Testing & Quality Assurance Interview

Can you explain what test automation is and why it is important in the software development lifecycle?

So first of all, thank you for this interviewing opportunity. My name is Ankit. And starting with what this test automation is like, how we can automate the process of testing?Through tools like Selenium or something other than.Manual testing like going through the database and seeing the changes like your if your SQL queries worked correctly or if the interaction between the websites when you go over something flow or when you're testing the functionality of a website.Does it, does it play out in the same manner that you intended? That's test automation and why it's important in software development life cycle is because.Software development lifecycle is very tedious work and in agile you have to go back to the previous stages and again to the later stages and compare the results in between and.That's making the testing automated would be a great idea.

Your answer touches on some key aspects of test automation but could be clearer and more structured. Here’s an evaluation of your response:

1. Definition of Test Automation: You mention tools like Selenium, which is good, but your explanation of what test automation is lacks clarity. It would be beneficial to define it more explicitly as the use of software tools to execute tests automatically, compare actual outcomes to expected results, and report the results.

2. Importance in the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC): You noted the tedious nature of the SDLC and the repetitive tasks involved, which is relevant. However, it would be helpful to highlight specific advantages of test automation, such as increased efficiency, faster feedback, improved test coverage, cost-effectiveness in the long run, and the ability to run tests continuously (especially in agile environments).

3. Structure and Clarity: Your answer could flow better. Starting with a clear definition, followed by the benefits, and ending with how it integrates into the SDLC would improve coherence.

4. Technical Details: While mentioning manual testing is relevant, you need to clarify how automation complements or enhances this process.

5. Language and Grammar: There are some grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, which could detract from the professionalism of your response.

To improve your answer, consider this structure:
- Briefly define test automation.
- List and explain its benefits.
- Elaborate on its role in the SDLC, particularly in agile methodologies.

Overall, I would rate your answer 3/5. With a bit more clarity, detail, and structure, you could significantly improve the quality of your response.

What are some of the common automation testing tools you are familiar with, and which one do you prefer to use?

Some common test automation tools that I am familiar with as Selenium and I can name like Data Actions or GitHub CICD because like whenever you commit the quote from there, it helps you to test it beforehand.And umm, allows you to like.Figure out like if anything other than the intended purpose or, uh uh, intended.Uh code is being pushed to the GitHub.I prefer to use GitHub Actions because it's agreed to land. Selenium is a different kind of tool which helps to test the functionality in the automation of the websites and how those tool interact with each other.

Your answer touches upon relevant automation testing tools, but it could benefit from clearer structure and terminology. Here’s an evaluation of your response:

1. Content Relevance: You mentioned Selenium, which is a well-known automation testing tool for web applications. However, mentioning GitHub Actions as a testing tool might be misleading; it's primarily a CI/CD tool that facilitates automation in the development workflow but isn't strictly for testing. A clearer distinction between these tools and their purposes would enhance clarity.

2. Clarity and Coherence: Your answer had some repetition and filler words that made it hard to follow. Streamlining your thoughts and using complete sentences would improve the overall delivery.

3. Preference Explanation: While you indicated a preference for GitHub Actions, elaborating on why you find it preferable compared to other tools could strengthen your answer. For instance, discussing aspects like integration, ease of use, or collaboration features would make your preference more compelling.

4. Supplementary Tools: Consider mentioning other popular automation tools like TestNG, JUnit, or Cypress to show a broader understanding of the landscape.

5. Examples: Providing examples or scenarios where you've successfully used these tools in your projects would bolster your credibility and demonstrate practical experience.

Rating: 3/5

Improvement Suggestions:
- Structure your answer into three parts: 1) tools you are familiar with, 2) your preferred tool with reasons, and 3) any relevant experience or examples.
- Enhance clarity by minimizing filler phrases and using specific terminology.
- Expand on the benefits of your preferred tool in the context of test automation.

With these changes, your answer would be more comprehensive and impactful in an interview context.

Describe the difference between functional testing and non-functional testing. How does automation apply to each?

So coming on to that, what's functional testing? I think the functional testing is done through Selenium and it's more about testing the different components of the website and if they work currently or not. I'm not too sure about like what's non functional testing, but I think it's something related in lines with.Does not check the functionality of interconnectedness of those components in the website or in a final application through tools like selenium or something. Because non function testing could be related to unit testing or integrated testing that are at the base level but functional testing is at the higher level of testing.And I think it tests overall application much more, umm, brief, uh, much more in on the complex section of the website, but.How does automation apply to these? I would go back to my previous examples of GitHub actions because as I have said like when we whenever we commit to the GitHub we run a script.And check if those things are running as intended. We wanted them to be, but Salini is totally different from that.

Your answer demonstrates some understanding of functional and non-functional testing, but it contains several inaccuracies and misconceptions that could have been clarified. Here are some points to consider:

1. Definition Clarity: You mentioned functional testing primarily in the context of Selenium, which is a tool for UI testing. While functional testing does involve validating specific functions of software against requirements, it encompasses various types of testing, including unit, integration, and system testing. Non-functional testing, on the other hand, evaluates aspects like performance, usability, reliability, and security.

2. Non-Functional Testing: Your explanation of non-functional testing was vague. It’s not merely about “not checking the functionality” but focuses on how the system performs under various conditions, such as load, stress, and scalability. It's essential to recognize that tools like JMeter or LoadRunner are commonly used for non-functional testing.

3. Automation Application: You briefly mentioned automation but could elaborate on how automation applies differently to both types of testing. For functional testing, automated tests can easily verify individual features (e.g., using Selenium for UI tests). For non-functional testing, automation can help simulate user loads or analyze response times.

4. Conclusion and Organization: Your response lacked clear organization and a concise conclusion about the key differences. Stating them clearly would strengthen your answer.

To improve, focus on clearly defining both types of testing with examples. Structure your answer better by first explaining each concept, then discussing how automation applies to both.

Rating: 2/5. While you had some foundational knowledge, clarity and completeness in the explanation were lacking.