The Interview

It is much easier to interview when you already have a job. The pressure is alleviated, and the need to be perfect is no longer ingrained in your psyche. It’s freeing to talk to people when you don’t have to perform, and that is what I did because I had no idea about this job.

I was lost in just about every technical aspect that was brought up, but that didn’t matter because when they asked a question, I brought up a related experience to reassure them that while I didn’t have that exact experience, I would be able to perform similarly.

The interview became less about proving I was the perfect fit and more about demonstrating transferable skills and a mindset for growth. Since I lacked the specific QA terminology, I leaned entirely on my engineering background and structured my answers around the process of problem-solving.

When they asked about test case generation, I didn't recite a textbook definition. Instead, I described how I systematically debugged a large feature rollout in my current role, focusing on edge cases and failure modes, the exact spirit of quality assurance. When they mentioned regression testing, I shared an experience where I had to quickly roll back a deployment, emphasizing the documentation and verification steps I took to ensure the system returned to a stable state.

In essence, I reframed my lack of direct experience into a strength: the ability to learn and adapt. The biggest takeaway from that conversation wasn't about the job itself; it was realizing that an interview is simply a structured conversation about your potential. When you are not desperate for the offer, you can approach the discussion as a genuine peer, translating your existing knowledge into the language of the desired role. I left the interview feeling not defeated by what I didn't know, but incredibly energized by what I was able to teach them about my ability to figure things out. That confidence, more than any technical answer, is what truly sets you apart.