1. Explain why are flowcharts important?
The hiring manager is trying to learn how you will work with all team members. A suitable answer here is that flowcharts play an important role in explaining concepts and processes to both technical and nontechnical members.
2. Explain how do you handle changes to requirements?
Your logical-thinking skills are being put to the test with this question. As you answer, highlight how you thoughtfully respond to changing situations.
One potential response is something along the lines of, "First, I prioritize the changes to requirements, scope of changes and the impact analysis to the project. Next, I perform an impact analysis to the project cost, timeline and resources. Finally, I evaluate whether the scope change is introducing new gaps to the technical or functional designs or development and testing."
3. Explain the diagrams most used by business analysts?
Again, the hiring manager wants reassurance you have the skills to get the job done and know case, activity and sequence diagrams.
4. Tell me how have you handled difficult stakeholders?
Answer this one head on. The hiring manager is trying to assess your soft skills, particularly your communication and collaboration abilities. Working with people from different areas of the company and perspectives is an area where nontechnical skills are key.
5. Tell me how do you motivate team members who are burned out, or bored?
A bored team member is simply not challenged enough. They are being satiated (doing a task for too long of a period of time). In this case, switch tasks for a short period of time or pair them up with another team member to shorten the boring task. See if it's possible to give them more challenging work if they complete the boring task first.
6. Explain about your typical project approach?
Here, the hiring manager wants to ensure you have an overall understanding of the business analysis planning process. Rather than listing numerous projects and processes, talk more about the general phases or types of deliverables you might create, while letting the hiring manager know you can customize your approaches to projects.
7. How easily do you delegate responsibility?
Being focused on project goals is absolutely essential for project managers. They should have a clear focus and clarity of thought. It is important to assess if the candidate has demonstrated the ability to align resources to achieve key objectives, to plan and identify ways to improve and achieve greater efficiency, and to monitor and fine tune execution with agility, hard work, perseverance, and good judgement. Key questions to ask in this area are:
8. Explain how you operate inter departmentally?
Two words that best describe me are "Chameleonliaison". I am able to change and adapt to my environment in seconds, since Ihave worked in various departments over the years. My understanding of each departments needs allows me to precisely convey information. The shorten communications via phone, email and in person minimizes frustrations and allows me more time flexibility to delegate or to take on more complex tasks.
9. How do you ensure that your project is always on track?
The Project Manager needs to identify and prevent issues from impacting the project adversely. Hence, it is important that the candidate demonstrates competence and the eagerness to take proactive actions, avoids procrastination, and does not shy away from making tough decisions. I usually ask candidates to share examples and real life scenarios from their projects and life where they took proactive actions. Here are a few such questions:
10. Tell me what are your career goals?
How do you see this job affecting your goals? My goal is to acquire an IT position that utilizes my talents more effectively while increasing my flexibility in scheduling tasks. IT positions are moving towards home office utilization to save company costs and travel time. This IT position will allow me to save on transportation time (to and from work, lunch and dress preparation) therefore I can work on new programs and creative ideas without the typical corporate distractions.
