Business Analyst Interview Questions

The following business analyst interview questions are applicable for freshers, entry level business analyst and also experienced business analysts. Each question below also contains business analyst interview questions with answers and tips.

Why Are You Applying for This Role?

The real business analyst interview questions:

What can you do, that we need you to do?
Do you even know, what we need you to do?

Tip:

Reflect on the role job specification in every line of your answer;
Talk about their organisational needs before you mention your own.

The only thing the interviewer really wants to hear is this:

“I’m applying because my skills, experience and motivation are the best fit for the job”

That in more detail, might look like this…

“When I read the job ad, I could see straight away the fit between what you’re looking for and what I’ve done in my career to date. That’s also what I want to do much more of in the future too.”

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at X, but with my experience I know I can make a bigger contribution at Z. Also, I like the way you do things here – example.”

“It’s also well known that X is a good employer and you have great scheme, but mainly I’m applying because I think I can do this job well and have fun doing it”

This answer provides:

Long term satisfaction on both sides;
Shows values and what they care about, aligns with the organisation.

What’s Are Your Biggest Strengths?

The real business analyst interview questions:

Do you really know yourself?
Do you know what our problem is here?

Other questions that are asking the same question:

Why are you a good fit for this company?
Why should we hire you?

Tip:

Answer with the job description uppermost in your mind. Go easy on adjectives and heavy on hard data / evidence;
You need to think hard about the job’s requirements and map them against your best achievements to date;
You are there to solve their problem, not to tell them you’re a hard worker and easy to work with. It’s not about listing adjectives “hardworking”, “trustworthy” – these can’t help with solving the employer’s problem;
You need to provide examples with dates and numbers.

How to answer it

Think of 3 key strengths with evidence;
Start with an adjective to describe your strength, sure, but then explain the context in which that strength was used, starting with your most recent role, describe the impact of your strength, and give some basic dramatic element i.e. the result;
Also, give an example where your strength was acknowledged by others – so the interviewer knows it’s not all in your head.

Example answer

“Market trends! I’ve always been good at reading market trends and staying in step with them. It’s something that comes naturally to me, something that other people recognise I’m good at – and something I pride myself on too.”

What Are Your Greatest Weaknesses?

The real business analyst interview questions:

Am I right in thinking X about you?
Are you going to give me the same answer that everybody else did?

Tip:

If you’ve been invited for interview, chances are that they’re seeking affirmation of predicted weaknesses, not information about new ones;
Look at the job description and think about where you have skills / knowledge gaps; the interviewer will notice these and expect you to bring them up. Talking about gaps in your CV is a lot less risky than mentioning what you really think is a weakness. Don’t bother talking about your character, stick to the job description, your skills and career history;
So, show that you’ve considered your CV against the job description;
Speak confidently about it like you know it’s not a deal breaker;
Cite evidence to show that you’re working on the weaknesses;
A life-long learner is better suited to today’s rapidly changing workplace;
There is no single, right answer;
End your answer by asking a question in order to get the conversation back to what you can do.

Never mention the following:

I’m a perfectionist;
I work too hard / care too much;
I get frustrated when people don’t pull their weight.

Example answer

“I’d say that my greatest weakness is that I’ve been out of the workforce for a couple of years in order to raise my family. I didn’t drop out of the industry altogether during that time. My contacts book is up to date and I’ve kept up to date with industry trends. For example, I enrolled for online professional development courses.”

“Was there anything on my CV that especially concerned you?”

“I think everyone has things they need to improve.”

What Will Your Skills and Ideas Bring To This Company?

The real business analyst interview questions:

What will we be buying from you?

Tip:

You can appear generous, or miserly;
The key is show that you think of the company in terms of having problems and opportunities that could benefit from your help;
You should present your ideas in terms of previous work experience, and how you executed ideas successfully.

What’s Your Preferred Management Style?

The real business analyst interview questions:

Are you and I going to get on?
Very often the person interviewing you will be your future boss, so they may ask this;
Bosses want to see someone who can work under their own steam;
They want to brief you on a job without spelling it out.

Example Answer:

“Good question, I think that half the trick of managing people is not being scared to ask them what they think – like you’ve just asked me.”

It’s good to mention key moments in your experience with a manager too, most notably involving conflict, success, goal setting, and performance.

Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years?

The real business analyst interview questions:

Are you after this job, or just any job?
How soon will you need a new challenge?
Do you have a realistic sense of what we can offer you?

Tip:

Use the opportunity to detail your achievements to date, before saying you’d hope to be equally successful at this company;
Nice to remind them what drew you to the company in first place.

Some example answers:

“It’s common knowledge that your company has the highest performing standards and the best software engineers in the industry. So, if that’s still the case in five years, I hope I will be working here.”

Mention that you’d like still to be with the company making a valuable contribution.

How Would You Approach This Job?

The real business analyst interview questions:

How well do you know us?
What’s your take on what we need?
What’s your preferred style of working?

You can answer by referring to previous success in current role and describe ways of working.

Say you’d like to replicate those successes if offered the role

Also, use this question to show your ability to adapt to the company

Acknowledge that all companies are different, so you’d use your first few weeks on the job to learn systems, processes, get to know colleagues and what they do, before creating your plan

This shows the interviewer that you are planning for success in the role, but don’t have a rigid idea of how things should be done.

Can mention that all companies do business analysis in their own way, but the great thing about business analysis is that the key principles stay the same no matter which industry, country, or company you work in.

What Have You Achieved Elsewhere?

The real business analyst interview questions:

What’s the very best we can expect from you?
Is it what we need?

Tip:

Keep it recent, work related and well-rehearsed;
Sound confident – they want you to be;
This is your chance to blow your trumpet;
Too many people suck at articulating what makes them different to other candidates, let alone better; most people are too modest!
Remember, they want you to boast and hear about the best version of you;
Think about your achievements as a plotline rather than a list of numbers or promotions;
Don’t be afraid to include dramatic effects like conflict, growth, transformation.

What Did You Like / Dislike About Your Last Job?

The real business analyst interview questions:

What do you want from us that the last lot couldn’t give you?
Can we give it to you?

Tip:

Start with a list of what makes you happy, then let them know that you don’t expect perfection in a job;
Remember, they are inviting you to say something negative here. No job is perfect;
So, don’t dodge the question – its ok to talk about things you don’t enjoy.

Just make sure your answer demonstrates grit and a strong work ethic, on that can power you through difficulties.

Example answer:

“There was a lot about the job I enjoyed at my last company. I loved being out of the office, working on site, which put me in close contact with our customers and my colleagues. I felt like I got a lot more than I would just sitting in the office. But there were some drawbacks, being on site all the time meant leaving home before breakfast and getting in after dark, so my family life suffered.

I had to do it, of course in order to keep our promise of next day service. I became so focused on the job that in the end if stopped thinking about the time of day and that’s not really how I want to live. I know the job I’m applying for will occasionally mean working unsocial hours, but I’m happy to accept that, since it’s not something will be doing day in, day out.”

Make a list of your likes / dislikes for this question, think about the following, does your job offer them?

Some examples are below:

Meet interesting people;
Work in the field;
Opportunity to progress;
Work independently;
Atmosphere of trust;
Travel;
Friendly / supportive culture;
Varied work;
Constant learning;
Rewards creativity;
Likeable colleagues;
Customer interaction;
Close to management;
Development opportunities;
Positive impact on community;
Forefront of modern technology.

Tell Me About A Time You Worked In A Team?

The real business analyst interview question:

No one achieves anything on their own – you know that, right?

Tip:

Find a recent, real example where you worked successfully with others;
Your answer must focus on your actions;
It should also end with a definite, positive outcome;
Assigns credit where credit is due. Make sure you don’t sound like the type of person who steals the spotlight or undervalues other contributors.