41 Agile Interview Questions for Testers With Example Answers

Updated 16 July 2023

Agile methodology has broad application in software development, with testers playing a key role in ensuring the quality and functionality of a product. Agile testing is a part of software development that emphasises collaboration, flexibility and iterative testing. If you're a tester preparing for an Agile interview, it's helpful to know what questions to expect and how to answer them. In this article, we look at 41 Agile interview questions for testers, including general ones, those about background and experience and in-depth examples, and share five example answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

11 general Agile interview questions for testers

Employers often ask general Agile interview questions for testers to help them understand your attitude and professional values. Here are 11 general questions you might encounter:

How do you manage your time and prioritise your work?
What motivates you to perform well in your job?
Can you describe a time when you had to adapt to change?
What do you think is the most important quality for a successful team?
Can you tell us about a time when you faced a difficult situation and how you handled it?
How do you approach conflicts with your colleagues?
How do you ensure that your work meets quality standards?
Can you describe your experience of working in a team environment?
How do you stay up to date with the latest developments in software testing?
Can you tell us about a time when you received constructive criticism and how you used it to improve your work?
How do you handle work-related stress?

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13 questions about background and experience

After asking general Agile testing interview questions, an employer may want to know more about your background and experience as a tester. Here are 13 background and experience-related Agile testing interview questions:

What inspired you to pursue a career in software testing?
Can you describe your previous experience as a software tester?
What software testing methodologies are you familiar with?
What programming languages are you proficient in?
Can you tell us about a particularly challenging project you worked on and how you overcame any obstacles?
Explain the difference between a traditional waterfall model and Agile testing.
Can you describe your experience in test automation?
Tell us about a time when you had to work with a difficult bug.
How do you stay up to date with the latest software testing trends?
Can you tell us about a time when you had to work with limited resources?
What makes you a good fit for this job?
Describe how you've contributed to a testing process for a team in the past.
How do you prioritise tasks when working on multiple projects simultaneously?

12 in-depth questions

Asking in-depth questions can help an employer better understand how you approach key job duties. Here are 14 in-depth questions that you can consider:

Can you describe the Agile testing process you follow?
How do you decide which test cases to automate?
Tell us about a time when you had to design test cases for a complex software system.
How do you ensure that your tests cover all aspects of the software?
What steps do you take to ensure that you identify all defects in the software?
What steps do you take to ensure that your tests are reliable?
How do you handle regression testing?
Can you tell us about a time when you had to use exploratory testing to identify an issue?
Describe your experience with load testing.
How do you ensure that your testing is accessible to individuals with disabilities?
Can you tell us about a time when you had to work with a data-related issue while testing?
What steps do you take to ensure that your tests are aligned with a user's requirements?

5 Agile interview questions for testers and answers

Here are five interview questions for testers with example answers to help you prepare your own responses:

1. Can you describe your experience of working with CI and CD systems?

Employers use this question to ascertain your familiarity with continuous integration (CI) and continuous deployment (CD) procedures, which are included in Agile testing. This question also enables them to understand your experience of working with DevOps tools and automated testing. Begin by describing your previous work in this field, followed by the specific tools and techniques you used to implement CI/CD systems.

Example: 'In my previous role as an Agile tester, I worked on several projects involving the implementation of CI or CD systems. For instance, we used GitHub for source control and Jenkins for building and deploying our software. We created automated test suites using Selenium for end-to-end testing and SonarQube for code quality analysis. Additionally, we used Docker to containerise our software and make it more scalable.'

2. Can you describe your experience working with Agile methodologies?

Interviewers use this question to assess your experience and familiarity with Agile methodology. As an Agile tester, they want to ascertain your knowledge of Agile principles and your experience in implementing them. Start by defining Agile methodology and explaining its benefits, followed by the specific Agile frameworks and tools you've used in previous projects.

Example: 'As an Agile tester, I have extensive experience working with Agile methodologies. Agile is a collaborative and iterative approach to software development that emphasises delivering software quickly. It promotes adaptive planning, continuous improvement and flexible response to change. I have worked with different Agile frameworks, such as Scrum, Kanban and XP.

I have also used Jira for project management, Confluence for documentation and TestRail for test management. By working in an Agile environment, I have improved communication and collaboration within the team, increased transparency and visibility of the project progress and delivered high-quality software on time.'

3. How do you ensure that you're continuously improving your testing process?

Hiring managers use this question to gauge your attitude towards continuous learning. As a tester, they expect you to be aware of the latest testing trends and technologies and be able to apply them to improve testing processes. Begin by discussing your testing process, followed by the specific methods you use to identify areas for improvement and the steps you take to implement the changes.

Example: 'As a tester, I'm always striving to improve my testing process to deliver high-quality software. To achieve this, I begin by understanding a project's requirements and testing objectives. I then create test plans and test cases and execute them to validate the functionality of the software. To continuously improve my testing process, I follow several methods. I attend conferences, read articles and watch videos to learn about new testing trends and technologies.

I also seek feedback from my peers to identify areas for improvement. Once I have identified them, I create a plan and implement the changes. For instance, I might automate the testing process to reduce manual testing efforts, use different test strategies to increase test coverage or improve the defect management process to ensure timely defect resolution.'

4. What's the difference between sprint backlog and product backlog?

This question tests your knowledge of the Agile framework and your experience with sprint and product backlogs. It helps an interviewer assess if you understand how to manage these backlogs and if you can work collaboratively with product owners to meet project objectives.

Example: 'Sprint and product backlogs are two essential elements in Agile project management. While a product backlog is a prioritised list of user stories that define the requirements for a product, a sprint backlog is a set of tasks that a team plans to complete during a specific sprint. A product owner typically maintains the product backlog, while a development team manages the sprint backlog. The product backlog contains features for future development, while the sprint backlog focuses on delivering value in the current sprint.'

5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Agile process?

Employers might use this question to assess your understanding of the pros and cons of using Agile methodology in software development. Begin by defining Agile methodology and explaining its advantages, followed by the specific challenges or limitations you've encountered while working in an Agile environment.

Example: 'Agile is a software development methodology that emphasises iterative and incremental delivery of working software. It promotes adaptive planning, continuous improvement and customer satisfaction. The main advantages of Agile are increased collaboration and communication within a team, faster time to market and higher customer satisfaction.

Agile also promotes flexibility and responsiveness to changing requirements, allowing for better adaptation to changing market conditions. There are also some challenges to using Agile. The iterative nature of Agile can lead to scope creep, where the project expands beyond its original scope. Agile also requires continuous involvement and commitment from the customer. It may not suit all types of projects, such as those with fixed deadlines and budgets.'