This is the a guest post from author “Suhas R M”. Author is working as a software test engineer and having 4 years of manual testing experience.
A colleague of mine recently asked me, “Where should I start with for preparation of interview? It’s almost 2 years I have faced any interview.”
My answer was straightforward: (This will help for fresher as well as working professional who want to switch the current job)
What you need to know about software testing?
First basic thing - Testing Concepts: One needs to be very good at this especially the manual testing methodologies. But only knowing different testing concepts is half work done. The next - most important thing is to know which type/technique/concept of testing can be applied at what stage of SDLC.
“What should I test and when” is very important. There might be some concepts, which are not applicable to what we, professional test in our company, but it’s always better to have an idea of all testing practices.
Many freshers and working testing professionals have might not worked on various testing domains like localization testing, time Zone testing etc. But knowing more than what you have worked on will help you better answering the different questions from the interviewer. I always try to keep my testing knowledge updated besides my current project work. This helped me a lot while switching my job some years ago. What if an interviewer asks you question on topic, which you have never worked on? For example you don’t have any experience on web based projects or client server testing and interviewer asks you to test “Yahoo mail application”. Will you be able to answer this question? You can. Even you have not worked on this type of projects. How? Your curiosity to learn the things you never done before will help you in this case. So broaden your thinking area, be curious in every work and every query you face in your daily work routine.
Knowing more is harmless and will definitely help you at least to give your thoughts on the questions asked by interviewer.
If you don’t know any testing concept, e.g. “Localization testing”, then try to learn the concepts first. Like - what would be localization testing? It’s simple; Test if the application looks local for you while using. Then go on exploring. See for used colors, content, images, culture etc, Different countries, locales have it in different way. Consider a web site that reads from right to left, is it accepted in countries other than Middle East? Obviously NO. Or can you display the same geo specific content in India what you can display in US? Again NO. This is just a simple example how you can learn unknown testing concepts.
The very essential part of a test engineer is “Thinking out of box”. If you are not capable of thinking out of box, believe me testing is not for you. What do you mean by thinking out of box? Don’t just follow the traditional methods. Implement new things in testing. Try to summarize, automate the routine testing work. Think from user perspective. Think how user will use your application. What common mistakes he can make or which tasks he can perform on your application? This way you will get insight of any application and will also help to answer the questions in depth.
Besides from “curiosity to learn” you should upgrade your skill in following areas:
- Some hands-on on basic database/SQL queries and concepts
- Any basic scripting language (For automation testing)
- Networking and system administration concepts will help you in system domain projects.
Do not just write the UI test cases, check what is happening inside the application. For application having database connection check for data updation, retrieving and in any case there should not be loss of data.
Get hold on project. Know the application under test before starting to test it. Instead of looking in the requirement document, look into the architecture doc, design doc, sequence diagram and activity flow diagram.
Most importantly you need to be perfect in what you mention in your CV. All the questions interviewer asks will be based on what you are specifying in your CV. So do not mention the skills you have not worked on, just for the sake of decorating the CV with multiple skills.
The key point in interview is, You should make interviewer feel that it was a complex application you were testing and had lot many challenges in it for a tester!
And one last thing - If you don’t know answer for a question, say so. Don’t fool around and get into trouble.
If you have any query on “preparation for testing interview” then comment it below.
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26 comments ↓
Do frehsers need to worry about domain knowledge for projects?
How can we prepare for domain specific opening interviews ?
Freshers are not expeted with any specific domain knowledge. What all you need is basic concepts of testing. The advantage with freshers is that they will have a steep learnning curve. So, if you have the basics you can be moulded into any domain. Do not worry about the domain.
But understand that the “embedded domain” testing definitely differs from a “web domain” testing.
Hi Mr. Suhas.. Thanks for the new post.. I have been in software testing for the last six months but the term “Localization testing” was new to me and also interesting.. So can u please write some more testing terms which comes very rarely but important in preparing for an interview..?
Hi Vijay,
How to configure any testing tool for a particular project? On what basis we should decide the tool?
Like for ex: If i have a project on school,then which tool should i use?
Dear Sir,
Its wonderful to get this information , i wanted to switch to testing i am in academics since last 3 years tell me what and how to prepare ?tell me some of the tips, ???
This blog is useful. I think basic knowledge of UNIX also needed to sit infront of an interviewer
@shabeena
Hi shabeena. Configuring any testing tool for a particular project depends on the type of testing you are going to perform on that project. We need to choose the tool based on the Testing strategy and the client requirement which mainly includes COST factor. So a tool for any domain is not the logic friend.
cheers
zakir
its really informative. i have one doubt about product based testingand i am currently doing black box testing for our broadcasting products.. what are the required knowledges to learn before i am switching for new job.
if anyone having idea pls share…….
hi
I was working as a developer from the last 3 years but
know want to go into testing will you help me.I have started learning the concepts of testing please guide me how i can start my career in testing at this stage.
sir i have good knowledge in mannual testing.
i am well to exposure in QTP tool also.
but i dont know how to explain about my projects to interviewers please tell me few tips.
I want to thoroughly know about software testing. Is there any free website
Send me “Paypal express checkout” Test cases and scenarios
hi sir could u please conform me wheather at fresher leavel do i need to know some sql, or any other language i am from mechanical background and looking forward to shift to software testing
HI, first of all i want to convey my thanks. I am fresher in testing. Can you list that which test should happen which time?
hi engineers
I think is vijay is sankat mochan of this site. I also have need to know about the status of winrunner whether it is relevent now in market or useless to learn or study.
hi
Can u give the Example of Test Plan
What should be the answer for - why you wish to make career in software testing.
i m a fresher looking for a job in Delhi/Ncr as a Tester but not able to generate a call . if u can help so that i may act accordingly. Thnks in advance.
Friends,
I am new to testing and from the above article I have one confusion in the statement
“The next - most important thing is to know which type/technique/concept of testing can be applied at what stage of SDLC.”
can anyone tell me about the different testing types we can use on different stages of SDLC. Does it vary based on project or it remains constant in every project.
Enjoy Testing
KAT 22
what is the difference between test specification document and test case document
Hi all,
Iam new to testing and what is interrogating and querying databases (e.g. RC Update and BRIO)
please can u give some example and can u suggest
wedsites about quering database,RC Update and BRIO.
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Hi All,
We provide the testing course manual + automation with all basics to advance..just in very nominal amount.
We are the proffessionals in industry for now more than 6 years with MNCs.
Course duration is for 10 days. 1.5 hrs daily (Only weekends)
For further details….email me at ravi.kochar@rediffmail.com
Some of the stuff up there is very relevant and useful… keep it up.
Hello,
This is the most likely & an important question in the interviews, “Being an engg, why do want to make a career in testing rather than development?”
Kindly provide with some diplomatic & a convincing answer for this.
It would be great if you let me know.
Thanks.
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