Comprehensive Answers to Interview Questions for Software Test Lead or Test Manager:
STH introduces another interview guide, this time sharpening the focus on the QA/Test lead role.
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This piece delves into frequently asked and significant interview questions aimed at QA test leads and test managers, providing thoughtful answers.
Instead of supplying diplomatically correct responses, we offer solutions grounded in thorough explanations. Let’s kick things off.
Interviewees for QA roles are typically assessed in three primary areas:
#1) Fundamental technical proficiency and expertise
#2) Disposition
#3) Communication skills
In a QA test lead interview scenario, the evaluation of communication capabilities stays the same.
Good communication is judged by its overall unity, persuasiveness, and clarity. For a QA test lead, questions can be broken down into three key domains:
1) Technical expertise
2) Collaborative attitude
3) Leadership skills
Let’s probe each of these classifications and offer more insights.
Technical Proficiency – Test Lead or Test Manager Interview Questions
This division can be split further into procedures and tool-related skills. Here are some representative queries:
Q #1. Can you recount your roles and responsibilities in a project and how you managed your time?
A test lead spends roughly 10% of their time on coordination tasks, while the remaining is dedicated to testing, reviewing, client interaction and project delivery activities.
You can dissect the time division as follows:
- 50% – Testing activities (planning, designing, carrying out)
- 20% – Review
- 10% – Coordination
- 20% – Interacting with the client and handling delivery
STH’s recommendation:
It’s crucial to compile and prepare these percentages beforehand.
Consider also reading => Duties of a Test Lead
Q #2. What QA methodology is employed in your project, and why?
When this question is posed to a QA team member, the aim is to gauge their familiarity with and comfort in the running process. Conversely, when asked of a test lead, the emphasis shifts to their proficiency in implementing the process. It is advisable to brainstorm the best tactic.
Here’s a possible response: Currently, we blend traditional and Agile methods in our undertakings. For instance, we roll out releases in short sprints, but we still formulate test plans, test scenarios (in place of test cases), and submit bug reports within these sprints. We use a Scrum board to keep track of progress and Bugzilla for bug management. Despite the condensed sprints, we pledge to deliver all reviews, reports, and metrics promptly. Additionally, we can discuss further specifics such as the onshore-offshore model, alignment of dev and QA sprints, etc.
See also => Real-world QA procedures
Q #3. What are some of your notable achievements or initiatives?
Leads who can demonstrate success, rather than simply fulfilling their duties, are highly desirable candidates. This can encompass major triumphs (awards, recognition across the company) as well as everyday victories (e.g., streamlining the reporting procedure, simplifying test plans, creating autonomous testing documentation).
Q #4. Have you participated in test estimation, and what is your approach?
Test estimation offers an approximate concept of the time, effort, and resources required for a test. Test leads are often conscripted for estimation at the outset of a project. The answer to whether test estimation is part of a QA lead’s professional portfolio is almost always “Yes.”
The approach to estimation may differ among teams and leads. If you have leveraged particular techniques like function points, mention them. If you depend on historical evidence, intuition, and experience, illuminate the logic behind it. Provide an approximation of how you evaluate projects or amendment requests, taking into account factors like the complexity of test cases and the team’s efficiency.
STH Tips:
- Estimations are rough guesses and may not always be exact. It’s wiser to overestimate rather than underestimate for a testing project.
- Highlight how you rope in team members in devising test scenarios and pinpointing complexities, as this showcases your capacity as a mentor.
Consider also reading => How To Be an Effective Team Guide, Trainer, and a Genuine Team-Guardian in an Agile Testing Environment? – The Motivation
Q #5. What tools are part of your toolbox, and why?
Proficiency in using QA process platforms such as HP ALM (Quality Centre) and bug tracking software is essential for both test leads and team members. If you have worked with management applications like MS Project or Agile management tools, highlight that and elaborate on how these tools streamline daily tasks.
For instance: Share how you utilize JIRA for bug and task management in your QA project. Furthermore, state how the JIRA Agile Plug-in aids in building a Scrum board, planning user stories, managing sprints, and reporting.
Q #6. Familiarity and Proficiency with Processes: If your organization adheres to a specific procedure (e.g., waterfall, on-site-off-site, Agile), anticipate comprehensive questions about its operation, effectiveness, metrics, best practices, and hurdles.
For more information, consider visiting the following links:
This brings us to the end of the first installment. In the next portion of test lead or test manager interview questions, our attention will shift towards queries related to teamwork and management skills.
Teamwork and Leadership – Test Lead/Manager Interview Questions
This section collates the most frequently posed Test Manager Interview Questions, tailored specifically for the Test Manager position.
The Test Manager executes a pivotal role in steering the testing squad. The questions in this section may be slightly more demanding, but by studying them, you can bolster your confidence.
Incidentally, this article also covers real-time interview questions.
Here are some situational interview questions and answers for the Test Manager profile:
#7) A customer has reported severe bugs in the Daily balance report. The customer is frustrated as the issue remains unresolved even after a week. As a PM, how would you act to restore the customer’s faith and obviate such problems in the future?
Response:
Resolving conflicts: Understand the customer’s viewpoint by gathering information, asking questions, and taking notes. Kickstart an action plan to rectify the issue (conceding mistakes, negotiating solutions, implementing actions and following up with the client). Additionally, institute a daily issue review process to side-step such troubles down the line.
#8) The testers in your firm persist in testing the deliverable despite identifying significant shortcomings, leading to redundant testing. How would you tweak the test plan to tackle this problem?
Response:
Suggestions for addressing the problem:
a) Tighten acceptance criteria
b) Reassess test cases (preferably through peer reviews)
c) Introduce more test cases, centring around boundary values and partitioning of equivalent classes
d) Incorporate test cases with invalid conditions
e) Modify stop criteria
#9) As the newly appointed test lead in an establishment that utilizes manual testing, your supervisor wants you to recommend three testing tools to the top brass and detail their features. What would be your choice of three testing tools for your testing environment, and why?
Response:
In this scenario, you can propose tools like Test Director, Winrunner/Loadrunner, or McCabe. Test Director aids in defect tracking, Winrunner/Loadrunner is used for functional/load testing, and coverage tools help in code coverage and white box testing.
#10) In a task with fluctuating requirements and dependent data sources, how do you plan to minimize the associated risks?
Response:
Propose a plan that tackles the recognised risk zones and incorporates data-oriented tests. Clarify that the testing will concentrate on maintaining data integrity in this intricate project.
Summing Up
This concludes our discussion of interview questions aimed at QA leads or managers, along with their respective responses.
Don’t forget when responding to interview queries, it’s not a test but a chance to voice your thoughts and share your experiences. Your suggestions and remarks always add value and contribute to the betterment of this article’s contents.
We eagerly anticipate your input.