Special offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a £100 credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed are 65% more likely to report a hire than non-sponsored jobs**
  • Visibility for hard-to-fill roles through branding and urgently hiring
  • Instantly source candidates through matching to expedite your hiring
  • Access skilled candidates to cut down on mismatched hires

QA Interview Questions

Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top QA interview questions and answers.

  1. Do you prefer to use your QA skills at the beginning, middle, or end of a process? See answer
  2. What current QA education, training, or certifications do you have? See answer
  3. What QA skills do you have, and which make you stand out? See answer
  4. Can you explain the difference between quality assurance, quality control, and testing? See answer
  5. Can you describe the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) process used in quality assurance? See answer
  6. Can you explain the difference between verification and validation? See answer
  7. How important is QA documentation to you? See answer
  8. Can you describe your ability to work in a team? See answer
  9. How do you improve your QA skills? See answer
  10. Imagine your supervisor found a quality issue after you submitted your work. How would you handle the situation? See answer
  11. Describe a time when you exceeded performance expectations as a QA professional. See answer
  12. Why are you interested in this QA role? See answer
  13. Imagine you found a colleague recording false information in a document. What would you do? See answer
  14. What do you think is the most rewarding aspect of your QA job? See answer
  15. Describe your QA work history and what you’ve learned from it.
Show more questions Show fewer questions

Ready to get started?

Post a job

Ready to get started?

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 QA Interview Questions and Answers

Do you prefer to use your QA skills at the beginning, middle, or end of a process?

This question reveals when a candidate would prefer to focus their QA skills. If catching mistakes early is crucial to you, look for candidates who focus their skills at the start of a process. Otherwise, consider candidates who prefer to spot errors at the middle or end. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience and preferred working style
  • Ability to adapt to your work culture and processes
  • Understanding of the QA process

Example:

"I prefer to use my QA skills at the end of the process. In my experience, this enables me to detect quality issues before it reaches customers or a supervisor goes through my work. However, I could also adapt and review my work at the beginning of or midway through a process as well."

What current QA education, training, or certifications do you have?

This question helps you determine whether a candidate has the employment qualifications your organisation requires. It also reveals whether a candidate stays current with QA standards and developments. What to look for in an answer:

  • Relevant certificates and training
  • Positive attitude towards learning
  • Interest in professional development opportunities

Example:

"Five years ago, I completed a college programme in quality management. I also became a certified associate in software testing two years ago. I love learning and improving by taking quality management courses. Staying up-to-date by attending conferences, workshops, and seminars is also an exciting way I spend my time."

Describe your QA work history and what you've learned from it.

This question helps you determine whether a candidate's work experience applies to your organisation. A candidate applying for a QA role should have experience as a volunteer, intern, or employee. What to look for in an answer:

  • Relevant work experience
  • A strong work ethic
  • Specific lessons learned from experience

Example:

"I started my career as a QA inspector at a plastic manufacturing company in New Brunswick. Five years later, I became the company's quality manager. My time there helped developed my analytical skills. I also worked with experienced QA professionals to make sure products met quality standards. I look forward to applying the lessons I learned and training I received as a QA employee in your company."

What QA skills do you have, and which make you stand out?

This question helps you determine whether a candidate has the skill set to succeed in a QA role. An excellent candidate has time-management, problem-solving, and effective communication skills. What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of quality standards
  • Confidence in their skills and ability to transfer them to a new role
  • Interest in continuous improvement

Example:

"As an experienced QA manager, I pay keen attention to details and can spot quality errors quickly. I also have excellent time management, problem-solving, and communication skills. I know how to multitask, prioritise work, and collabourate with others to achieve results. I'm eager to apply my well-developed skills, and I think they make me stand out from other candidates."

Can you explain the difference between quality assurance, quality control, and testing?

This question assesses a candidate's understanding of basic QA concepts. An outstanding candidate can explain these concepts clearly and exhibits prior experience in the role. What to look for in an answer:

  • Clear understanding and ability to define key terms
  • Critical-thinking skills
  • In-depth knowledge of basic QA concepts from experience

Example:

"Quality assurance involves developing and maintaining processes that produce a product or service. Quality control focuses on finding defects or quality issues in produced products and services. Testing is the process of using corrective measures to improve a product or service's quality. I performed all three functions at my last job as a QA manager."

Can you describe the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) process used in quality assurance?

This question evaluates a candidate's work experience with specific QA processes. What to look for in an answer:

  • Clear definition of a PDCA cycle
  • Understanding of how a PDCA cycle works and its benefits
  • Experience using this process to achieve results

Example:

"The first step (plan) is to agree on the objectives of the process to deliver quality products or services. The second (do) is to develop processes and tests to ensure quality standards. Then, the QA team monitors the process (check). Finally, the QA team changes the process (act) if it doesn't meet quality standards set when planning."

Can you explain the difference between verification and validation?

This question helps you assess a candidate's ability to differentiate between key terms in the role. Look for a detailed explanation from a promising QA professional. What to look for in an answer:

  • Clear definition of both terms
  • Ability to relate these terms to their role and explain key differences
  • Experience with both processes

Example:

"Verification and validation are two useful processes to any QA professional. While verification is the assurance stage when producing a product or service, validation is the process that evaluates the final product or service. After each QA task I perform, I verify the product or service's quality. Then I validate the quality as my final test. "

How important is QA documentation to you?

By asking this question, you determine whether a candidate takes each QA stage seriously. A good QA professional understands that documenting policies is an important step to take after quality assurance. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of QA documentation importance
  • Ability to follow instructions and stick to company policies
  • organisational skills

Example:

"I think QA documentation is crucial. In my previous roles, documenting my work helped me refer to them in future projects. My manager also encouraged us to document steps to make it easier for her and my colleagues to review processes and collabourate on different projects. That way, a teammate can check your documentation instead of repeating what you've tried."

Can you describe your ability to work in a team?

Quality assurance is a team effort, and an excellent candidate must know how to work well with others. The goal of this question is to find out whether a candidate is a team player. It also helps you decide which QA team they're most suited to based on their strengths and interpersonal skills. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interest in collabourating with others to achieve quality standards
  • Ability to work independently and as a team
  • Interpersonal skills to build relationships with team members and foster healthy working relationships

Example:

"I'm a great team player who sees each QA task as an opportunity to learn and share my ideas. I'd be happy to work with both experienced and entry-level QA professionals in your organisation. I'm a strong communicator and enjoy working with others towards a shared goal."

How do you improve your QA skills?

QA professionals who know the best methods and techniques can help you save time, reduce cost, and improve productivity. This question assesses what steps a candidate takes to improve their QA skills. What to look for in an answer:

  • Desire to improve QA skill set
  • Attitude towards learning and professional development
  • Commitment to ensuring quality standards

Example:

"In my experience, taking ownership of my work helps me pay better attention to details. I have taken training courses on my own time to learn preferred practises and hone my strategic problem-solving skills. I also schedule a time for my checks and track errors to motivate myself to be more conscious of quality issues."

Imagine your supervisor found a quality issue after you submitted your work. How would you handle the situation?

This question evaluates how a candidate would respond to making a mistake. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to acknowledge and learn from mistakes
  • Commitment to ensuring quality standards
  • organised action plans to avoid future errors

Example:

"I understand my position requires me to spot errors, not make them. However, if my supervisor found a mistake in my work, I'd first apologise for the error. Then, I'd review my work to see where I went wrong. I'd then find strategies to avoid making the same mistake again in the future and share my action plan with my supervisor."

Describe a time when you exceeded performance expectations as a QA professional.

This question helps you determine whether a candidate knows what you expect of them. It also reveals whether they're eager to exceed those expectations. What to look for in an answer:

  • Self-motivated and goal-oriented
  • Drive to improve their skills and abilities continuously
  • Passion for their job in quality assurance

Example:

"At my last job, I found that only 97% of our products were meeting quality standards. This was lower than the company's expectation of 99.9996%, the six sigma level of performance. I reach out to the company's technicians, and they walked me through the production process. Eventually, I discovered the reason for the defects and drew up an action plan to prevent it from occurring. I also recommend strategies to ensure products met quality standards. My ability to spot and correct this error saved the company $12,000."

Why are you interested in this QA role?

This question helps you understand what attracted a QA professional to your job listing. A strong candidate outlines their interest in contributing to your organisation's goals. What to look for in an answer:

  • Long-term career goals that align with your organisation
  • Research about the role and the organisation
  • Passion for the position

Example:

"I read about your company two months ago, and your mission to create a software programme that enhances equipment accessibility excited me. I feel my skills would be valuable to your organisation, and I want to contribute to your mission as a QA analyst. I also believe working here would help me gain relevant experience."

Imagine you found a colleague recording false information in a document. What would you do?

This question helps you determine whether a candidate would encourage others to make the right decisions. A good QA professional would mention how they'd politely correct the individual. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interpersonal skills
  • Ability to hold themselves and their colleagues accountable
  • Honest, moral and ethical

Example:

"If I found a colleague falsifying information, I'd encourage them to do the right thing. I'd explain that making sure products and services meet quality standards requires collective effort. If they continued in this behaviour, I'd inform the manager or supervisor of the situation. I believe coworkers must hold one another responsible for their actions."

What do you think is the most rewarding aspect of your QA job?

This question checks whether a candidate is passionate about their job. It also helps you find out why they chose a career in quality assurance. What to look for in an answer:

  • Motivation
  • Passion for their job
  • Drive to meet quality standards

Example:

"Helping companiesproduce quality products and services is the most rewarding part of my job as a QA professional. My role requires in-depth knowledge of legal and quality standards, and I love figuring out the best ways to improve processes. I'm eager to take up this QA role and join your team."

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

Ready to get started?

Post a job

Explore Interview Questions by Title

No search results found