Interview questions for Test Lead

Description

Are you preparing for a Test Lead or QA Manager interview? Preparing for a job interview requires you to be ready to answer the basic as well as the tricky interview questions that a hiring manager could ask. If you are wondering about the type of QA Manager/Test Lead interview questions that could be asked in your next interview, then this post is going to help you.
Quality assurance managers make sure a company’s products or services meet a high standard. Employers interviewing candidates for a QA manager position ask certain questions to find out if applicants have the analytical skills and knowledge of QA processes to succeed in this job. Understanding the types of questions you might be asked in a QA manager interview can help you prepare and make a good impression for the hiring manager. In this article, we explore both general and in-depth questions you might be asked and provide example answers to help you craft your own responses.

1. What do you expect out of this role?

This question measures your compatibility with the role. As you have applied for the role, you should have a good understanding of the major responsibilities associated with it and what you expect from it in the future.

2. What quality assurance process do you use and why?

Interviewers ask this question to determine how well you understand QA processes and whether you have experience establishing these processes. Make sure you give examples of the software and tools you use.
My team and I often use a Waterfall model to design a test plan, test certain scenarios and list any defects we find. I use a Scrum board to organize tasks and progress and a bug-tracking tool such as FogBugz to identify defects. I find that this combination of steps is effective for both traditional and Agile approaches and allows us to create reviews and reports within short sprints.

3. Did you handle a team of test engineers or QA professionals in your earlier role?

As you are interviewing for a test lead position it is evident that you have some amount of experience in handling a team or have similar experiences. You need to give a detail on how you coordinated with your team members and clients to deliver successful projects.

4. What do you think of test leads writing test cases?

The right answer is to say that you feel that the test lead should write test cases like any other member of the team.

5. How would you select a testing tool?

QA managers have a variety of testing tools and software to choose from to determine whether a product meets requirements. Hiring managers want to understand why you might choose one over another and that your choice will be effective. When answering this question, focus on the factors that go into your decision rather than the tool itself.
I would base my testing tool selection on the project’s needs. For instance, I determine if we are performing Agile or traditional testing and what features I’ll need in the tool. Then, I will assess all the testing tools that meet these requirements. I will compare each one’s price, benefits and additional costs, such as time spent training users or licenses we need to buy. I will involve my team in making the final decision since they will be working with this tool as well.

6. How do you set your team’s objectives?

If you prefer to set individual objectives for each member of the team, mention that you set it according to the knowledge and experience levels. This is how we can handle the project more efficiently as a team.

7. How familiar are you with the industry-standard testing practices?

Explain all the proper practices that you follow in your existing organization and how will you handle it similarly for the organization that you are interviewing for.

8. What are the ways you ensure that the team members receive proper training?

Get feedback from all the team members on their strengths and weaknesses to make a note of what type of training is necessary for the team. Also, new members who join the team should be trained on time so as to be inducted as quickly as possible.

9. What will be your criteria for hiring team members?

The criteria for hiring team members are 1) his/her technical strength is as per project requirements, 2) his/her attitude towards the profile he will be hiring for, and 3) will he/she be a good fit with the rest of the team members?

10. What interpersonal skills should a QA manager have?

As a team leader, you should have strong people skills that motivate employees to work together. The hiring manager will want to know that you can identify and understand the most important interpersonal skills for the QA manager role.

An effective QA manager should communicate clearly, listen to their team members, have empathy, motivate their staff and solve employee conflicts diplomatically. These types of skills help a manager build strong working relationships and earn their team’s loyalty and trust.”

11. Which testing tools are you familiar with?

As a test lead, you should be familiar with some of the most popular testing tools. You need to explain how you use and what are its advantages as per the project requirements, cost of using the tool, and ease of use.
A client has found a major defect in a daily status report and is upset that it has not been resolved quickly.

12. What would you do to fix the issue and prevent it from happening again?

The interviewer may ask a situational question to determine how you handle customer conflict and the steps you would take to restore that customer’s confidence in the company and its product. This is important for retaining clients and maintaining the company’s reputation.

I would show the client that we care by taking the time to ask questions and listen to their concerns, making detailed notes about everything. Then, I will admit the error—if one did occur—discuss an appropriate solution with the client and solve the issue. Afterward, I will meet with the customer again to make sure they are happy with the resolution and to address any remaining concerns. With my team, I will revise our daily review process to avoid similar issues from happening in the future.

13. Are you familiar with automation and what do you think of it?

Automation is becoming an important part of software testing nowadays and you can get away without having any knowledge of it. You should be well-prepared for this question and make it a positive answer as automation is going to be the future.