In the union of business and technology, business analysts often find themselves playing the part of marriage counselor. The best business analysts are able to see the big picture and translate that picture into a language both business executives and technology folks can understand. The ability to not only solve a problem, but more importantly identify the real problem, is more than half the battle for analysts.
It is this ability to see the forest through the trees that allows the best analysts to save both time and money.
Strong negotiating skills are critical as finding common ground is often required before any projects can move forward. Candidates for business analyst positions should be able to show a track record of both technical and business savvy.
Sample of Possible Interview Questions for Business Analysts:
How do you avoid project chaos?
Discuss your experience with ethnographic research.
How do you ensure that stakeholder goals align with the business needs and strategy?
How do you separate yourself from negative feedback?
What tools do you find most useful?
How do you handle changes to requirements?
When are you finished with the requirements?
How do you motivate the team?
Talk about the most complex problem you solved.
Discuss a time you were unable to get your team on the same page to solve a problem.
How do you ensure buy-in?
Discuss your experience with various software methodologies.
What steps do you take to make sure you have the right people involved in a decision?
How do you explain to a CEO that something is technologically impossible?
How do you stay current in your knowledge of the industry?
How do you get the key players to feel an “ownership” when finding the solution to a problem?
Describe a situation where your intuition changed how you made a decision.
Discuss the following: “All models are wrong. Some are useful.”
Do you create a benchmark of your work for the future?
How do you know if you have asked the right questions about what you are looking for prior to analysis?