Paired Exploratory Testing as Part of an Interview

In the interview, your goal is to assess the candidate’s ability to explore effectively:

  1. Can the candidate explore systematically to uncover vulnerabilities and surprises?

  2. Can the candidate effectively communicate what was discovered?

  3. Does the candidate adjust the kind of information sought based on feedback?

To structure an effective exploratory interview session, here are the steps I take.

Setup

If possible, it’s best to do this in person so that you can pick up on subtle cues about the candidate’s comfort level. Creating safety is important, so if the candidate seems uncomfortable, you can offer to take a break.

Choose something to test. It might be your real production software ...

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