Effective Work Sample Exercises for Hiring Top Automation Engineers

Automation Engineers play a critical role in modern software development environments. They bridge the gap between development and operations, ensuring that testing, deployment, and monitoring processes run efficiently and reliably. A skilled Automation Engineer can dramatically improve product quality, reduce time-to-market, and free up valuable developer resources from repetitive tasks.

However, identifying truly skilled automation professionals can be challenging through traditional interview methods alone. Technical skills on a resume don't always translate to practical problem-solving abilities. Theoretical knowledge doesn't guarantee someone can implement effective automation solutions in real-world scenarios with all their complexities and constraints.

Work samples provide a window into how candidates approach automation challenges, write code, troubleshoot issues, and communicate technical concepts. By observing candidates perform tasks similar to what they'll encounter on the job, hiring teams can make more informed decisions based on demonstrated abilities rather than self-reported skills.

The following work samples are designed to evaluate key competencies for Automation Engineers: technical planning, coding proficiency, debugging skills, and cross-functional collaboration. Each exercise simulates real-world scenarios that automation professionals encounter regularly, providing authentic insights into a candidate's capabilities and working style.

Activity #1: Automation Strategy Design

This exercise evaluates a candidate's ability to design a comprehensive automation strategy for a software project. Successful Automation Engineers don't just write scripts; they develop thoughtful approaches that consider the entire development lifecycle, technical constraints, and business objectives. This activity reveals how candidates think about automation holistically and their ability to plan complex technical implementations.

Directions for the Company:

• Provide the candidate with a description of a fictional software application (e.g., an e-commerce platform, a content management system, or a financial application).
• Include details about the tech stack, development methodology (Agile, etc.), release cadence, and current testing practices.
• Ask candidates to prepare a 1-2 page automation strategy document and be ready to discuss it in a 20-minute session.
• Send this information to candidates 24-48 hours before the interview to allow adequate preparation time.
• During the interview, have a technical team member review the strategy and ask follow-up questions.

Directions for the Candidate:

• Review the provided application details and create an automation strategy document that includes:
• Recommended automation framework and tools
• Test coverage strategy (what to automate vs. manual testing)
• Implementation approach and timeline
• CI/CD integration recommendations
• Metrics for measuring automation effectiveness
• Be prepared to explain your choices and discuss alternatives you considered.
• Your strategy should balance thoroughness with practical implementation concerns.

Feedback Mechanism:

• After the candidate presents their strategy, provide specific feedback on one strength (e.g., "Your approach to prioritizing test cases was particularly thoughtful") and one area for improvement (e.g., "I'd like to see more consideration of how this would integrate with our existing systems").
• Ask the candidate to spend 5 minutes revising one section of their strategy based on the feedback, either verbally or by making notes on their document.
• Observe how receptive they are to feedback and how they incorporate it into their thinking.

Activity #2: Automated Test Script Implementation

This hands-on coding exercise assesses the candidate's ability to write effective automation code. Technical proficiency is fundamental for Automation Engineers, and this activity reveals not just coding ability but also how candidates structure their code, handle edge cases, and document their work.

Directions for the Company:

• Create a simple web application or API with 2-3 basic functions to test (e.g., a login form, a search feature, or a data submission endpoint).
• Provide access to this application through a sandbox environment or GitHub repository.
• Prepare a clear set of requirements for what should be automated.
• Allow candidates to use their preferred automation tools and languages (Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, etc.).
• Allocate 45-60 minutes for this exercise.
• Have a technical team member available to answer clarifying questions.

Directions for the Candidate:

• Review the application and requirements provided.
• Write automated test scripts that verify the functionality works as expected.
• Include positive test cases and at least one negative test case for each function.
• Structure your code following best practices for maintainability.
• Add comments explaining your approach and any assumptions made.
• Be prepared to run your tests and explain your implementation choices.

Feedback Mechanism:

• After reviewing the candidate's code, highlight one aspect they implemented well (e.g., "Your error handling was very robust") and one area for improvement (e.g., "The test data could be better parameterized").
• Give the candidate 10 minutes to refactor a specific portion of their code based on your feedback.
• Observe their coding practices, problem-solving approach, and how they incorporate feedback.

Activity #3: Debugging an Automation Framework

This exercise evaluates a candidate's troubleshooting abilities, which are essential for Automation Engineers who often need to diagnose and fix complex issues in automation frameworks. The activity reveals how candidates approach problem identification, their systematic debugging process, and their ability to implement effective solutions.

Directions for the Company:

• Prepare a simple automation framework with intentionally introduced bugs (e.g., timing issues, selector problems, configuration errors).
• The bugs should be realistic but identifiable within the timeframe.
• Document the expected behavior so candidates understand what "working correctly" means.
• Provide access to the framework via a repository or shared development environment.
• Allocate 30-45 minutes for this exercise.
• Have a technical team member available to provide context if needed.

Directions for the Candidate:

• You'll be given access to an automation framework that has several issues preventing it from running correctly.
• Identify and fix as many issues as you can within the allotted time.
• Document each issue you find, including:
• The symptom you observed
• The root cause you identified
• The fix you implemented
• Prioritize issues that would have the most significant impact on framework functionality.
• Be prepared to explain your debugging process and reasoning behind your fixes.

Feedback Mechanism:

• After the candidate completes their debugging, highlight one effective troubleshooting technique they used (e.g., "Your systematic approach to isolating the configuration issue was excellent") and one area where their approach could be improved (e.g., "Consider using logging to track down intermittent issues more efficiently").
• Ask the candidate to explain how they would apply the improvement feedback to one of the issues they didn't have time to fix completely.
• Evaluate their ability to articulate their thought process and adapt their approach based on feedback.

Activity #4: Cross-Team Automation Requirements Gathering

This role-playing exercise assesses the candidate's ability to collaborate with stakeholders from different teams to gather requirements for automation projects. Effective communication and stakeholder management are crucial for Automation Engineers who must understand business needs and translate them into technical solutions.

Directions for the Company:

• Prepare a scenario where automation is needed for a new feature or product.
• Assign team members to play roles such as:
• Product Manager with feature requirements
• Developer with technical constraints
• QA Engineer with testing concerns
• DevOps Engineer with deployment considerations
• Provide role players with specific concerns, priorities, and constraints to mention.
• Allocate 20-30 minutes for the role play.
• Observe how the candidate balances different stakeholder needs.

Directions for the Candidate:

• You'll be facilitating a requirements gathering session for automating testing and deployment of a new feature.
• Your goal is to understand the requirements from all stakeholders and identify what should be automated and how.
• Ask questions to clarify requirements, constraints, and priorities.
• Manage potential conflicts between different stakeholders' needs.
• By the end of the session, summarize the automation requirements and next steps.
• Be prepared to explain how you would translate these requirements into an automation plan.

Feedback Mechanism:

• After the role play, provide feedback on one strength in the candidate's communication approach (e.g., "You did an excellent job of making technical concepts accessible to the Product Manager") and one area for improvement (e.g., "Consider probing more deeply when stakeholders give vague requirements").
• Ask the candidate to revisit one part of the discussion where they could apply this feedback.
• Evaluate how they adjust their communication style and their ability to build consensus among stakeholders with different priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should we allocate for these work samples in our interview process?

Each work sample requires different time commitments. The Automation Strategy Design needs 24-48 hours of preparation time plus 20-30 minutes for discussion. The coding exercise needs 45-60 minutes, the debugging activity 30-45 minutes, and the role play 20-30 minutes. Consider spreading these across different interview stages rather than conducting all in one day.

Should we use our actual codebase for these exercises?

It's generally better to create simplified versions that reflect your actual technology stack but don't require extensive domain knowledge. This keeps the focus on automation skills rather than understanding your specific application. However, using technologies relevant to your environment (same programming languages, similar frameworks) will help assess fit.

What if a candidate wants to use tools or languages different from what we use?

Allow candidates to use tools they're comfortable with for the exercises. Automation principles transfer across tools, and a strong candidate can learn your specific stack. However, during evaluation, consider the learning curve they'll face if hired. Discuss their adaptability and experience learning new tools during the interview.

How should we evaluate candidates who complete these exercises differently than expected?

Focus on the effectiveness of their solution rather than whether they followed your expected approach. There are multiple valid ways to solve automation problems. Evaluate whether their solution is maintainable, efficient, and addresses the core requirements. Unexpected approaches can sometimes reveal innovative thinking that could benefit your team.

How do we ensure these exercises don't disadvantage candidates from underrepresented groups?

Review exercises for assumptions about background knowledge not directly related to the role. Provide clear instructions and equal preparation materials to all candidates. Consider offering accommodations like extended time when appropriate. Ensure your evaluation criteria are objective and focused on skills directly relevant to job success.

Should we compensate candidates for time spent on take-home portions of these exercises?

For exercises requiring significant preparation time (like the Automation Strategy Design), consider offering compensation, especially for more senior roles. This demonstrates respect for candidates' time and can improve the candidate experience. At minimum, be transparent about time expectations when extending the interview invitation.

The right Automation Engineer can transform your development process, improving quality while reducing manual effort. These work samples help identify candidates with the technical skills, strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills needed to succeed in this critical role. By observing candidates in action through these exercises, you'll gain insights that traditional interviews simply can't provide.

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