7 Selenium Interview Questions And Example Answers

Employers hiring for a software engineering position may focus their interview questions on the Selenium framework. Learning about some common Selenium interview questions and practicing your answers can help you feel more confident during your interview.

In this article, we explain what Selenium is and the common interview questions you might find in such an interview.

Selenium basics and types of testing

Testing is a crucial phase of the software development life cycle. There are several types of testing grouped under automation testing and manual testing. They include the following:

• Acceptance testing: Acceptance testing determines whether particular features meet the customer’s requirements. This phase mostly involves customer feedback and cooperation, which helps you determine if you’re building a useful product.

• Functional testing: This type of testing ensures the features work without any issues. It’s a validation activity that helps you determine if you’re building the right software.

• Performance testing: This testing includes both load testing and stress testing, which ensures the product functions in predetermined states. It’s a verification activity that helps you learn the maximum stress the product can withstand.

• Regression testing: This testing determines the continuous functionality of the product. It shows if the product is still on the right track.

Seven Selenium Interview questions and answers

Here are seven Selenium interview questions and sample answers to help you prepare:

1. Why do you want to be a software tester?

Employers understand every project presents a unique set of challenges. By asking this question, employers aim to determine the different angles you might use to approach software testing. Employers might ask counter-questions to determine your expectations.

They want to know that you’re motivated and willing to succeed in the role. It’s also a great way for them to find out whether you’re knowledgeable about a software tester’s responsibilities. Other variations of the question include:

• Why do you love/like software testing?

• What do you find challenging about software testing?

Example: “A good software tester focuses on understanding and helping the customer. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved solving puzzles. Being a software tester allows me to use my problem-solving, analytical and troubleshooting skills. It’s our responsibility as testers to find bugs and resolve any issues.

I also love it when I’m able to help others. This career path allows me to test products before release to the end users. Finding these bugs and resolving any problems ensures I’m releasing not only a quality product but a useful one at that.”

2. What is Selenium, and why is it used?

The employer may feel more confident if you can give a simple, but thorough, answer to this question. Try to start with the basics of Selenium. You can also mention which alternatives are available in the market and the advantages of one over the other.

Moreover, understanding the functionality of different products can give you a competitive advantage. Other variations of the question include:

• What is your experience with Selenium?

• As a software tester, do you have a preference for Selenium?

Example: “I prefer the Selenium software to other software due to its ability to handle regression testing. The product is bound to change, and Selenium is a great way to anticipate that change. TestCraft and Katalon Studio, which come close to matching Selenium’s capabilities, offer fast execution and creation.

All the same, Selenium is my go-to automated testing suite for various web applications. It’s open-source and comprises four main components: Selenium Integrated Development Environment, Selenium Remote Control, Selenium WebDriver and Selenium Grid.”

3. What are some of the benefits of the Selenium automation tool?

This is often a follow-up question after the employer learns about your comfort level with the basics of Selenium. Moreover, the employer can use this question to find out your background in programming. You can relate the benefits of the Selenium framework to your previous work or the company’s goals. Variations of the question include:

• Why should I use Selenium?

• What is the major difference between Selenium and other alternatives in the market?

Example: “It’s important to address security issues, website functionality, compatibility, user interface and performance. Selenium provides a robust platform to run tests across different browsers without any alterations. It’s also widely used, and because of this, technical support is readily available.

Selenium automation can also perform a multitude of tests in parallel, which makes it more efficient overall. Minimal error occurs due to the reduction of manual intervention. In the past, it has proved useful when testing in volume. This is nearly impossible with manual testing.”

4. What are some of the drawbacks of Selenium?

Along with knowing the benefits of using Selenium, the employer might ask about the potential challenges of using it. This is another way for interviewers to test your knowledge of the software. It’s important to mention why the drawbacks don’t affect the functionality of the framework. Some variations to the question include:

• What are the limitations of Selenium?

• How does Selenium compensate for these limitations?

Example: “Selenium does have some disadvantages. It’s open-source software, meaning it doesn’t have a dedicated technical support team. Software testers can’t test mobile applications. It also doesn’t support Windows-based applications and has limited reporting capabilities. Nonetheless, its independence, transparency and reduction in turnaround time outweigh the drawbacks.”

5. What are the test types supported by Selenium?

Your answer to this question should display your in-depth knowledge of the testing offered by Selenium. Listing some of the tests and explaining whether they can be automated or not further displays your understanding of the Selenium framework. Other variations of the question include:

• What are some of the ways you can do testing with Selenium?

• What are the different types of testing?

Example: “There are three ways you can do testing on Selenium: manual, automated and continuous. Each has its own functions at different stages of product development. An example of the subtypes of testing supported by Selenium is functional and regression.

Functional testing verifies that every aspect of the application is performing optimally according to certain requirements. Regression involves already executed test cases. These test cases are then re-executed to make sure the functionalities are still operable.”

6. What is XPath, and what are the two types?

Interviewers could ask this to test your knowledge of both Selenium and its elements. Make sure to answer clearly and thoroughly.

Example: “XPath locates web elements on web pages using their Extensible Markup Language paths. XPaths can also be used to find HTML elements. The two types are absolute XPath and relative XPath.”

7. How many tests can you automate per day?

This question tests your knowledge of the complexity and length of test cases. The employer might also ask the question to evaluate your expectations. Your answer to this question depends on the automation you’re undertaking. These could be UI, API or mobile. Other variations of the question include:

• How do you choose the test cases to automate?

• How do you determine which test cases can be automated and which cannot?

• Which programming language is useful for automated testing?

Example: “This depends on whether the complexity is limited or high. The next question would be what type of case is presented? For simple UI and API, I could handle 10 cases per day. For medium cases, I can handle five cases per day. For complex cases, I can handle one to three cases per day. Given a month, my daily average would stand at but not limited to three cases per day.”

Interview tips

Along with preparing your answers for the interview questions, you can take other steps to help improve your chances of a successful outcome. Here are some tips to consider when preparing for your next job interview:

Preparing for the interview

Before your interview, consider the following tips:

• Practice your answers to interview questions: After you get an idea of what the interviewer could ask, you can prepare how you’ll answer. This can help to make sure you answer clearly and concisely on the interview day.

• Practice your speaking voice: Practice your speaking voice by doing vocal exercises, reading aloud or recording yourself.

• Research on the company: Explore the company’s website to learn more about its mission and goals. You can use your research in your answers to show you took the time to prepare.

• Prepare your outfit: Choose your interview outfit the day before and ensure it’s clean and fits well. If you’re unsure of the dress code, dress in business professional clothing to make a good impression.

• Gather necessary materials: Bring extra copies of your resume in case anyone on the hiring team needs one. You could also bring a pen and paper to take notes.

• Decide on your travel plan: Consider how you will arrive at the interview and keep in mind any potential traffic and parking issues you might encounter upon arrival.

• Practice active listening: Be attentive to the speaker, ask questions and be mindful of your posture, gestures and expressions. Practice active listening with a family member or friend before the interview.

During the interview

It’s also important to consider your etiquette during the interview. Here are some tips on how to conduct yourself during your interview:

• Be confident: Being confident can help you show you’re comfortable with Selenium. Try to sit straight with your shoulders back to help project your confidence.

• Ask insightful questions: Asking good questions can show your interviewer that you’re an active listener and genuinely care about what they have to say. When you research the company, write down a few questions that you can ask toward the end of the interview.

• Be honest: Interviewers want to hire truthful employees. Make sure you’re expressing your opinions and that you’re giving your interviewers an accurate depiction of your skills and experience.

• Be polite: Practicing proper interview etiquette, like giving the hiring manager time to speak and paying attention, can help you make a good impression.

I hope you find this article helpful.