Top seven interview questions and answers for software testing for 2022
To find and fix software flaws, software testers conduct a range of tests. Although there are many various kinds of software testing, there are a few common questions that interviewers frequently use to determine your familiarity with their practices. By preparing for potential interview questions, you can enhance the caliber of your answers during the software testing interview. We address 50 frequently requested software testing interview questions in this post and provide examples of good responses.
What to anticipate in a software testing interview
A software testing interview may include general questions, questions regarding your education and work history in the field of software testing, and in-depth questions designed to assess your understanding of specific testing techniques. It is advantageous to be able to read and evaluate software code since, depending on the company, an interviewer may ask questions based on code snippets. Different firms create or manage different kinds of software, so doing some research on the company you are interviewing with will help you prepare.
general questions
The following broad questions are used by the interviewer to assess your personality and interest in the job:
- What led you to decide to become a software tester?
- How went the first software test?
- How familiar are you with software testing?
- Do you have any hobbies outside testing software?
- Which software do you enjoy testing the most?
- What aspect of software testing do you find most enjoyable?
- What do you find most objectionable about software testing?
- Which software do you favor using?
- Why did you apply to work as a software tester for this company?
- What are your key strengths when being tested?
- What is your main weakness when taking tests?
- Which types of software testing are you a fan of?
enquiries about education and experience
The interviewer can learn more about your background in software testing by asking you the following background questions:
- How long have you been testing software?
- How many years have you spent testing software?
- What varieties of software testing have you performed?
- Which automated testing instruments have you previously used?
- Have you ever personally tested software?
- Have you ever been a part of a quality control team?
- Have you ever automated tested software?
- What jobs do software testers typically perform?
- Have you had software testing training?
- What different types of software testing are there?
- Have you passed the software testing CSTE certification exam?
specific questions
The following in-depth inquiries can be used by an interviewer to discover more about your comprehensive comprehension of software testing:
- What kinds of software testing are offered?
- When ought software to be tested again?
- What is a code walkthrough?
- What exactly is “formal testing”?
- What separates a stress test from a load test?
- Please explain the software development lifecycle.
- What is a performance test?
- What are a few possible causes for a project to fail?
- What aspects would you consider when executing software testing?
- What variations of black box testing are there?
- What exactly does the phrase “replace a string” mean?
- What makes beta testing different from alpha testing?
- White box software testing specifically verifies what?
- What separates static software testing from dynamic software testing?
- Could you explain the meaning of “phantom” in software testing?
- How is the software testing process structured?
- Can you compare top-down and bottom-up testing?
- You intend to automate what types of software testing?
- Can you outline a test report’s contents?
- What is end-to-end testing and why is it important?
Interview questions and examples of responses
Below are some sample interview questions and answers relating to software testing.
1. What types of software testing may you conduct?
The purpose of this question is to learn more about your previous experience with software testing. You may want to list both the software tests you are aware of and those you have already run. Software exams come in a wide variety, and understanding a variety of them could be useful to an interviewer as they assess your suitability for the job.
Example: “I’ve conducted a lot of software tests. Unit testing, system testing, performance testing, load testing, stress testing, usability testing, and interface testing are a few of the many types of testing that are available. I also understand the bulk of examinations’ goals and can adapt to their diverse approaches because I am aware of these goals. I’ve performed more black box tests than white box tests, but I am aware of their benefits.”
2. Explain end-to-end testing and its importance.
This interview question focuses on end-to-end testing and gives you the chance to talk about its importance. Even rookie software testers are aware of what end-to-end testing entails, therefore it can be useful to prepare a response on its importance.
Example: “End-to-end testing is done after functional testing in order to assess the entire piece of software in a browser or in a real-world situation. Real-world testing ensures that the program works both in a test environment and in a situation where the user would actually use it.”
3. How is the software testing process carried out?
You will stand out from other applicants with your response because every type of software test is different. Your understanding of the foundational elements of the software testing process will be evaluated by this question. Consider defining the standard procedure that various software tests might use as well as your understanding that every test will have a different set of standard procedures.
Example: “For different kinds of software testing, multiple scenarios and best practices will be employed. In general, each software test requires preparation and the development of test cases. You set up the testing environment and conduct the test in accordance with the requirements and standards defined during the planning stage. After the test cycle is complete, the data are analyzed and recorded. A report with a breakdown of the test findings is given to the lead tester or moderator.”
4. What information could be included in a test plan?
This quiz tests your comprehension of the core ideas behind software testing. Even though each test plan may contain a varied set of things, they all need to have a few key elements. Consider explaining what a test plan might entail and providing an example of one that you have created.
Example: “The details I include in the test plan will vary depending on the kind of test I’ll conduct. Every test plan contains a strategy, an objective, and criteria. I would design a strategy based on how to best achieve the test’s objectives. I might do a unit test where I use specified criteria to evaluate how the program responds to different inputs in order to find issues with a single line of code.”
5. What are some possible causes of a project’s failure?
Your response to this question will reveal how you handle setbacks and perhaps also how adaptable you are. In software testing, failures do occur, therefore the interviewer may want to know how well you are aware of any potential issues. Consider describing a failure you had in a previous role.
Example: “Over the course of my previous software testing positions, I had numerous difficulties. Many failures were mostly caused by time and money restrictions. Although it happens infrequently, the testing environment has occasionally been configured wrong. Even though the testing environment can always be enhanced, sometimes a project’s failure is due to a limited budget or amount of time. Effective time management has been a must for every project.”
6.What is your greatest weakness when taking tests?
You might show the interviewer that you are aware of your weaknesses by using this question. Everyone can improve in certain areas, and identifying your flaws in software testing shows that you are self-aware. Tell the interviewer about your areas of weakness and what steps you have taken or are taking to strengthen them.
Example: “What I consider to be my worst failing is my inability to quickly understand a new software testing technique. Whenever I learn something new, it often takes me a little extra time at home to completely understand how the new method works. I’ve been attempting to get better at this by understanding the process from the start and exploring its complexities as they occur.”
7. How many years have you spent testing software?
This question can be answered in one word, but you might also wish to go into more detail about your experience. You might say how many years of experience you have and provide a brief synopsis of your experience since the inquiry is about your experience.
Example: “I’ve spent the last five years rating software. I’ve tested manually and automatically, mainly concentrating on effectiveness and usability. Stress testing made up a sizable element of my work at past jobs.”
