Industry
Fact-checked

At AboutMechanics, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

How Do I Choose the Best Quality Assurance Technician?

D. Nelson
D. Nelson

A quality assurance technician is a professional responsible for inspecting and optimizing all processes to ensure that products and services provided by a business are up to company standards of quality and compliant with government regulations. To choose the best quality assurance technician, your first step should be to find a platform from which you can advertise a job opening. For example, you can post an advertisement in a trade publication related to your industry. Another option is to find a third party service from which you can hire contract workers.

When you need to choose a quality assurance technician, you should make a list of qualifications that you would like a job candidate to have. Remember that these qualifications should be reasonable. For instance, a quality assurance technician often isn't a high level position, so you shouldn't plan on hiring a professional who has years of management experience.

Quality assurance technicians should have a strong understanding of the industry in which they work.
Quality assurance technicians should have a strong understanding of the industry in which they work.

It is important, however, that you choose a quality assurance technician who has a strong understanding of the industry in which you work. For example, if you are in the pharmaceutical industry, it is essential that you find a technician who is familiar with federal regulations. In many cases, it is important that you choose a technician who has earned necessary professional certification. A pharmaceutical quality assurance technician, for example, should have certification from an organization such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.

A quality assurance technician ensures that products provided by a business are up to company standards and compliant with government regulations.
A quality assurance technician ensures that products provided by a business are up to company standards and compliant with government regulations.

Interview all quality assurance technician job candidates who seem promising. If you are hiring a full time technician, you should have a collection of resumes and possibly cover letters to look through. Those candidates who have impressive work experience and skills and who have the necessary credentials and academic degrees should be called in for job interviews.

Quality assurance technicians may need to visually identify a potentially faulty product, and carry out further testing.
Quality assurance technicians may need to visually identify a potentially faulty product, and carry out further testing.

When interviewing potential quality assurance technicians, you should pay attention to how candidates present themselves. For instance, pay attention to the way job candidates dress. An individual who is serious about earning a job should dress like a professional who aims to impress his or her interviewers.

It is important to ask a potential quality assurance technician questions about his or her skills, experience, and methods of choice. You should also ask him or her questions about values. If you find that a job candidate speaks directly to your company's needs and preferences, this is probably because he or she did some research prior to an interview. This is proof that he or she truly wants a job and looks forward to serving your organization.

Discussion Comments

indemnifyme

If you're looking for a good quality assurance technician, I think the best thing to do is ask around in your industry. If you work in the pharmaceutical industry like in the article, ask your colleagues. Most people that have been in any kind of business for a few years know people that work for other companies.

Ask your contacts if they can recommend a specific quality assurance technician or a company from which to hire. In my opinion, you can learn a lot more about a possible candidate through word of mouth than just looking at a bunch of resumes.

strawCake

@SZapper - I see what you're saying. However, I have a friend who works in human resources and does a lot of job interviews. While a lot of people may want jobs (quality assurance or otherwise), you'd be surprised at how many candidates don't adequately prepare for interviews.

A lot of candidates don't research the company, or even tailor their cover letter to the job advertisement. These are not the kind of people you want to hire to work for you! If they can't even be bothered to edit their cover letter a little bit, how can you trust them with any actual work?

SZapper

I've never worked as a job interviewer. However, I have to say that I feel like a candidate who basically parrots back the companies preferences as their own qualities during an interview isn't necessarily the best candidate.

Anyone can research a QA job and companies and then make sure that the qualifications they present match up to what the company wants. That doesn't necessarily mean they believe in "hard work" or "teamwork" or "the environment" or whatever other values your company professes to believe in. Also, a lot of people might "want the job" but maybe aren't qualified for it.

I think it's more important to find someone with verifiable credentials that will fit in well with the rest of your staff.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Quality assurance technicians should have a strong understanding of the industry in which they work.
      By: michaeljung
      Quality assurance technicians should have a strong understanding of the industry in which they work.
    • A quality assurance technician ensures that products provided by a business are up to company standards and compliant with government regulations.
      By: Monkey Business
      A quality assurance technician ensures that products provided by a business are up to company standards and compliant with government regulations.
    • Quality assurance technicians may need to visually identify a potentially faulty product, and carry out further testing.
      By: Lisa F. Young
      Quality assurance technicians may need to visually identify a potentially faulty product, and carry out further testing.
    • Interviewing the top candidates is an important step in choosing the best quality assurance technician.
      By: Rido
      Interviewing the top candidates is an important step in choosing the best quality assurance technician.