How To Ace Your BA Interview - International Institute Of Business Analysis

How To Ace Your BA Interview

Tony S. Oliver Sr. Business Analyst, Continuous Improvement, VSP PM & BA Adjunct Professor, UC Davis School of Continuing and Professional Education PMP, MBA, CCMP, CSM, CSSBB

The Business Analyst Role Continues to Evolve Do as you’re told Come up with ideas Present options Anticipate future problems Understand the entire business

Top Skills Sought by Employers (2020) Hard Skills Soft Skills 1 Blockchain 2 Cloud Computing 3 Analytical Reasoning 4 Artificial Intelligence 5 UX Design 6 Business Analysis 7 Affiliate Marketing 8 Sales 9 Scientific Computing 10 Video Production 1 Creativity 2 Persuasion 3 Collaboration 4 Adaptability 5 Emotional Intelligence

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the ax. ” Abraham Lincoln

Align Your Application With the Posting

“He must be very ignorant for he answers every question he is asked.” Voltaire

Think Like the Customer But Remember You Are Not the Customer

Transfer What You Know: Look Into the DNA

Should default be everything is affected?

Perhaps but change is not sudden

Be Agile

Evaluate Options Not Just Choose X but also explain why you didn’t choose Y

Look Deeper: What is the Largest Organ in the Human Body?

S T A R Situation encountered Task you undertook Actions taken Results delivered

How Many Gas Stations in Rancho Cordova?

Not Looking for a Number Looking for Rationale

Neighboring Cities Population Freeways Public Transportation Density Uber/Lyft Area Taxis Demographics Urban Design Car Ownership % Job #/Economy Zoning Design EV Charging Stations

Good Questions to Ask Your Interviewer Who is someone you see as better than you at something that matters to you? What is the most embarrassing moment of your career? When did you last change your mind about something? When did you realize you didn’t have the skills/knowledge needed to do something? What do you see as the biggest challenge in the industry? What other industries do you feel have similar challenges? What market trends worry/excite you the most? Whose insight do you seek when analyzing issues?

They Ask They Really Seek “Describe a situation when “Tell us about your train of you made a change thought. What did you recommendation? What was consider? How did you the outcome?” present the change plan?” You Should Answer/Show How you evaluated the options, how you felt change would be perceived, and how you facilitated it

They Ask How “How do you handle difficult stakeholders?” They Really Seek “Can we make sure you won’t cause a scene?” You Should Answer/Show How did you determine their positions? Did you work to understand why? Did you demonstrate empathy? Did you take sides?

They Ask How “How would you approach a project?” They Really Seek “Do you plan or start hacking away?” You Should Answer/Show Note you evaluate the urgency but also the likelihood of solving a problem without all the information, the need to ensure you’re fixing the right issue

They Really Seek They Ask “Will you still be here? “Where do you see yourself What contributions will you in x years?” bring to the company in that timeframe?” You Should Answer/Show Your plans to grow professionally, help others, willingness to tackle new challenges, learn and teach

They Ask They Really Seek What “What skills are “Do you know what you essential to be successful as should be doing? What blind a Business Analyst?” spots do you have?” You Should Answer/Show What you have seen be successful with teammates and other companies---don’t just focus on yourself

They Ask They Really Seek “What do you see as the To gauge how much you keep biggest challenge in business in touch with the industry, competition, and the overall analysis and how do you business landscape overcome it?” You Should Answer/Show Something that touches the industry but also perspectives that may eventually affect the job. It’s OK to have multiple ideas and then expand on one.

They Ask They Really Seek “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” To understand how you would fit into the team, determine your blind spots, and evaluate your résumé accomplishments You Should Answer/Show Humility and self-confidence; grace and conviction; a desire to learn and improve

They Ask They Really Seek Creativity, the ability to think “What animal are you?” on the spot, and your train of thought You Should Answer/Show Don’t think of the animal first. Think of the quality you wish to embody and then connect it to an animal

They Really Seek They Ask “How do you handle conflict?” How you deal with unpleasantness and the strength of your convictions You Should Answer/Show The connection of conflict to differing opinions and opinions to data. The ability to debate and to focus on the issue

They Ask They Really Seek “Why do you want to work here?” “Are you going to just do the bare minimum”? You Should Answer/Show Ensure you have read beyond the job description. Talk about the company’s history and its future; show you keep up with the news and have critical opinions; and remember to turn around the question on them

They Ask They Really Seek What “What type of work/task do you enjoy the most and why?” To see what you don’t enjoy and how it aligns with their reality You Should Answer/Show Focus on how every project has various types of tasks and you enjoy taking the turns within the team. It’s ok to have a favorite but don’t disparage the others.

They Ask They Really Seek What “What kind of risks have you taken?” To test your Goldilocks skills not too much, not too little, but just right You Should Answer/Show That risk can be positive (opportunities) and negative (threats). Zero risk means no growth, but being mindful of the trade-offs

They Ask They Really Seek What “What have been your most positive and negative management experiences?” “Do you carry grudges? Can you see the forest from the trees?” You Should Answer/Show Be frank about what you have enjoyed and learned from prior managers. It may not be the same and it may not have occurred “in the moment” but rather later.

They Ask They Really Seek To know what you are passionate about and seek that “What are your hobbies?” level of enthusiasm in your work You Should Answer/Show What you enjoy doing, but go deeply into 1 or 2---not all. Explain what appeals to your personality and how you use some of them to work (if applicable)

They Ask They Really Seek If “If you had a professional ‘do-over’ what would that be?” “Do you learn from your mistakes? How much do you self-reflect”? You Should Answer/Show It doesn’t need to be a mistake! It can be an opportunity not taken

They Ask “How do you handle the micro managing boss and tough colleague?” They Really Seek “Do you ignore or take action?” You Should Answer/Show Somewhat differently but with same tactics. Get to know what makes them tick. Understand what level of insight may be driving their opinions

They Ask They Really Seek How “How do you handle the situation when a requirement changes when the application is in development phase?” “Will you throw a fit?” You Should Answer/Show Change is inevitable. The market changes; why shouldn’t the project? Explain how you evaluate the change and its necessity to the project.

They Ask “How to handle competing stakeholders and how to handle tough stakeholders with whom you disagree?” They Really Seek “How do you stay cool?” You Should Answer/Show Requirements should be measured against trade-offs with set criteria for benefit to the customer and the organization

They Ask “Here’s a problem. Give me a solution NOW.” They Really Seek “How do you handle pressure even when it’s illogical?” You Should Answer/Show Acknowledge the urgency and suggest some quick wins. Explain they may not fit the long-term need so continue to work on long-term solutions

They Ask They Really Seek How “How can you show your BA skills are useful for a technology you never worked on before”? To take a chance on you even if you lack the “desired” experience You Should Answer/Show Focus on the “shared DNA” while seeking opportunities to increase your knowledge. Cite your familiarity with critical cases/studies on the issue(s)

Other Applicant Thoughts What Should I Do During a Behavioral Interview? Don’t panic. Take time to gather your thoughts. Ask for pen/paper or a whiteboard if desired. Acknowledge on solution will be “perfect” Don’t Get Lost During a Tell Me About Yourself “Be sincere, be brief, be seated” (FDR) It’s a first date, not a marriage Are Use Cases and Business Capabilities the Same Thing? Capability models are structured graphical representations of all organizational business capabilities, their relationship and hierarchy. Cases discuss why a project/investment idea is worthwhile Getting Insight about the Individuals on the Interview When You Don’t Know? Use LinkedIn! For better-known figures, check local press, Wall Street Journal, etc. Look for what they do, one common trait to discuss, and one area that you’d like to ask them about What is the Best Portfolio Work to Bring? Examples if you can, especially for internal applications External applicants may be limited by NDAs Positioning your Résumé Ensure everything matches. Refresh it for your interview. Have a friend/family member ask you about its entries Salary Ranges Look at Glassdoor. Come prepared with a range and an idea of which benefits are essential to you

Other Recruiter Thoughts What responses can I expected from skilled BAs? If you hear a buzzword, ask them to explain Zero in on metrics---typically those come later and the BA may be gone by then Ask them about solution evaluation, what trade-offs to consider Focus on change management---not just selling the solution upward but also downward How can I evaluate the candidate’s Rip up your questions. You cannot do this with the HR questions. analytical skills? I do not just want a person Ask how they keep their skills fresh who has done something in the past Ask them for examples of products/services they don’t buy but are successful. Ask them to explain the rationale. Ask them to construct a “five years from now” résumé Good interview tips and tricks Prepare ahead of time. You are asking the candidate to do the same. How can I focus on the résumé? Ask them about things they wish they had or hand not done Ask them not for their chronological history but rather what taught them the most Be educated about other companies. What does a “BA” really do at company X or Y.

Rip up your questions. You cannot do this with the HR questions. Ask how they keep their skills fresh Ask them for examples of products/services they don't buy but are successful. Ask them to explain the rationale. Ask them to construct a "five years from now" résumé Good interview tips and tricks Prepare ahead of time.