences was early in my career. The team was friendly and collaborative. I enjoyed the challenges of testing.
💬 Interviewer: What made it a good experience?
😄 Me: The main factors were:
✅ A friendly, supportive team environment
✅ Interesting, engaging work
✅ Opportunities to learn and grow my skills
💬 Interviewer: And what about a negative experience?
🙁 Me: The most difficult time I had was on a project where, suddenly, the project manager left and I had to take on his responsibilities in addition to my own. I was new at the time so it was very stressful.
💬 Interviewer: How did you handle it?
😔 Me: Though it was difficult, I:
🔹 Prioritized important tasks
🔹 Asked team members for help
🔹 Put in long hours
🔹 Managed expectations with stakeholders
😅 Interviewer: That must have been a real challenge!
😅 Me: It was. But I'm proud that despite the stress, I completed the project on schedule through hard work and team support. I learned a lot about project management and myself in the process.
💬 Interviewer: Great attitude. You turned a negative into a positive learning experience. That resilience will serve you well!
😊 Me: Definitely. Every challenge provides an opportunity for growth if you confront it with the right mindset.
🎤 Interview Question: How would you describe the involvement you have had with the bug-fix cycle between Development and QA?
Answer 1: During the bug-fix cycle, as a tester, I would identify any bugs and report them to the tech lead. The tech lead would verify the bug and notify the development team lead, who would then notify the developer to fix the bug. The fixed bug would then be passed back through the team until it reaches me, the tester, to test again. This cycle would continue until the bug is fixed and verified.
Answer 2: 🐞 As a tester, my role in the bug-fix cycle includes: ➢ Identifying the bug ➢ Determining the severity of the bug ➢ Describing the type of bug ➢ Providing any necessary attachments ➢ Giving steps to reproduce the bug if it's reproducible ➢ Offering suggestions if applicable ➢ Mentioning the date ➢ Signing off on the bug once it's fixed and verified.
🎤 Interview Question: How well do you work with a team?
👥 I am very comfortable working in a team and have experience playing the role of a team leader. I enjoy working with people and am very friendly, which helps me get along easily with others. I have worked with people from different groups through my involvement in various cultural organizations, giving me good experience in managing groups of any size.
🚀 Prioritization and Release Questions 🚀
What would you do if management asks you to approve a release with critical defects?
Ans: No, we should not release the application with critical defects. Make sure the management team understands the impact of releasing critical defects in the application without fixing them first - the quality of the product cannot be guaranteed.
How would you handle a situation where the development team wants to release new features while there are still open defects?
Ans: I would recommend prioritizing fixing the open defects first before releasing any new features. Releasing new features on top of bugs can create more issues.
If you found a critical bug right before a release date, how would you handle it?
Ans: I would immediately notify the project manager and recommend delaying the release to fix the critical bug first. Releasing with a known critical bug is risky.
How do you determine when it's acceptable to release a product with known defects?
Ans: I gather data on the number and severity of defects, get input from stakeholders on business impact, and weigh the risks and benefits of releasing vs. delaying. There's no single formula - it's a judgment call based on the specifics.
How would you balance quality and speed when a release deadline is approaching?
Ans: Have open conversations on priority, tradeoffs, and options. See if we can deliver a minimum viable product first then iterating. Compromise may be needed on both sides to balance quality and speed.
🤔 Estimation Questions 🤔
Hypothetical question: you have a team of ten software developers that have worked on a product for 5 years. They now have to develop a new version of this application but only have 3 months to develop and test it. What would the QA estimate be?
Ans: "I need more info and detail in order to give you my estimate".
How do you estimate testing time and effort for a new project?
Ans: I look at project scope, complexity, and risks to make an initial rough estimate. As details emerge, I break tasks down into sprints and make more accurate estimates per iteration. There is always some uncertainty, so I pad timelines.
You are asked to estimate testing a new feature but don't have enough details yet. What do you do?
Ans: I would push back politely and explain what information I need in order to provide an estimate. This includes requirements, design documents, complexity, etc. I can provide a ballpark range for now but will need more specifics to be accurate.
How do you determine what types of testing should be done and how much effort to allocate to each?
Ans: I look at functionality, risk areas, and project scope. Higher risk areas get more testing time. I leverage experience testing similar projects to guide test planning and effort allocation.
What techniques do you use to come up with a testing estimate?
Ans: Experience testing similar projects, breaking tasks down into sprints, accounting for unknowns by padding estimates, getting input from devs on complexity, leveraging historical metrics, and having open communication around uncertainties.
💡 Teamwork and Collaboration Questions 💡
Describe my ability to work in a team environment.
Ans: I'm a synergistic person. I find ways to be more efficient and share what I learn with my coworkers. I explained that if I share what I know that made my job easier, then perhaps that coworker will remember me and share what they learn back in the future with me as well as with the entire corporate structure. This is synergy.
How do you foster collaboration between testers and developers?
Ans: Encourage early involvement from QA in design reviews. Have devs and testers demo features together. Celebrate wins as a team. Facilitate conversations to align on goals and processes. Emphasize shared responsibility for quality.
How would you handle a situation where you disagree with a developer on the root cause of a bug?
Ans: Have an open-minded discussion focused on facts and data. Reproduce the bug together. Consult others perspectives if needed. Ultimately, focus on finding the true root cause rather than who is right or wrong.
Describe a time you had a conflict with a coworker. How did you handle it?
Ans: I had a disagreement with a coworker on approach, but I handled it professionally by listening first, finding common ground, and compromising. I focused on resolving the conflict, not assigning blame. In the end, we learned from each other.
How do you stay engaged and share knowledge with remote team members?
Ans: Have regular video calls to touch base, screenshare and demo features, send quick updates on chat channels, document processes on wikis, record demo videos to share. Make an effort to engage remotely.
⚖️ Automation vs Manual Testing Questions ⚖️
Do you believe automation is more important than manual QA?
Ans: When it comes to service tests then automation is more important; When it comes to graphic design manual is more important. when it comes to regression tests automation is more important than manual testing.
How do you determine when to automate a test versus performing it manually?
Ans: I consider frequency of execution, importance of the test case, time/effort to automate, and likelihood of future change. Frequent, critical regression tests with stable functionality are good automation candidates.
What are some key challenges of test automation?
Ans: Maintenance of automated scripts, false test failures, upfront investment of time/effort, needs specific expertise, not useful for exploratory testing, managing flaky tests.
How would you convince a manager skeptical of test automation benefits to support it?
Ans: Discuss quantifiable benefits like improved regression coverage, faster test cycles, and releasing confidence. Start small to demonstrate value. Outline the ROI in terms of quality and time savings vs. upfront costs.
What best practices do you follow for test automation?
Ans: Modular framework, small & focused test cases, clear naming conventions, separate object repositories, failure analysis process, configuration management, collaboration between testers and devs.
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