Should QA Engineers Be Asked to Write Code in Interviews? A Fair Expectation or Lazy Hiring?
🤔 So… Should QA Engineers Write Code in Interviews?
Let’s be real for a second. You’re sitting in an interview for a QA Automation Engineer role, and suddenly the interviewer says:
“Can you reverse a linked list for me?”
Your mind goes:
“Wait, is this a QA interview or am I secretly auditioning for Google’s SDE team?”
This question — “Should QA engineers write code in interviews?” — sparks endless debates in Slack groups, LinkedIn posts, and awkward Zoom calls. So, let’s unpack this with a fresh, honest look. 😎
💻 First Things First: Yes, Automation = Coding (Mostly)
Let’s not pretend here — test automation engineers do write code. You’re working with Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, or custom frameworks. You’re writing test cases, designing reusable functions, and integrating scripts into CI/CD pipelines.
So yes, some coding ability is necessary. But the real question is:
What kind of coding should you expect in a QA interview?
That’s where things get murky. 🧠
🧩 Different Roles, Different Expectations
Let’s break this down by seniority level — because what’s fair for one level might be totally absurd for another.
🔹 Junior QA (0–2 years)
✅ Should be comfortable with basic scripting (loops, conditionals, arrays).
✅ Can automate a simple login form or build a basic test suite.
❌ Should not be grilled on complex data structures or algorithms.
Fair Interview Ask:
“Write a script to validate all links on a webpage.”
🔹 Mid-Level Automation Engineer (2–5 years)
✅ Should know how to build reusable test frameworks.
✅ Can write test cases with assertions, handle dynamic elements, etc.
❌ Doesn’t need to solve tree traversals or implement merge sort.
Fair Interview Ask:
“Create a function to extract dynamic IDs from a page and assert their format.”
🔹 QA Lead / Test Architect (5+ years)
Here’s where things go off the rails. 🚨
Some companies ask Leads to solve LeetCode-style problems in interviews — as if they’re still in a bootcamp.
Let’s be honest: If you’re hiring a QA Lead to write your automation from scratch every day, something’s broken. At this level, the role is about strategy, mentorship, tooling decisions, scalability, and solving flaky pipelines — not sorting arrays in O(n log n) time.
Fair Interview Ask:
“Walk us through how you’d design a test automation framework for a microservices-based product with 30+ endpoints.”
🤷♂️ Real Talk: Why Do Interviewers Ask Coding Questions?
Let’s look at what’s actually happening behind the scenes:
It’s Easy for Interviewers
Copy-pasting LeetCode questions is lazy but convenient. It’s a one-size-fits-all test — even if it fits no one.Fear of Bad Hires
Companies get burned by hiring testers who can’t code at all, so they overcorrect by making QA interviews tougher than backend roles.Bias Toward “Developer-Like” Testers
There’s this ongoing idea that “real” automation engineers should think like developers. It’s not entirely wrong, but it misses the nuances of the QA craft.
🧠 Better Alternatives to LeetCode in QA Interviews
Let’s be solution-driven. If you want to assess automation skills without turning your interview into a DSA bootcamp, here are better ways:
✅ 1. Code Review Simulation
Ask the candidate to review a snippet of test code:
Can they spot flaky logic?
Do they suggest better selectors?
Can they recommend reusable methods?
✅ 2. Framework Design Question
Pose a real-world scenario:
“You’re building a new automation suite for a mobile-first e-commerce site. What tools would you choose and why?”
Let them talk through architecture, design patterns, maintainability — things that matter on the job.
✅ 3. Mini Automation Task
Send a short take-home assignment:
Write a script that logs into a demo site and asserts a dashboard value.
No LeetCode. No time traps. Just hands-on relevance.
😤 Real Questions People Ask (and Need Answers To)
Let’s address some common doubts folks have about this topic:
💬 “I’m a QA Lead — should I brush up on DSA?”
No. Unless you’re applying for a technical architect role at a FAANG-style company, you’re better off brushing up on:
CI/CD integrations
Test strategy
Scalable automation patterns
Code review and mentoring
💬 “What if I don’t know how to reverse a string in Python?”
Can you Google it? Then you’re fine. Real automation engineers use resources — they’re not walking syntax encyclopedias. Instead of focusing on memorization, focus on problem solving and debugging skills.
🧪 Test Automation ≠ Algorithm Prowess
Here’s a wild truth: Many brilliant automation engineers can’t solve LeetCode Medium questions — and that’s perfectly fine.
What makes a great test automation engineer?
🔍 Knows what and when to automate
⚙️ Understands CI/CD and how tests fit into release cycles
🧱 Writes maintainable, reusable code
🚀 Thinks in terms of scalability and test coverage
🤝 Collaborates well with devs, product, and QA teams
Spoiler: None of that shows up in a linked list reversal. 😅
📢 So, What’s the Verdict?
Should QA engineers write code in interviews?
✅ Yes — but only the right kind of code.
Asking for basic, relevant, job-like tasks = ✅
Asking for deep algorithm challenges unrelated to the role = ❌
🛠 TL;DR
| Role Level | Coding Expectation | Interview Style |
|---|---|---|
| Junior QA | Basic scripting | Small task / script writing |
| Mid-Level | Framework use + logic | Code review, scenario testing |
| Lead / Architect | System design, scalability, leadership | Whiteboarding strategy, tool evaluation, mentoring discussions |
👋 Final Thoughts (and a Tiny Rant)
If you’re a company hiring QA engineers, do yourself a favor — don’t blindly copy-paste SDE interviews. Think deeply about what the role actually needs.
If you’re a candidate being grilled on coding, push back (respectfully). Ask how this question connects to the job. You might just help them improve their process. 💬
And if you’re preparing for interviews right now, balance your time: practice scripting, know your frameworks, and stay sharp — but don’t lose sleep over binary trees unless they’re in your job description. 🌳
💬 Your Turn!
What’s the weirdest coding question you’ve been asked in a QA interview?
Drop it in the comments or message us — we’d love to hear your story. 👇
And if you’re a hiring manager or founder reading this — let’s rethink what fair hiring really means in test automation. ✨
📚 References
🔗 “What Does a QA Automation Engineer Do?” – TestGuild
https://testguild.com/what-does-a-qa-automation-engineer-do/
🧠 “How Much Coding Is Required for Test Automation?” – Ministry of Testing
https://www.ministryoftesting.com/articles/how-much-coding-is-needed-in-test-automation
🛠️ “How to Hire QA Engineers” – Codementor Blog
https://www.codementor.io/blog/how-to-hire-qa-engineers-16k6esb1zi
💬 “Why LeetCode Problems Don’t Reflect Real QA Work” – Medium
https://medium.com/@dannyclement/why-leetcode-problems-dont-reflect-real-qa-work-3cf7aeec4f5a
📊 “The State of Test Automation 2023” – Perfecto Survey
https://www.perfecto.io/blog/state-test-automation-report-2023
💼 “Interviewing Test Engineers: Code or No Code?” – Stack Overflow Blog
https://stackoverflow.blog/2021/06/08/interviewing-test-engineers-code-or-no-code/
📘 “Top 10 QA Automation Interview Questions” – Guru99
https://www.guru99.com/qa-automation-interview.html