Interview Questions for a Business Analyst

Interviewing for Business Analyst positions can be stressful. This article seeks to alleviate a bit of this stress by exploring a few possible questions that may be asked at an interview, the rationale behind the question, and some specific responses that can be offered. 

What to Expect in a Business Analyst Interview

No two interviews are the same. This is especially true in business analytics. The role of a Business Analyst can vary in many ways, depending on the employer, the type and size of the company, and even the specific project(s) they will be completing. However, there are some common topics and skills that often come up in interviews. The better prepared for the different sorts of questions a candidate is, the easier it will be to find specific, relevant answers during the interview.

The following are some common topics to be ready to speak about at a business analytics interview:

• Technical training, such as experience with computer programming, Excel, or SQL
• Prior experience mining, analyzing, and visualizing data
• Database design and querying knowledge
• Statistical expertise
• Experience with business intelligence concepts and software
• Negotiation skills
• Examples of problem-solving, critical thinking, and attention to detail
• Situations in which collaboration was essential
• Hurdles encountered in the work environment, as well as solutions

The best way to respond to any question at a Business Analyst interview is to be as specific as possible and to use real examples, numbers, and outcomes to support each answer. 

Top Interview Questions for Business Analysts

Question #1: What is the first thing you do when presented with a new project?

When asked a question such as this at an interview, it’s likely that the hiring manager wants to get a feel for the applicant’s prior experience managing projects, as well as their style of management. This question may also be posed to get a feel for how well an interviewee can prioritize pressing concerns, how well they see the project in the context of the organization as a whole, or how they initially organize their time to account for the scope of a project that may take weeks or months to complete.

How to answer

A good answer to a question like this would involve the interviewee choosing an example from their own experience that conveys what project management style they used, how effective it was, and why. Applicants may also include how this style applied to various project phases and how it led to certain deliverables. It’s also a good idea to include examples that can highlight having to change methods during a project to better meet the needs of the organization, which requires flexibility.

Question #2: How do you envision yourself fitting the Business Analyst role at our organization?

If an interviewer asks this question, they likely want to see how well the candidate understands not only the job responsibilities of the position but the organization itself. They are likely seeking candidates who have the skills, values, and training to function well within their organization and contribute to its success. 

How to answer

It’s likely at a job interview to be presented with a question such as this, designed to see if the applicant has conducted research and understands what the organization does, how it does so, and how it would be able to contribute to its mission. Answering this question may involve the applicant mentioning relevant educational experiences they have completed, such as any coursework directly relevant to the job at hand. In addition, the applicant may highlight any other skills, experiences, or attitudes they have that would make them valuable to the organization. 

A specific example from prior work an applicant has completed can also be included here, especially if it shows how the interviewee applied a specific solution to an organizational problem and how doing so benefitted the company. It’s important to review the job listing before the interview so that the answer to a question of this sort can be based on the skills listed there.

Question #3: How would you handle a difficult stakeholder?

This question is designed to prepare interviewees for the likelihood that they will encounter different personalities who work in different positions. Not all of them will be cooperative. This question seeks to learn more about the applicant’s communication skills, as well as their experience with problem-solving. 

How to Answer:

Offering a direct answer to this question is a sound approach. So too, is weaving in any past work experiences the applicant may have had communicating with stakeholders. The STAR framework for interviewing can provide a helpful model for responding to a question such as this. It breaks the question down into four components: situation, task, action, and result. The interviewee may begin by providing a brief overview of the issue, and framing its context in a constructive manner. They then would describe their task, or role in the event. Then, they would mention the action they took to attempt to resolve the situation. Finally, they would explain the result, or what they learned from this encounter, and how it ultimately was a positive experience for them, as well as the business.

Question #4: How do you stay informed about the most current business trends and technology?

This question seeks to discover if the job applicant has sufficient motivation to stay abreast of any trends or business developments. The interviewer is looking for more than just a candidate who Googled a few topics before the interview. They likely are interested in any specific practices a candidate has that keep their skills and knowledge current.

How to Answer:

The answer to this question could take the shape of the applicant referring to industry-specific publications or news that they have recently read. It also can take the shape of discussing a conference or lecture recently attended or any other event that facilitated connections with others in the business industry.

Question #5: How do you convey data findings to coworkers or stakeholders who don’t have a background in business analytics?

The heart of this question is the applicant’s ability to break down complex ideas into a language that’s accessible and engaging to various audiences. Because Business Analysts work with so many different stakeholders, from those on different teams or departments within their organization to managers and external stakeholders, it’s imperative that they be able to translate complicated data-driven insights in a jargon-free manner. 

In addition, Business Analysts are commonly involved with creating reports based on their findings and then sharing these reports in the form of presentations, which requires clear verbal, written, and visual communication skills. This question poses a chance to demonstrate this capacity.

How to Answer:

When answering this question, an applicant may highlight a specific report they drafted or presentation they delivered, or both. They then could go into detail explaining how they used written skills to break down complicated patterns and finding, how they incorporated data visualizations such as histograms or pie charts to supplement the text, and how they then presented their findings verbally such that all audience members understood the findings. It’s especially helpful if the applicant can cite an experience in which a coworker could use their report or presentation to make more informed business decisions. 

Enroll in Hands-on Classes to Learn More About Business Analytics

For those interested in launching a career as a Business Analyst, various courses are currently available for beginners, intermediate, and advanced students. Noble Desktop’s Business Analyst Certificate is a great learning option for any aspiring Business Analyst. Relevant tools and skills such as data analysis, Excel, Tableau, and SQL are covered in this 63-hour program. Those enrolled in this intensive course can elect to study online or in person in Manhattan. This class comes with the option of a free retake for learners who wish to revisit course material. 

In addition, a great resource for finding business analytics classes close to home is Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. It can be used to search over 250 live online and in-person business analytics courses currently available in topics such as SQL, PowerPoint, and Excel for Business, among others.