{"id":16785,"date":"2025-09-08T10:15:38","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T04:45:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/?p=16785"},"modified":"2025-09-19T14:34:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T09:04:36","slug":"automation-testing-interview-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/automation-testing-interview-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Automation Testing Interview Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><p>Have you ever wondered what it is like to sit for an automation testing interview? You may know the tools, but the process often feels different.<\/p><p>As a candidate, you usually face rounds that test coding, frameworks, and problem solving with real test cases. It can be difficult when you are not sure what to expect.<\/p><p>In this blog, you will read real interview experiences from automation testing candidates. You will also find common questions and preparation tips to help you plan better.<\/p><h2>Real Candidate Interview Experiences<\/h2><h3 id=\"interview-experience-i\">1. QA Automation Engineer Interview at Cognizant<\/h3><p>This interview experience is from Nikhil N V, who interviewed for a Senior QA Automation Engineer \/ SDET <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@nikhilntv\/interview-questions-asked-to-me-for-seniorqaautomationengineer-sdet-role-in-cts-part-4-1a580cc8a5fb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">role at Cognizant<\/a>. The process had three rounds covering coding, automation concepts, and HR discussions.<\/p><div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#dddfde;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#f7f9f8;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">\n<p><strong>Candidate Background:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Experienced candidate with about 5 years of total experience, including 2 years in test automation.<\/li>\n<li>Skilled in Java, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/selenium-project-ideas-for-beginners\/\">Selenium<\/a>, TestNG, frameworks, and automation scripting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Interview Process They Faced:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Round 1 (Technical, 1&ndash;1.5 hrs):<\/strong> Focused on Java coding, OOP concepts, and automation testing with Selenium and TestNG.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Round 2 (Written Test, 1 hr):<\/strong> Focused on Java programs and coding exercises.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Round 3 (HR, 15&ndash;20 mins):<\/strong> General introduction, salary expectations, educational or professional gaps, and availability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Questions Asked:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Coding \/ Java:<\/strong> Create user-defined ArrayList, customized ArrayDeque, LinkedHashMap, Exception handling, reverse string without library, prime number pyramid, remove duplicates in string or array.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Automation Concepts:<\/strong> TestNG annotations (beforeTest vs beforeMethod), handling frames in Selenium, getWindowHandle vs getWindowHandles, extracting browser data with Properties file, DataProvider usage.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conceptual:<\/strong> Dynamic polymorphism, multithreading, desiredCapabilities, HashMap concepts, HashSet vs LinkedHashSet, StringBuilder vs StringBuffer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Case Study \/ Scenarios:<\/strong> Write code to get all links from a webpage, discuss handling frameworks and scripts in projects.<\/li>\n<li><strong>HR:<\/strong> Introduce yourself, salary, gaps, joining timeline.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Outcome &amp; Difficulty Level:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The candidate was selected.<\/li>\n<li>The difficulty level was moderate to high, with a strong focus on Java coding and automation frameworks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><h3 id=\"interview-experience-ii\">2. Quality Assurance Engineer Interview at Amazon<\/h3><p>This interview experience is from Siri Arelli, who interviewed for a Quality Assurance Engineer <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@siriarelli1\/amazon-interview-experience-for-quality-assurance-engineer-off-campus-2024-aa5f0a5fd2b7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">role at Amazon<\/a> through an off-campus drive. The process included an online assessment and two technical interviews.<\/p><div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#dddfde;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#f7f9f8;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">\n<p><strong>Candidate Background<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fresher candidate applying for a QAE role. Skilled in testing methodologies, test case design, programming basics, and system concepts like networks and operating systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Interview Process They Faced<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Online Assessment:<\/strong> 14 sections with MCQs covering coding, algorithms, data structures, Python, software testing, OOP, networks, OS, SQL, and data modeling.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Technical Interview 1:<\/strong> Testing methodologies, regression vs sanity, test cases for Amazon features, test data for payment gateways.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Technical Interview 2:<\/strong> Resume-based project discussion, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/programming-exercises\/java\/\">coding problems<\/a>, importance of QAE, role motivation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Questions Asked<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Testing Concepts:<\/strong> Types of testing, regression vs sanity, QAE importance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coding:<\/strong> Hard Leetcode problem in OA, minimum number of currency notes for given sum, longest consecutive subsequence in an array.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Case Study:<\/strong> Test cases for Amazon lightning deals and payment gateway page.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Behavioral:<\/strong> Project-based questions, interest in QAE, usefulness of past work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Outcome &amp; Difficulty Level<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The candidate cleared the process successfully.<\/li>\n<li>The difficulty was moderate, with strong focus on testing methodologies, coding, and project explanations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><h2 id=\"common-interview-questions\">Common Automation Testing Interview Questions<\/h2><p>Automation testing interviews usually test coding skills, knowledge of frameworks, and understanding of software testing concepts. Below are common questions grouped into categories.<\/p><div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#dddfde;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#f7f9f8;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">\n<p><strong>Java \/ Programming<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Create a custom ArrayList or ArrayDeque in Java.<\/li>\n<li>Remove duplicates from a string or array.<\/li>\n<li>Reverse a string without built-in functions.<\/li>\n<li>Explain dynamic polymorphism with an example.<\/li>\n<li>Explain serialization and deserialization in Java.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Automation Tools \/ Frameworks<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Difference between @BeforeTest and @BeforeMethod in TestNG.<\/li>\n<li>How do you handle frames using Selenium WebDriver?<\/li>\n<li>Explain desiredCapabilities in Selenium.<\/li>\n<li>How do you implement DataProvider in TestNG?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Testing Concepts<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Difference between regression testing and sanity testing.<\/li>\n<li>What are the types of testing used in projects?<\/li>\n<li>What is the importance of QAE in software development?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>System Design \/ Case Study<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Write test cases for Amazon&rsquo;s lightning deal feature.<\/li>\n<li>Write test data for payment gateway fields in an e-commerce site.<\/li>\n<li>How do you extract browser data using a properties file?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>HR \/ Behavioural<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>How do you explain your past project contributions?<\/li>\n<li>Why are you interested in an automation testing role?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><p class=\"related\"><strong>Also Read:<\/strong> <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/java-interview-questions-for-freshers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Java Interview Questions for Freshers<\/a><\/p><h2 id=\"preparation-tips\">Preparation Tips for Automation Testing Interviews<\/h2><p>A mix of coding practice and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/mcq\/automation-testing\/\">test automation<\/a> knowledge helps you succeed in automation testing interviews.<\/p><ul>\n<li><strong>Strengthen Java:<\/strong> Revise collections, strings, and OOP. Coding questions in automation interviews often focus on these fundamentals.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Practice Automation Tools:<\/strong> Work hands-on with Selenium, TestNG, and frameworks. Be ready to explain code and the differences between annotations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Understand Testing Concepts:<\/strong> Be clear on regression, sanity, and other types of testing. Interviewers check both theory and application.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Focus on Test Cases:<\/strong> Practice writing test cases for real-world features like login, payments, or shopping carts. This tests the practical application of QA knowledge.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Review Projects:<\/strong> Be prepared to explain your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/automation-testing-project-ideas-for-beginners\/\">project<\/a> role, framework used, and how you solved challenges.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Work on Problem Solving:<\/strong> Solve Java problems involving arrays, strings, and hash maps. Coding ability is essential for SDET roles.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Prepare Behavioral Answers:<\/strong> Use concise examples to show teamwork, problem-solving, and ownership in QA projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/mlp\/fsd-student-program-wp?utm_source=placement_preparation&amp;utm_medium=blog_banner&amp;utm_campaign=automation_testing_interview_experience_horizontal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-15830 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fsd-image-web-horizontal.webp\" alt=\"fsd zen lite free trial banner horizontal\" width=\"1920\" height=\"507\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fsd-image-web-horizontal.webp 1920w, https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fsd-image-web-horizontal-300x79.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fsd-image-web-horizontal-1024x270.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fsd-image-web-horizontal-768x203.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fsd-image-web-horizontal-1536x406.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fsd-image-web-horizontal-150x40.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"><\/a><\/p><h2 id=\"final-words\">Final Words<\/h2><p>Automation testing interviews test coding, frameworks, and QA concepts. Learning from real experiences and practicing both coding and testing scenarios helps you prepare effectively.<\/p><hr><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><h3>1. How can automation testing interview experiences help in preparation?<\/h3><p>Automation testing interview experiences help by showing real questions, coding tasks, and testing scenarios, making preparation more practical.<\/p><h3>2. What topics are frequently covered in automation testing interviews?<\/h3><p>Automation testing interviews frequently cover Java coding, Selenium, TestNG, testing concepts, and framework design.<\/p><h3>3. What is the usual duration of the automation testing hiring process?<\/h3><p>The automation testing hiring process usually takes two to four weeks depending on the company.<\/p><h3>4. Which automation testing roles have the toughest interview rounds?<\/h3><p>Senior QA automation engineer and SDET roles usually have the toughest interview rounds.<\/p><h3>5. How do freshers prepare for automation testing interviews?<\/h3><p>Freshers prepare by learning Java basics, practicing Selenium, writing test cases, and revising testing methodologies.<\/p><h3>6. Do automation testing interviews focus more on concepts or coding?<\/h3><p>Automation testing interviews focus on both coding and concepts, testing practical skills and theoretical knowledge.<\/p><h3>7. Do all companies follow the same process for automation testing interviews?<\/h3><p>No, each company follows a different process, but most include coding, testing concepts, and behavioral rounds.<\/p><hr><h2>Explore More Interview Experience for<\/h2><ul class=\"explore-more\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/machine-learning-interview-experience\/\">Machine Learning<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/software-developer-interview-experience\/\">Software Developer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/data-science-interview-experience\/\">Data Science<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/devops-engineer-interview-experience\/\">DevOps Engineer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever wondered what it is like to sit for an automation testing interview? You may know the tools, but the process often feels different.As a candidate, you usually face rounds that test coding, frameworks, and problem solving with real test cases. It can be difficult when you are not sure what to expect.In [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":16792,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-programming-interview-questions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16785","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16785"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16785\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17113,"href":"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16785\/revisions\/17113"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.placementpreparation.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}