How to Be Quality Assurance Specialist - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Nov 15, 2021 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

Professional Organizations

FAQ

Links

Poor quality assurance can lead to a variety of issues, such as decreased customer satisfaction, an increase in defective products, and a decrease in overall company morale. When quality assurance is not properly implemented, businesses can experience a decrease in product reliability and an increase in customer complaints. This can lead to decreased customer loyalty, higher costs due to product returns, and increased legal liability. By improving quality assurance processes, businesses can improve their reputation and customer satisfaction, while also increasing efficiency, decreasing costs, and improving employee morale.

Steps How to Become

Earn a Bachelor's Degree. Quality assurance specialists typically need to have at least a bachelor's degree in a field related to quality assurance, such as engineering, mathematics, business, or computer science.
Gain Relevant Work Experience. Quality assurance specialists typically need to have several years of work experience in the field. This experience should include knowledge of the industry and the tools and techniques used to ensure product quality.
Obtain Certification. Many employers require or prefer quality assurance specialists who are certified. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) offers several certifications, including Certified Quality Auditor, Certified Quality Manager, and Certified Quality Engineer.
Develop Soft Skills. Quality assurance specialists need to have strong communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills. They also need to be detail-oriented and able to work independently.
Stay Up-to-Date. Quality assurance specialists need to stay up-to-date on the latest tools, techniques, and regulations related to quality assurance. They should also attend industry conferences and seminars to stay informed.

The quality assurance specialist must stay up-to-date and capable in order to ensure the highest standards of quality control. To do this, they must keep abreast of the latest industry trends, emerging technologies and best practices. They must also maintain their knowledge of the organization's processes, systems, and procedures.

they need to stay current with new standards, regulations, and laws. Quality assurance specialists need to have a comprehensive understanding of the organization's products and services, as well as the ability to analyze and interpret data. Finally, they need to have excellent communication and problem-solving skills in order to identify issues and develop solutions quickly and efficiently.

By staying informed and having the necessary skills, a quality assurance specialist can ensure their organization is meeting the highest standards of quality control.

You may want to check Sales Specialist, Financial Planning Specialist, and Systems Administrator Specialist for alternative.

Job Description

Develop test plans and strategies for quality assurance activities.
Design and develop test cases, scripts, plans and procedures.
Execute test plan and scripts and analyze results.
Monitor bug tracking systems and report on quality assurance activities.
Identify, document and track software defects.
Coordinate with development teams to resolve issues in a timely manner.
Monitor performance of applications and provide feedback to developers.
Create and maintain reports for senior management on quality assurance activities.
Provide training to development teams on quality assurance processes.
Participate in design reviews and development meetings to provide feedback on quality assurance issues.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of Quality Management Systems and Quality Assurance principles
Familiarity with software testing methods and processes
Understanding of software development life cycles
Experience in creating and executing test plans
Strong problem-solving capabilities
Ability to analyze and interpret data
Excellent communication skills
Proficiency in using MS Office applications
Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
Attention to detail and accuracy
Knowledge of coding languages, such as Java, HTML, and CSS
Understanding of database concepts and query languages

Quality assurance specialists are responsible for ensuring product and service quality. As such, they must possess a wide range of skills in order to be successful. The most important skill to have is attention to detail.

Quality assurance specialists must have the ability to identify and analyze potential issues, detect errors and defects, and make decisions based on data and trends. They must also be able to communicate effectively with customers, stakeholders, and other departments to ensure that all needs are being met. Quality assurance specialists must also possess problem-solving skills, be able to multitask, and have an understanding of information technology and systems in order to effectively manage their tasks.

By having a strong attention to detail and utilizing these other skills, quality assurance specialists can help reduce errors and defects, improve customer satisfaction, and increase overall product and service quality.

Safety Management Specialist, Legal Compliance Specialist, and Project Management Specialist are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

How would you handle a situation where you found a major defect in a product?
Describe the process you use to ensure quality assurance standards are being met.
How do you go about testing a new product to ensure it meets quality standards?
What strategies do you use to ensure customer satisfaction?
How do you stay up-to-date on new technology and quality assurance practices?
What experience do you have in creating and implementing quality assurance plans?
How do you handle difficult situations when working with team members or customers?
What techniques do you use to identify potential problems before they become issues?
How do you handle feedback from customers regarding quality issues?
What experience do you have with developing and executing automated tests?

Common Tools in Industry

Testing Automation Tools. These tools are used to automate the process of testing software applications and verifying the results. Examples include Selenium, TestComplete, and UFT.
Bug Tracking Tools. These tools are used to track, manage, and report on bugs or issues found during software testing. Examples include Jira, Bugzilla, and Mantis.
Source Code Analysis Tools. These tools are used to analyze source code in order to identify potential security vulnerabilities and other coding issues. Examples include Veracode, Checkmarx, and SonarQube.
Test Management Tools. These tools are used to plan, execute, and report on software test activities. Examples include TestRail, QMetry, and PractiTest.
Performance Testing Tools. These tools are used to measure the performance of software applications under various conditions. Examples include LoadRunner, JMeter, and Neoload.

Professional Organizations to Know

American Society for Quality (ASQ)
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Institute of Quality Assurance (IQA)
International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA)
International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB)
Project Management Institute (PMI)
Association for Software Testing (AST)
Association for Quality and Participation (AQP)
International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC)
Software Engineering Institute (SEI)

We also have Software Development Specialist, Claims Processing Specialist, and Network Specialist jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Quality Control (QC). The process of ensuring that products and services meet a required standard of quality. Quality control is used to identify and rectify any issues that may arise during the production process.
Quality Assurance (QA). The process of ensuring that products and services meet a certain level of quality. Quality assurance involves testing and auditing to ensure that products and services meet customer expectations.
Six Sigma. A process improvement methodology focused on reducing defects and increasing customer satisfaction. Six Sigma uses a set of tools and techniques to identify and remove waste, reduce variation, and improve efficiency.
Test Automation. The use of software to automate the testing of a product or service. Test automation is used to reduce manual labor, improve accuracy, and increase the speed of testing.
Metrics. Quantitative measures used to evaluate the performance of a product or service. Metrics are used to measure and analyze product quality, customer satisfaction, and other aspects of the business.
Process Mapping. The process of creating a visual representation of a process or system. Process mapping is used to identify inefficiencies, streamline processes, and improve overall performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is a Quality Assurance Specialist? A1: A Quality Assurance Specialist is a professional who ensures that products and services meet quality standards set by an organization. Q2: What qualifications do Quality Assurance Specialists need? A2: Quality Assurance Specialists need a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as engineering, quality assurance, or business. They also need experience in the industry as well as knowledge of quality control systems and processes. Q3: What are the duties of a Quality Assurance Specialist? A3: The main duties of a Quality Assurance Specialist include monitoring production processes and inspecting finished products to ensure that they meet quality standards. They also create and enforce quality standards and procedures, investigate customer complaints, and identify areas for improvement. Q4: What tools do Quality Assurance Specialists use? A4: Quality Assurance Specialists use a variety of tools to assess quality, including statistical process control charts, flowcharts, and other data analysis tools. They also use inspection tools such as calipers, micrometers, and other measuring devices. Q5: What is the average salary of a Quality Assurance Specialist? A5: The average salary for a Quality Assurance Specialist is $58,000 per year. However, the salary can vary depending on experience, location, and other factors.

Web Resources

Quality Assurance Specialist | NC State Online and Distance online-distance.ncsu.edu
Quality Assurance Specialist Career Hub | Duke University careerhub.students.duke.edu
Working in Quality Assurance: The Skills That You Need www.northeastern.edu