Interview Preparation Discussion Notes

Introduction

• Serge Kromchenko from Los Angeles, founder of Cremify Online Boot Camp.
• Purpose: Discuss interview questions and best answers for job applications.
• Format: Q&A, discussion with first group of students (Georgie and Anton).

Goals of the Discussion

• Understand common interview questions.
• Learn how to provide effective answers.
• Share experiences from interviews.

Key Participants

• Georgie: Senior Automation Engineer, originally from Ukraine, now based in LA.
• Anton: QA Engineer, originally from Ukraine, currently living in Vegas.

Common Interview Questions

1. "Tell me about yourself."

• Structure your answer:
  • Brief background (current role, experience).
  • Mention tools and technologies used (e.g., Webdriver IO, Mocha, Jenkins).
  • Keep it concise to allow for follow-up questions.

2. Company Knowledge

• Be prepared to discuss the company and its products.
• Tailor your answer to your role (e.g., what the company specializes in).

3. Challenges Faced

• Discuss personal experiences with challenges in previous roles.
• Focus on conflict resolution or technical challenges.
• Ask for clarification on what type of challenges they mean (technical, interpersonal, etc.).

Automation Interview Questions

1. First-Time QA Role

• Expect questions like "As a first QA, what would you do?"
• Emphasize understanding the application, reviewing documentation, and establishing communication with developers.

2. Automation Stack

• Clarify what the interviewer means by "stack" (automation tools, languages, backend technologies).
• Mention familiarity with tools like Webdriver IO, JavaScript, and CI/CD pipelines.

3. Differences Between VAR, LET, and CONST

• Explain:
  • VAR: Can be redeclared and reassigned.
  • LET: Can be reassigned but not redeclared in the same scope.
  • CONST: Cannot be reassigned or redeclared.

4. Writing Test Cases vs. Bug Reports

• Differentiate between a well-written test case and a bug report:
  • Good Test Case: Clear and reproducible steps.
  • Bad Test Case: Unclear, difficult to follow.
  • Bug Report: Descriptive title, steps to reproduce, include visuals if necessary.

Key Takeaways

• Keep answers concise but informative to facilitate follow-up questions.
• Use personal experiences to demonstrate skills and knowledge.
• Show personality during interviews to connect with interviewers.

Conclusion

• Encourage feedback from viewers on topics of interest for future content.
• Topics could focus on manual testing, automation, or specific technologies.
• Emphasize the importance of preparation and practice in job interviews.