#How to Answer Software Testing Interview Questions

The software field, with its vast development has opened doors for more opportunities. These opportunities have enabled the recruitment of more people into the field. One of the most important divisions in software development is software testing. Software testing holds a significant spot in the software development life cycle (SDLC). The responsibility of a software tester is to conduct tests on a developed product to find and report flaws.

A software testing interview is a screening ground for software testers. Candidates in the interview are expected to possess more than basic knowledge of software testing. The increased expectations are due to the boom in the field and explosion in the job market. In a testing interview, the candidates are generally posed with questions regarding the software development life cycle, software testing life cycle. bugs, types of testing and the software used for testing.

Following are a list of frequently asked questions in a software testing job interview.

• Tell me/us about yourself
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• Why did you opt for software testing?
• Where do you see yourself five years from now?

These are career related questions. The candidate must remember that the interviewer will like to listen for a few minutes only. It is advisable to complete the answer within 2 minutes. Two minutes is shorter to hear, but is too long to listen to one's profile.

• What is SDLC?
• What is the testing part in SDLC?
• How is testing different from development
• Whose work is harder? A tester's or a developer's.
• Explain white, black and grey box testing.
• Differences between white and black box testing
• What is a bug?
• Explain the bug life cycle.
• Explain maintenance testing.
• How do you perform a web based testing?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of web based testing.
• Explain in brief the waterfall model.
• What is STLC?
• List the stages of STLC.
• What is alpha testing?
• Explain beta testing.
• What are the advantages of QTP?
• Explain client server testing.
• What is smoke testing?
• What is a test case?
• Define QA and QC.
• List the differences between QA and QC.
• What is debugging?
• What are the problems that occur in debugging?
• What is a FileSystemObject?
• What is a verification point?
• Explain pilot testing.

Answering technical questions needs patience. The interviewer will never qualify a candidate after listening to an unclear, inaudible and confusing answer. The candidate has to listen to the question attentively, understand the question, figure out the answer expected by the interviewer and answer in a clear voice. The answer should not be too long or too short. The answer should house the required information and be as crisp as possible. A detailed explanation can be given if required.

General questions are also a part of the software testing interview.

• What are your interests?
• What are your hobbies?
• What is your ambition?
• Do you read books?

These questions are also meant to test the tester. Vague answers may invite negative impressions.