Mid-LevelTest Automation & Frameworks
How do you handle flaky tests in your automation suite?
- flaky tests
- stability
- test reliability
Answer it first, then compare. Nothing here is saved or scored.
Model answer
First, identify if flakiness is from timing (add explicit waits, not sleeps), test data (ensure isolation), or environment (container-based test infra). Track flaky tests with a quarantine mechanism, flag them, fix root causes, and only re-enable when stable. Implement retry logic as a temporary band-aid, not a permanent fix. Monitor flaky test rate as a team metric. In Playwright, use `test.retry()` judiciously and `waitForSelector` over arbitrary delays.
What interviewers listen for
- Test architecture instinctsYou can defend why your suite is shaped like a pyramid, a trophy, or a honeycomb.
- Locator disciplineYou rank selector strategies by stability and explain when to break the rule.
- Flaky test ownershipYou debug to a structural fix instead of retry-until-green.
- Parallelisation literacyYou know how your framework isolates state, fixtures, and database access across workers.