I Failed My First QA Automation Interview — Here’s What I Wish I Knew

When I went to my first QA Automation interview, I thought I was ready.
I had read articles, memorized definitions, and even watched a few YouTube tutorials.
Ten minutes in, I realized — I wasn’t being tested on theory.

They wanted to see how I think, not what I know.
That’s when I understood: QA interviews are not about remembering, they’re about reasoning.

So if you’re preparing for your first QA Automation interview (or still freaking out about it), here’s what I’ve learned after years of helping people go from zero to their first tech job.

What Recruiters Actually Test You On

Forget about definitions.
Most recruiters already assume you can Google what “TypeScript” or “flaky test” means.

They’re checking things like:

Can you think logically and explain your steps?

Can you debug under pressure?

Do you take responsibility or make excuses?

You don’t need to sound smart — you need to sound real.

Common Interview Questions (and Better Answers)

1. “What’s the difference between JavaScript and TypeScript?”

Most people say:

“TypeScript is JavaScript with types.”

That’s technically true but doesn’t show understanding.

✅ Better answer:

“TypeScript adds static typing, so you catch errors before runtime.
In big automation frameworks, it helps reduce flaky behavior and makes your code easier to maintain.”

1. “How do you handle flaky tests?”

🗣️ Weak answer:

“I just rerun them.”

✅ Better answer:

“I start by identifying the cause — timing, selector, or data issue.
In Playwright, I use auto-waiting and stable locators.
Retries aren’t to hide problems but to detect patterns.”

1. “How do you approach accessibility testing?”

✅ Example answer:

“I combine Playwright with Axe-core to automate accessibility checks.
But I still manually verify color contrast, keyboard navigation, and focus traps.”

Real Story: From Photographer to QA Engineer in Germany

One of my students used to be a photographer.
Single dad, two kids, zero tech background.

He told me:

“I thought people like me don’t get jobs in tech.”

Fast forward six months — he’s a QA Engineer in Germany, earning more than he ever imagined.

What changed?
He stopped memorizing definitions and started talking about real projects.

He practiced explaining:

how he found bugs,

how he documented them,

and what he learned from fixing them.

Recruiters loved it — because he sounded like someone who had actually worked in QA, not someone who had just finished a course.

How to Stand Out in a QA Interview

• Use the STAR method — Situation, Task, Action, Result.
• Talk about a bug or test you really worked on.
• Say “I don’t know, but I’d love to find out” — that’s honesty, not weakness.
• Practice explaining logic on a whiteboard or piece of paper.

My Final Advice

You can’t fake understanding.
If you’ve practiced, failed a few tests, and learned from it — you’re ready.

Don’t try to sound perfect. Try to sound curious.
That’s what gets you hired.

And remember: QA is not about tools, it’s about mindset.
If you can prove that you’re reliable, logical, and never stop learning — the rest will follow.

✍️ If this helped you, drop a comment or share your own interview story below.

Let’s make the QA world a little more honest — and a lot more human.

At Codemify, we try to pass on everything we’ve learned — every real case, every failure, every trick that helped us get here.
Because we know that real experience — not theory — is what truly helps our students grow, get jobs, and change their lives