A: As a QA Analyst, I am responsible for testing software to ensure it functions as
intended and meets quality standards. This involves creating test plans and test cases,
executing tests, logging bugs, and working with developers to get issues resolved.
Q: How long have you been doing this role for?
A: I have been a QA Analyst for 5 years.
Q: How did you get to this point in your career?
A: I got into this career by chance. As a fresher, I attended many interviews for different
roles, and my QA interview got cleared. I was appointed as a junior test engineer and
have progressed to a QA Analyst role over the past 5 years.
Q: When it comes to remuneration, what are your three B’s? (Base, Bonus, Benefits?)
A: My compensation package includes a base salary, an annual bonus, and benefits like
health insurance.
Q: I’m not going to ask you who you work for, but, what industry is your company in?
A: I work for a software company.
Q: When it comes to work flexibility, is your work primarily office-based, fully remote, or a
mix of both? Which do you prefer? Does your company allow you to be flexible?
A: My work is a mix of office-based and remote. I prefer the flexibility to work remotely
some days. My company does allow employees to be flexible.
Q: What does an average week or a typical day look like for you? Can you walk me
through your day? What time do you arrive and start at work, what are your main
tasks/responsibilities, who do you interact with, what meetings do you attend, etc.?
A: A typical day starts with attending the daily standup meeting to discuss the plan for
the day. Then I work on writing test cases, executing them, reporting bugs, verifying
fixes, and doing regression testing. I interact closely with developers and product
managers throughout the day.
Q: What does a typical day look like when things are going well vs a more
challenging/stressful day?
A: When things are going well, I am able to complete testing early and have time to dive
deeper into exploratory testing. Challenging days involve dealing with many critical bugs
and tight deadlines.
Q: What skills or knowledge are most important for your day-to-day work?
A: Strong communication, analytical thinking, creativity, attention to detail, and
persistence are crucial skills for my role. I also need to have excellent knowledge of
testing best practices and tools.
Q: What are some examples of recent accomplishments or contributions you've made in
this role?
A: Recently, I helped optimize our test case design which improved test coverage. I also
proposed automation scenarios that reduced regression test time.
Q: Do you have a supportive manager and do you feel valued?
A: Yes, I have a very supportive manager. I feel valued for my contributions.
Q: How much time do you spend collaborating with colleagues vs working
independently?
A: I'd say it's a 50/50 split between independent work and collaboration. We interact
frequently to align on priorities and status.
Q: Is there anything you wish you would have known before starting this role?
A: I wish I had known how much communication this role entails early on. My soft skills
have sharpened considerably over time.
Q: What do you hate most about your role?
A: The constant need to balance thorough testing with tight deadlines is frustrating
sometimes.
Q: What do you love most about your role?
A: I love that I get to think creatively, solve problems, and play a key role in delivering a
quality product that customers appreciate.
Q: What’s the next role for you and when do you hope to achieve this?
A: In 2 years, I hope to move into a QA Lead role and help mentor other analysts.
Q: Is your next role going to be with the same company or a different one?
A: I plan to continue growing my career here at this company.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you could give to someone who aspires to reach your
position?
A: My advice is to think like an end-user and advocate for their experience. Learn the
product inside-out. And persistently track down every bug!
Q: It’s Day 1 for someone in your role. What one piece of advice would you give them to
succeed?
A: If it's Day 1 for someone new in a QA Analyst role, the one piece of advice I would give them is: don't be afraid to ask questions!
As you're learning the ropes of a new role and getting familiar with the product, processes, tools,
etc., don't hesitate to speak up if you need clarification or are unsure about something. No
matter how small the question may seem, asking it can help prevent mistakes down the line.
Seek out teammates who can share insights on how things work and where the pain points tend
to be. Setting up 1:1 meetings with developers, product managers, and other QA's during your
first week can accelerate your ramp-up. The key is being proactive in expanding your
knowledge.
It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed on Day 1. Break things down into smaller steps,
tackle them one by one, and always keep the channels of communication open. Asking
questions regularly will ensure you get up to speed faster and deliver quality work.
Enjoying the read? Get access to unlimited content!
