Treebo QA Engineer Interview: Rounds, Questions and Preparation

What the job involves

QA Engineers at Indian unicorns and high-growth startups like Treebo test web and mobile products to ensure they work correctly before release. They write test cases, execute manual tests, report bugs, and increasingly automate repetitive checks. The role demands quick learning, attention to detail, and comfort with fast-changing priorities.

Role and Technical Knowledge

1. 1

   What is the difference between verification and validation in software testing?

   Verification checks if the product is built correctly (reviews, inspections), while validation checks if the correct product is built (actual testing). Give a simple example like a login form.

2. 2

   How would you test a hotel booking flow on a mobile app like Treebo's?

   Cover search, room selection, date picker, payment, confirmation, and edge cases like invalid dates, network failure, and double booking. Mention both positive and negative scenarios.

3. 3

   Explain the bug life cycle with an example.

   Describe stages: New, Assigned, Open, Fixed, Retest, Verified, Closed. Mention Reopen if the bug persists. Use a real or hypothetical bug like a broken image on the homepage.

4. 4

   What is the difference between smoke testing and sanity testing?

   Smoke testing checks critical functionalities after a new build to decide if further testing is possible. Sanity testing checks specific fixes or small changes. Give a quick example for each.

Practical Scenarios and Tools

1. 5

   You find a bug that crashes the app when a user applies a coupon code. How do you report it?

   Include steps to reproduce, expected vs actual result, device/OS details, screenshots or logs, and severity. Mention using a tool like JIRA and assigning priority.

2. 6

   How would you test an API endpoint that returns hotel details?

   Check status codes, response body, data types, error handling for invalid IDs, authentication, and performance under load. Mention using Postman and validating JSON schema.

3. 7

   Write a SQL query to find all users who made more than 3 bookings in the last month.

   Use SELECT, FROM, WHERE with date functions, GROUP BY user_id, HAVING COUNT(*) > 3. Explain each clause briefly.

4. 8

   What is the difference between severity and priority? Give an example where severity is high but priority is low.

   Severity is impact on functionality, priority is urgency to fix. Example: a spelling mistake on a rarely visited page has low severity but could be low priority; a crash on a legacy feature might be high severity but low priority if few users use it.

Behavioural and Situational Questions

1. 9

   Tell me about a time you found a mistake that others missed. How did you handle it?

   Use STAR method. Highlight attention to detail, communication, and the positive outcome. Relate to testing mindset.

2. 10

   You are testing a feature and the developer says it is not a bug. How do you handle it?

   Show diplomacy: provide evidence, refer to requirements, discuss with the team, and escalate if needed. Emphasise collaboration over conflict.

3. 11

   Describe a situation where you had to learn something new quickly. How did you do it?

   Pick a real example from college projects or internships. Focus on your learning process, resources used, and result.

4. 12

   Why do you want to work as a QA Engineer in a fast-growing startup like Treebo?

   Show passion for quality, interest in startups, and willingness to wear multiple hats. Mention specific aspects of Treebo's product or culture if you know them.

HR and Company Fit

1. 13

   What do you know about Treebo and its products?

   Research Treebo's hotel booking platform, its target customers, and recent news. Mention any tech blog or product updates you found interesting.

2. 14

   Where do you see yourself in 3 years?

   Align with growth in QA, possibly automation or leadership. Show commitment to learning and contributing to the company's quality goals.

3. 15

   Are you comfortable with a 6-day work week or occasional weekend work during releases?

   Be honest but positive. If you are flexible, say so and mention willingness to support critical releases. If not, discuss how you manage time.

4. 16

   What are your salary expectations?

   Research typical fresher QA salaries in Indian startups. Give a range and emphasise learning and growth over exact number. Be ready to negotiate politely.