You are a Business Analyst looking for a new position in either the same company or a new one. What are some of the Top 10 Interview Question for Business Analysts being asked.
This article captures those questions:
Q1. Tell me about yourself
Answer: This is a tricky and vague question. The interviewer doesn’t intend to get to know you personally, but this is a question around the interviewer wanting to understand your professional career. Although vague you can make this your own ad turn it into going through some of your accomplishments.
Q2. As a Business Analyst what is your role in an organization?
Answer: Business Analyst plays a vital role in a project for an organization.
- The main role of a Business Analyst is to find out the need of an organization, finding out their problems, even predicting future issues to an extent, suggesting suitable solutions for the same and drive through the organization’s achievements.
- The role varies from organization to organization, project to project and even from domain to domain.
Q3 How do you handle changes to requirements
It depends on the methodology being used. Within agile requirements are prioritized. Within waterfall changes are worked through a change control.
- Firstly, I understand the change and the impact to the requirements
- I will calculate the cost, timeline, and resources required to cover the impact of change requirements on the project.
- The changes to the requirements would need to be prioritized
Q 4 What are some tools that you have used for conducting your business analysis work?
Answer: The tools used include Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, MS Vizio etc.
Q 5. What is a flow chart and how do you use it?
Answer: A flowchart shows the flow of systems using diagrams and signs. Mention how you have used one to make systems understandable for stakeholders.
Q6. What would you say are your strengths as a BA?
Answer: Personalize your answer to this question. Be sure to show you understand the skills necessary to succeed in the job role. Discuss both soft and hard skills.
Q7. What would you say are your weaknesses as an analyst?
Answer: Answer the question honestly and take responsibility. This will show them you are aware of the areas you should work on.
Q8. How do you deal with difficult stakeholders?
Answer: This question is really trying to dig into how you analyze stakeholders, and also how you manage stakeholders and their expectations. An ideal answer will talk about how you undergo stakeholder analysis, and as part of that you work to understand the influence each stakeholder has over your project, and the interest each stakeholder has in your project. This will help you understand the power dynamics between the players in your project. This is important because it will yield who has the power and the incentive to help you get everyone on the same page and keep your project moving forward.
Q 9: How do you stay up-to-date on general business knowledge and trends?
Answer: In asking this question, the interviewer is trying to assess whether you’re proactive and driven enough to keep your knowledge and skills up-to-date outside of your day-to-day activities. Your answer could reference industry publications, news, and/or conferences and events.
Q10. What is INVEST in Business Analysis?
Answer:
INVEST stands for –
- Independent
- Negotiable
- Valuable
- Estimable
- Sized Appropriately
- Testable
Conclusion: There are many other questions that can be asked. It depends upon the company that you are applying for as well. The above are a basic guideline into what could be asked. The recommendation is to research the company and the types of business analysis work that is covered in that company. Research! Research! Research!
