A framework I use for “how would you test X” interview questions (and just for structuring test design in general):
- Clarify scope — what platform, what’s already covered, any constraints?
- Functional happy path — does the basic flow work?
- Edge cases and boundaries — empty inputs, max lengths, special characters
- Negative cases — invalid input, wrong permissions, network failure
- Non-functional — performance under load, accessibility, security basics
- Prioritize — say what you’d actually run first given limited time
Most weak answers to this question are just a scattered list of ideas. Moving through it in layers signals you understand the taxonomy, not just individual test cases.
Curious how others here structure this — do you use a different framework, or does this roughly match how you’d walk through it?
I try and avoid hypotheticals and ask them if they have ever tested something similar to X and then go into the details of what they really did, what they learned and what they would do different.
Forgetting my manners : Welcome to the MOT community of all things quality @aleksandr.singer . Great question actually, it’s hard to know what to get candidates to demonstrate to you.
In an interview, it’s tempting to try and test a candidate on everything, as if it’s an exam. And that’s not that useful, because the goal of an interview is not to doubt someone’s entire learning career. The useful interview will rather check if a candidate truly knows what they say they know in very specific areas. Areas sometimes randomly chosen because the interviewer is strong in them, or because of some other hunch. Time is limited.
It’s more useful to get a candidate settled by asking them questions in an area they are strong in, and thus verify they do indeed have depth. And still make them comfortable to start with. And then go for an area they are weak in and switch modes into the more theoretical - but not to test their knowledge, but to instead test their ability to navigate in uncertain waters. If you can do this second area well, you will learn more about the persons ability to communicate well and reason. Which are skills never taught in a lifetime of being in systems of schools and universities, but are key to teamwork. And will give you clues about how the person will fit into your team.