Best interview questions for a Test Analyst

Test Analyst Interview Questions

Test Analysts are detail-oriented individuals who will work alongside designers, engineers, and other project stakeholders to ensure a project is developed as smoothly as possible. They will assist with streamlining, troubleshooting, and debugging.

These are the most important qualities to look for in a Test Analyst:

Fluent in multiple coding languages
Ability to turn analysis into clear actionable fixes
Skilled in making reports
Strong ability to work to deadlines
Rapid problem-solving skills

Interviewing a Test Analyst

Test Analysts will help to improve the quality of code that your team is producing on an ongoing basis. They will be a constant part of the development process and improve the skills of the team, as well as the quality of your product.

As Test Analysts are constantly challenging and improving your team, the interview process for this role needs to be excellent. Our example Test Analyst interview questions will ensure that this is the case.

How to open the job interview

Easing your candidate’s nerves is one of the most important actions to take during an interview. This will ensure that you get an accurate overview of their skills and character. And, breaking the ice is super easy.

Asking a few easy opening questions will get the conversation flowing naturally, with minimum effort.

Job Description available

See our Test Analyst job description here

For the interview

A positive opener to start

What do you enjoy most about being a Test Analyst?

Why did you choose a career in test analysis?

Behavioral Questions

Name a time you changed the way code was produced or managed which had a lasting impact on the team?
This will give you an idea of how positively a candidate will impact your team.
Tell me about the most challenging coding project you have worked on and how you managed to navigate this?
Here, you will decipher a candidate’s weakness areas and how they react when faced with a challenge, as well as gain insight into their work history.
Tell me about a time you weren’t sure how to proceed with testing a project, how did you overcome this?
Not every project will be a walk in the park. The candidate should be able to detail a number of steps they take to overcome difficult situations such as this.
Talk me through a time when a developer has had trouble understanding a change you have made?
Test Analysts will often change the way a team works or will make adjustments to streamline processes. This may not always be clear to their team, so knowing how they explain these changes is important.

Soft Skills

How do you prioritise your open testing tasks when you have multiple projects ongoing?
Deadlines are key for Test Analysts. Here you check their time management skills and prioritisation ability.
What steps would you take if you received complaints from your team on a change you made during testing?
Here, you’ll get an idea of how a candidate handles stress and conflict. They should be able to use their expert knowledge to explain the reason for any changes.
What skills do you have that are important as a Test Analyst?
Here, a candidate will name their relevant testing skills, whether they’re soft skills or hard skills.
When helping a team member improve their code, how do you be sure they’re taking your advice on board?
People skills are an essential part of a Test Analyst role. Here, you aim to decipher how well your candidate can communicate ideas and lead a team member to success.

Hard Skills

What is the largest testing project you have worked on? How did it go?
This aims to understand a candidate’s compatibility with your current workload.
Which testing tools have you used in previous roles?
Here, you get an idea of how well a candidate’s experience matches your current toolkit and what they may need onboarding with.
Which coding languages have you worked with most in the past?
Here, you will understand whether a candidate’s experience is relevant to the open role. You’ll also get an idea of whether they bring new skills to the table.
Have you taken any management or leadership training?
Since your Test Analyst will be leading the improvement of a team’s output, any formal training is a bonus here!
Have you worked on any specialised testing projects in the past?
If your company has a specialised niche, it is good to know if the candidate has experience in this area.

Operational / Situational Questions

If you were required to test a product or system you weren’t confident with, what would you do?
Here you’re looking for a candidate who mentions researching the project they’re working on, learning more about testing this project, and asking questions to the relevant teams.
If you noticed your team were making frequent, similar mistakes, how would you deal with this?
Quality is key for Test Analysts. They should put in a meeting with the relevant individuals and explain how to best avoid and overcome this mistake.
Imagine you let a large mistake slide when testing a project, what would your next steps be?
Here you’re looking for immediate damage control. The relevant stakeholders should be contacted, a fix should be put into place, and learnings should be taken for next time.
If you were to join our team as a Test Analyst, what would your first steps be?
You’re looking for immediate action here. They should mention immediately familiarising themselves with ways of working and the team.