The person who acts as a liaison between the product developer and the business user is called a business analyst. Taking this into account, a business analyst handles several responsibilities, right from the analysis of a business requirement of a project to the proper documentation of the project. Also known as functional analyst, business system analyst, or system architect, a business analyst is required to sketch different diagrams, such as case diagram, activity diagram, sequence diagram, and collaboration diagram. This makes the position of a business analyst one of the most significant job titles in any company. Thus, if you are looking for the best way to boost your business analysis skills or increase the chances of clearing your business analyst interview, it is best to start a practice test. Having a sample of the type of questions asked during a business analyst interview will give you a boost of confidence and help you prepare better for the answers. Further, they will enable you to formulate your thoughts and give you the right answers to present to the recruiters. Below are some sample questions for a business analyst interview, along with their answers, that might just help you crack the interview successfully.
Sample Business Analyst Interview Questions
Can you tell me why are you considering leaving your present job?
Just as the question is put to you, do not start blabbering bad about your current employer and company. On the other hand, you can begin off with stating that you have no growth prospects in your present company and plus, you are looking for an organization with long-term growth opportunities. This will induce the recruiter to get a step closer towards short-listing you. Or probably, you can list the long distance or relocation of the office as one of the strong reasons for quitting your present company. Talking about job security can be yet another powerful explanation about looking for a job change.
We have met several business analysts. Why are you the one we should hire?
Present all your positive skills and accomplishments to indicate your strength and confidence of handling the position better than other candidates. State how well your background matches with the job description laid by the organization. Mentioning any specific software packages and spreadsheet software that you are familiar with will be an added advantage. Let your recruiters know about all the advanced knowledge of all software that you are capable of handling and working with.
What do you know about our company?
This question will definitely be put to you to test how well you have prepared for the interview. Hence, before you face the interview, do a thorough research about the company so that it presents a good impression about you to the recruiters. Remember, all companies like prepared and organized candidates.
How do you handle stress and pressure?
Now this one is a tricky question. The company seeks to know your work culture and how well are you able to work under pressure. Be diplomatic and cautious while answering this question. Let your interviewer know that you are accustomed to working under pressure and enjoy working in an environment filled with challenges. Or you can state that you have been working in a demanding environment with deadlines and hence, would have no difficulties in continuing with the same work culture.
Others
General Questions
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Can you brief us about yourself, your education, qualifications and work experience?
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What are your professional strengths and weaknesses?
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What sets you apart from the other candidates?
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How long can we expect you to work for us?
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Tell me about a project you worked on that you were very proud of, and what you did to contribute to it.
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What are your goals for the future?
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Describe your responsibilities as a business analyst in your last job.
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What are the challenges faced by a business analyst?
Technical Questions
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Can you list the desired skills needed to perform effectively as a Business Analyst?
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Can you explain the term “push back” in relation to business users and what this means to you?
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For process testing, can you explain the role of the Business Analyst?
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At what point of a project is the Use Case system complete? What are the next steps in the project phase?
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What do you understand by System Design Document (SDD)?
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How do you determine which BI tool you use? How do you decide on the report-frequency, update-frequency and user-needs based on the objectives you want to achieve for that report? BI tools like - Cognos Discoverer, Business Objects and Crystal reports etc.
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What do you mean by alternate flow in use case and exception flow in use case?
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Name and explain some of the different diagrams required by the business analyst and explain two of them in detail.
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What is the difference between the functional and the non-functional requirements? Explain this difference with the help of examples.
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What is the purpose of a Test Director Tool in a project?
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How do you rate your business communication skills? Can you give us one example where you acted as a link between the development team and the client for the purpose of business clarifications?
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Let’s take a hypothetical situation that two companies are merging, what will you as a business analyst suggest so that this merger takes place smoothly?
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What do you mean by UML modeling and explain this concept in detail?
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What are SDLC methodologies?
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What do you mean by logical data model? Explain.
Whenever you face a business analyst interview, the recruiter will ask you a number of questions and review your answer for correctness, promptness of reply, and comprehensiveness. Thus, it is significant to prepare thoroughly and well to avoid any bad impression or rating.
