Tech Mahindra Test Engineer Interview: Rounds, Questions and Preparation

What the job involves

Test Engineers in Indian IT services validate software against requirements by writing and running test cases, logging defects, and supporting releases. Freshers often join as trainee testers on manual testing first, then move into automation, API, or performance testing based on project needs. The role is highly process-driven, with strong emphasis on documentation, communication, and working within Agile or Waterfall delivery teams.

Role and Technical Knowledge

1. 1

   What is the difference between SDLC and STLC?

   Explain that SDLC covers the full software development life cycle from requirements to maintenance, while STLC is the testing life cycle that runs within it, with phases like test planning, design, execution, and closure. Mention that STLC starts after requirements are baselined.

2. 2

   What is the difference between verification and validation?

   Verification checks whether we are building the product correctly through reviews, walkthroughs, and inspections without executing code. Validation checks whether we built the right product by executing the software, such as functional testing.

3. 3

   What is the defect life cycle?

   List the stages: New, Assigned, Open, Fixed, Retest, Verified, Closed, and Reopened or Deferred. Explain that a tester logs the defect, the developer fixes it, and the tester retests before closing.

4. 4

   What is the difference between severity and priority?

   Severity is the technical impact on the application, while priority is the business urgency of fixing it. Give an example such as a logo typo being low severity but high priority before a client demo.

Practical Testing Scenarios

1. 5

   How would you test a login page?

   Cover valid and invalid credentials, blank fields, password masking, SQL injection attempts, session timeout, forgot password flow, and error messages. Mention boundary cases like maximum length and special characters.

2. 6

   A developer says the bug you logged is not reproducible. What do you do?

   Show that you recheck the environment, build number, and steps, then attach screenshots, logs, and a screen recording. If still not reproducible, mark it as not reproducible with evidence and discuss with the lead.

3. 7

   What is the difference between smoke testing and sanity testing?

   Smoke testing checks whether the critical build is stable enough for further testing, usually on a new build. Sanity testing is a narrow check on a specific fix or feature after a minor change.

4. 8

   How would you test an ATM withdrawal feature?

   Cover valid withdrawal, insufficient balance, daily limit, invalid PIN, card retention, network failure, and receipt generation. Mention boundary values like minimum and maximum withdrawal amounts.

Technical Tools and Basics

1. 9

   What is the difference between manual testing and automation testing?

   Manual testing is human-driven, flexible, and good for exploratory or usability checks. Automation uses tools like Selenium for repetitive, regression-heavy, and large-scale test suites, but needs maintenance.

2. 10

   Write a SQL query to find duplicate records in a table.

   Use GROUP BY with HAVING COUNT greater than 1 on the column, or a self-join. Explain that you would select the column and count it, then filter groups with more than one occurrence.

3. 11

   What are the basic components of Selenium WebDriver?

   Mention WebDriver, locators like ID, name, XPath, and CSS selector, waits such as implicit and explicit, and browser drivers. Explain that WebDriver interacts with the browser directly without needing a server.

4. 12

   How do you test a REST API using Postman?

   Cover creating a request with the correct method, URL, headers, and body, then checking status codes, response time, and JSON schema. Mention using collections and environment variables for different test environments.

Behavioural and HR Questions

1. 13

   Tell me about a time you found a mistake in your own work.

   Use a simple STAR structure: situation, task, action, and result. Show that you took ownership, corrected it, and added a check to prevent repetition.

2. 14

   Are you willing to relocate or work in shifts?

   Answer clearly and honestly. Indian IT services often require relocation to client locations or rotational shifts, so a flexible answer with a reasonable condition is acceptable.

3. 15

   Why do you want to join as a Test Engineer when many freshers prefer development?

   Show genuine interest in quality, attention to detail, and the breadth of testing across domains. Mention that testing gives strong product understanding and a clear path into automation or specialized testing.

4. 16

   How do you handle a disagreement with a senior developer about a defect?

   Emphasize data and evidence over argument. Explain that you would share steps, logs, and business impact, then escalate through the lead or defect triage meeting if needed, while staying respectful.