10 Functional testing Interview Questions and Answers for qa engineers

1. Can you describe your experience with test case design and execution?

Throughout my career, I have been responsible for designing and executing test cases in various projects. In my previous role as a Quality Assurance Engineer at XYZ company, I designed and executed over 500 test cases for a web application.

1. One example of my test case design success was when I found a critical bug that was missed by the software development team. Through my test case design, I was able to identify a scenario that the development team had not considered, which ultimately led to the discovery and resolution of a severe issue that would have had a negative impact on the user experience.
2. In another project, I observed that the number of test cases designed by our team was high in comparison to industry benchmarks. Through analysis and research, I discovered that we were writing many redundant test cases. I developed a new approach to test case creation, and as a result, the number of test cases decreased by 30% while still maintaining complete test coverage.
3. Furthermore, I collaborated with team members to create test automation scripts for repetitive testing processes, which significantly reduced the testing cycle time, and helped in finding more defects in less time.

My experience with test case design and execution has taught me that thorough planning and attention to detail are essential in ensuring that high-quality software is delivered to end-users.

2. What tools and frameworks have you used for functional testing?

During my time at my previous company, I had the opportunity to work with several tools and frameworks for functional testing. The primary tool that I used was Selenium WebDriver, which allows for the automation of web browsers. Using Selenium, I was able to create test cases for various web applications and execute them on multiple browsers and environments.

Additionally, I also worked with Appium, which is a mobile application testing framework. With Appium, I was able to automate the testing of several mobile applications across different platforms, such as iOS and Android. I also created test scripts using Python to perform end-to-end tests on mobile applications.

Another framework that I used was TestComplete. Similar to Selenium, TestComplete allows for the automation of web applications. However, TestComplete combines both functional and UI testing, allowing for a more comprehensive testing approach. I was able to create test scripts using JavaScript and VBScript within TestComplete to significantly reduce my testing time.

1. In one project, I used Selenium WebDriver to automate the testing of a web application. By implementing automation testing, we were able to reduce the testing time from 20 hours to 30 minutes, which resulted in a significant improvement in the overall efficiency of our testing process.
2. During another project, I used TestComplete to automate the functional and UI testing of a web application. The automation reduced the testing time by 60%, which allowed me to focus more on exploratory testing and provided an overall better user experience for the application.

Overall, my experience with various tools and frameworks for functional testing has allowed me to be more efficient in my testing processes and deliver high-quality software products.

3. How do you prioritize and organize your testing efforts?

As a QA Engineer, I prioritize and organize my testing efforts by following these steps:

1. Understanding the project requirements and goals
2. Identifying key features and functionalities that need to be tested
3. Categorizing the tests as high-priority, medium-priority, and low-priority based on their impact on the overall functionality of the system
4. Creating a detailed test plan with timelines and resources required for each type of test
5. Assigning tasks to the team members based on their strengths and expertise
6. Periodically reviewing the progress and making necessary adjustments to the plan
7. Once the testing is completed, analyzing the results and reporting the bugs to the development team

By following this approach, I was able to improve the efficiency of test cycles by 25% and reduce the number of critical bugs reported by the users by 50% in my previous role as a QA Engineer at XYZ company.

4. How do you handle and report bugs or defects?

When handling bugs or defects, my first step is to thoroughly test the feature or functionality in question to reproduce the issue and ensure it is a genuine problem. Once I have validated the bug, I record all the necessary details such as the steps to reproduce it, the browser or device used, and any relevant screenshots or video recordings.

1. Then, I prioritize the bug based on its severity and impact on the overall product. For critical bugs that affect the user experience or functionality, I report them immediately to the development team, providing all the necessary information for a quick resolution.
2. For less severe bugs or issues that do not affect the core functionality, I add them to a tracking tool or database, categorizing them by their severity or priority level. This allows the development team to address them in an appropriate amount of time without being overwhelmed by the sheer number of bugs.
3. To ensure that the bugs are being handled and resolved within an acceptable timeframe, I regularly follow up with the development team to check on their progress and provide additional information or testing feedback if necessary. I also provide updates to relevant stakeholders as needed.

My approach to handling and reporting bugs has proven effective in my previous roles. In a recent project, I was responsible for testing a new feature for a popular mobile application. As part of my testing, I identified a critical bug that caused the app to crash when a user tried to purchase a subscription. By quickly reporting and providing detailed information on the bug, the development team was able to fix the issue within two hours, preventing any further impact on the user base. This allowed us to meet our launch deadline and led to positive feedback from users for the quality of the feature.

5. Have you worked with Agile or Scrum methodologies? How do you fit into those processes?

Yes, I have worked with Agile and Scrum methodologies in my previous projects. In my last job, I was part of a team that adopted the Scrum framework to manage our development process. As a functional tester, my role was to ensure that the features and functionalities we were developing met the product owner's requirements and were delivered on time.

• One of the key ways I fit into the Agile/Scrum process was by attending daily stand-up meetings to report my progress and raise any issues that could affect the delivery timeline. I made it a point to communicate and collaborate effectively with the development team to ensure everyone was on the same page with regards to the project requirements.
• Another way I fit in was by actively participating in sprint planning and sprint reviews, where we discussed the features that needed to be developed and tested. My experience gave me a good sense of how much time and effort would be required to test each feature effectively, and I was able to provide helpful estimates which helped to ensure that the sprints were planned realistically.

Overall, my experience working with Agile and Scrum methodologies has taught me the importance of communication, collaboration, and flexibility in a team-based environment. One result I can share is that we delivered 100% of our features on schedule for four consecutive sprints, which helped us meet our product owner's expectations, as well as provide valuable insights to the entire team on how to approach our projects efficiently.

6. What level of collaboration do you prefer with developers and other team members when testing?

I prefer a high level of collaboration with developers and other team members when testing. In my experience, this approach produces the best results and ensures that everyone is on the same page.

In my previous position, I worked closely with developers to create test plans that covered all possible scenarios. Through daily standup meetings and frequent communication, we were able to identify and address issues quickly, reducing the number of bugs found in production by 25%.

Additionally, I value open communication with project managers and designers. By collaborating with these team members, I was able to provide valuable feedback on user experience and design elements that impacted the overall functionality of the product.

1. Increased collaboration with developers reduced the number of bugs found in production by 25%.
2. Working closely with designers provided valuable feedback on user experience and design elements, improving overall functionality.

7. Can you describe your experience with test automation, and any frameworks or tools you've used?

During my tenure at XYZ Company, I was responsible for implementing test automation for our web application using Selenium with Java. I also utilized TestNG framework for test case management.

1. One example of my contribution was reducing testing time by 50% through automation, resulting in faster releases and better quality assurance for our clients.
2. Another example is when I identified and resolved a major issue in our application through automated testing, which potentially saved the company thousands of dollars in customer refunds and reputation damage.

In addition to Selenium and TestNG, I have experience working with Appium for mobile testing and Protractor for AngularJS applications. I am also proficient in scripting with Python and have utilized it for API testing using the pytest library.

Overall, my experience with test automation has allowed me to streamline processes, reduce testing time, and improve the overall quality of software releases.

8. How do you ensure test coverage and accuracy?

During my time working as a functional tester, I have developed a systematic approach to ensure test coverage and accuracy. Firstly, I analyze the requirements and break them down into smaller test cases. I ensure that each test case checks the functionality and the expected behavior of the system.

1. I prioritize the test cases based on risk and impact, ensuring that the crucial functionality is tested first.
2. I then use a traceability matrix to map the requirements to the test cases. This helps me ensure that all functional requirements are tested and that there are no gaps in our testing.
3. Additionally, I use automation tools like Selenium and Appium to ensure that each test case is executed accurately across different platforms and devices.
4. Finally, I conduct regression testing for each iteration and use the results to identify areas that require additional testing. This approach has helped me increase my test coverage and accuracy by over 20% while reducing the overall testing time.

In my previous project, the client reported a 25% reduction in the number of critical bugs after the implementation of this approach, which significantly improved the overall quality of the system.

9. Can you provide an example of a particularly challenging defect or issue you encountered while testing?

During my time as a Functional Tester, I encountered a particularly challenging defect while testing a finance management software.

1. The defect occurred while creating a budget for a project, If the budget limit was crossed it was not reflected accurately on the summary page.
2. I reviewed the code and found that there was an issue in the calculation of the budget amount.
3. I recreated the issue and provided detailed steps to the developer to replicate and fix the defect.
4. After a few iterations, we were able to fix the issue and I ran a regression test suite to ensure that the fix didn't create any further issues which was successful.
5. In addition, I suggested adding a few more test cases around budget management to catch similar defects in the future.
6. The customer reported a 20% increase in accuracy of budget calculations after our fix was deployed.

This experience strengthened my skills in troubleshooting and collaboration with development teams to effectively identify and resolve defects.

10. What are your thoughts on exploratory or ad-hoc testing, and how do you approach it?

Exploratory or ad-hoc testing is an essential part of a comprehensive testing strategy. In my experience, it is often the most effective way to uncover hidden defects or issues that may not be apparent in a scripted test. When approaching exploratory testing, I first assess the application or feature under test and create a testing charter. This charter outlines the areas I will focus on and the expected outcomes.

During the exploratory testing, I ensure to document my findings and report any critical issues immediately. In a recent project, I discovered a critical issue during exploratory testing that affected the application's performance. I reported this issue to the development team who quickly fixed it, resulting in a significant improvement in the application's response time. This reduced the average page load time by 50%, resulting in a better user experience.

1. During exploratory testing, I look for issues that may not be covered in test scripts
2. I create a testing charter to outline my test areas and expected outcomes
3. Any critical findings during exploratory testing are documented and reported immediately
4. In a recent project, I discovered a critical issue that was fixed resulting in a 50% reduction in average page load time

I am confident that my approach to exploratory testing will allow me to find critical issues while enhancing the overall quality of the product under test.

Conclusion

Congratulations on making it to the end of our list of functional testing interview questions for 2023. The next steps towards landing your dream remote QA engineer job include starting with a killer cover letter. Check out our guide on writing a standout cover letter to impress your future employer. Another crucial step is to prepare an impressive CV that will grab the recruiter's attention. Our guide on creating an effective resume for QA engineers will provide you with all the necessary tips and tricks to create a winning CV. Finally, start browsing our remote QA engineer job board to find your next job opportunity. Remember, Remote Rocketship is the go-to place for remote job seekers, so sign up today to kickstart your remote work journey. Good luck!