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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.
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
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.