Business Systems Analyst Interview Questions: What to Expect

The job seeking process has evolved from a single interview to stacked interviews (from one–five), which generally include a team fit interview. When even the questions have been carefully selected to monitor and assess your behaviour, it may feel like you’re navigating through a minefield. This can be even more daunting when you’re interviewing for a technical position such as a Business Systems Analyst.

The good news, however, is that you can prepare for your interviews in advance. Not only will this help you answer the questions more confidently, but it will also prepare you for what to expect in terms of your prospective role and responsibilities. When interviewing for a business system analysts career, there are a number of questions that you may face.

Here are some common questions you might be asked, and why they’re important for evaluating a business systems analyst’s skill set:¹

1) What is your largest project to date?

Try to use a recent example of an impressive project, and steer away from examples that are older than five years. If you don’t have an example, discuss the types of projects you hope to be involved in. This will show where your interests lie and what you could be capable of in your new role. The point of these questions is to evaluate your critical thinking skills and abilities. No answer is the best answer; the interviewer is simply trying to assess your approach and personality to see if you’re well-suited for the job.²

2) How do you react in a high pressure environment, where conflict and deadlines are commonplace?

The nature of this position requires tight deadlines with computers and software as well as good teamwork. A Business Systems Analyst career is stressful, and how you handle stress will determine how you communicate and your approach to managing conflict.³

3) Can you provide a scenario where you had to make quick, yet sound decisions?

The computer system industry is dynamic and the decisions you make can affect your organisation’s profitability. Your professional advice will carry weight, and an employer will want you to show rational and objective decision-making skills.

A Business Systems Analyst career is stressful, and how you handle stress will determine how you communicate and your approach to managing conflict.

4) What experiences do you have on an international platform?

Previous experience with a global company will show that you have some knowledge of the regulatory environment, specifically with the International Financial Reporting Standards.⁴ A rule of thumb is to always be transparent when listing your work history.⁵ If you don’t have experience in a particular area, take the initiative to understand how local regulations or principles and international standards overlap and differ.

When interviewing candidates, employers also want to know what skills you are bringing to the table. In general, employers want to know before they hire you, if you are a problem solver or a problem bringer.⁶ A problem solver will take initiative to try solve an issue even without the requisite skills or training, displaying a “can do’’ attitude.⁷

Some good advice is to have knowledge of desktop support as well as project management. Different environments may require you to troubleshoot computer and proprietary systems issues, but you will mostly use IT organisational skills. On top of technical knowledge, soft skills are also essential for this position as you’ll have to display strong leadership skills to brief teams, communicate clearly, and implement projects to completion.

In general, employers want to know before they hire you, if you are a problem solver or a problem bringer.

A Business Systems Analyst position isn’t always easy to secure, but walking into an interview prepared could make all the difference in helping you stand out from your competition. By keeping the above prerequisites and questions in mind, you’ll be better equipped to offer insightful answers the next time you sit down with a prospective employer.

If you would like to gain the skills to leverage IT business systems and technological tools as an analyst, have a look at The University of Cape Town (UCT) Business Systems Analysis online short course.