Quality Assurance Interview Questions

Quality Assurance
Interview Questions

These essential quality assurance interview questions explore the key competencies or behaviors required of a quality assurance professional. The answer guidelines will help you formulate your own winning answers for the QA  job interview.

Businessman with quality assurance icons with text "Competency-based QA Interview Questions"

The core competencies that have been identified as essential to
successful job performance in the quality assurance role include:

  • planning and organizing
  • problem analysis and assessment
  • judgment and
    decision-making
  • attention to detail
  • communication skills

Expect behavioral interview questions that evaluate these competencies.

Competency-Based Quality Assurance Interview Questions

These competency-based or behavioral interview questions explore the 5 core areas of competence for QA professionals

1. Planning and Organizational Skills

Tell me about a situation where you had to handle multiple projects.

Tell me about a time you experienced conflicting priorities. How did you schedule your quality assurance activities accordingly?

In your answer
highlight your ability to

  • set priorities and establish objectives
  • to
    identify and allocate the necessary resources
  • to establish a course
    of action to achieve these objectives

For example, the planning for a
quality audit is key to ensuring the effectiveness of that audit.

2. Attention to Detail

What methods do you use to ensure that no details are forgotten when monitoring corrective action?

Describe a time that you identified an error or problem that had escaped the team’s attention.

In your answer
to quality assurance interview questions about your quality orientation
highlight your ability to:

  • focus on all aspects of the process
  • to be
    detail oriented
  • to accurately complete all details
  • to precisely check
    processes
  • to maintain vigilance over a period of time

3. Analysis and Problem Assessment

Describe the most complicated problem you recently dealt with in your job. What methods and tools did you use to manage it?

Tell
me about a time that you thought you had successfully handled a problem
only to discover it was a symptom of a larger problem.

In your answer
focus on your ability to

  • gather and organize the relevant data
  • identify the key issues and problems
  • identify cause and effect
    relationships
  • identify corrective action
  • define a plan to eliminate
    the root cause

4. Judgment and Decision Making

Tell me about a time you had to make a decision with less than perfect information.

Tell me about a situation in which you had to make a complex decision within a very limited time frame.

In your answer
focus on:

  • your capacity to evaluate the situation
  • define the decision
    criteria
  • to consider and review resources, constraints and
    organizational objectives
  • to develop alternative courses of action
    using a structured process
  • to commit to the most appropriate action

5. Communication Skills

Describe a situation when you had to persuade a manager or colleague about a quality assurance activity.

Tell me about a time when you had to communicate expected standards to a co-worker.

In your answer
to quality assurance interview questions about communication highlight
your competence in using the appropriate interpersonal styles and
communication methods to gain acceptance of an activity, plan or
document.

  • Include your ability to select an approach that is
    appropriate to the situation and to demonstrate the benefit of the
    activity to the receiver.
  • Handling objections and acknowledging concerns
    are part of the communication process.

Get help with understanding what is expected from you when answering behavioral interview questions in your job interview.

Quality assurance duties and responsibilities

The quality assurance job description provides a clear overview of the job requirements for the QA role.

Quality assurance interview questions – skills  and technical knowledge

Prepare for quality assurance interview questions that explore your specific knowledge and experience of quality assurance. QA Interview Questions

QA conceptual illustration with text "QA Interview Questions Part 2"

How do I prepare for a QA interview?

Be ready for standard job interview questions in addition to the specific quality assurance  interview questions we have discussed. We provide excellent sample interview answers to help you with this.

A useful resource for your job interview preparation is the project management interview questions guide.

Job Interview Answers to tricky QA interview questions.

Have a list of insightful quality assurance questions to ask in your job interview.

Go through the interview checklist to be well prepared for your QA interview.

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