System analysis (but also other types of IT analysis, such as business analysis) is a demanding job. It requires a keen mind, and a huge deal of knowledge, along with expertise in various fields. Considering this, it’s no wonder that job interviews tend to be quite stressful. There’s only one good way to overcome this stress and increase your chances – you need to come prepared. 

But how to do that, exactly? Well, as experienced analysts, we can tell you that the most important thing – aside from going in with the right mindset – is to learn what kinds of questions you may encounter during the conversation. There are a few different types of them, so let’s review them individually.

General questions – verifying background and experience

Usually, the interviewer will begin the conversation by asking some general questions. The purpose of doing this is to get to know the person a bit better, provide information they may need, and build rapport. You also ask questions designed to verify the candidate’s background and experience.

That is also the stage when both sides make the first impression, which will serve them throughout the rest of the conversation. At Pretius, we look for the “perfect match”, so we always provide the candidates with an opportunity to learn more about the company and the project they might join. We ask about the kinds of things they like to do while at work, and the things they value in teammates.

Some examples of such questions include:

1. Is there anything you would like to know about the job offer?
2. Do you have any questions regarding the company?
3. What do you like most in system analysis? What do you dislike?
4. How do you want to develop your skills? Are you more interested in business analysis, working directly with clients? System analysis?
5. Did you ever work on system analysis during a project that aims to create a solution from scratch? Did you gather requirements? What did the documentation contain?
6. Have you ever led or directed project teams?
7. What kinds of project management methodologies do you know? How do they differ?

Communication skills

Communication is a crucial aspect of a system analyst’s work. We often work at the crossroads of business and technology, and we need to be able to understand – and often reconcile – both sides. Because of this, verifying so-called soft skills is a critical part of a system analyst job interview. 

Here are some examples of questions that test communication skills:

1. Have you ever had a conflict situation in a project? How did you deal with it?
2. How do you deal with an uncooperative partner on the client’s side?
3. How to effectively explain technical details and complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders? Name some tips and best practices.
4. How to deal with frequent changes in user requirements?

Hard skills and technical questions

While system analysts aren’t senior full-stack developers, they also need a few technical skills and some knowledge regarding frameworks, programming languages, as well as things related to the field of IT analysis itself – you could call them an “IT analyst’s skillset”. 

Here are some of the areas you should be proficient in:

• Software development life cycle (SDLC) and its phases
• Methods of integration between systems – planning and implementation
• Knowledge of databases, especially SQL 
• Knowledge of system architectural concepts
• System analysis techniques and tools, such as data flow diagrams, use cases, user stories, etc.
• System design principles and patterns, such as modularity, cohesion, coupling, etc.
• System testing methods and strategies, such as unit testing, integration testing, regression testing, etc.
• System documentation standards and best practices
• Troubleshooting and maintenance for existing systems
• Modeling languages – which do you know, which do you use, and in what situations
• Knowledge of requirement collection methodologies
• Knowledge about the types of requirements

Examples of questions related to system analysis:

1. What are some of the system analysis techniques and tools that you use and why?
2. What modeling languages do you know? Tell me more about them.
3. What is the difference between technical and functional requirements?
4. What is a software audit? Explain its relevance to your job, and name three things to consider or look for while conducting one.
5. Explain user scenarios. What are they? How to communicate them effectively in a technical document?

System analyst job interview – Tips from Pretius analysts

Last but not least, let us provide you with some tips and highlight things you should consider to maximize your chances. Some of them have to do with getting ready for a job interview, while others are applicable during the meeting itself or even before you decide to apply. All of them are based on our experience in the field.

• Use specific and detailed responses – General responses suggest the candidate lacks real experience and leaves a bad impression. Name specific tools and methodologies you use. Describe them whenever you can. Mention examples and cases from your work. Show you’re thorough and precise in your language.
• Know what kind of a team you want to work with – This is Pretius-specific, and may not be applicable in some companies, especially corporations, but it’s still worth mentioning. We usually don’t hire people for specific projects – we hire them long-term. Because of this, we pay a lot of attention to whether the candidate fits our team on a character/psychological level.
• Be attentive – A job interview is shaped by conversation flow. Pay attention to what the interviewer says. You’ll make a better impression, and you may even be able to steer the meeting in a direction you feel best in.
• Be adaptable and keep an open mind – As a system/business/IT analyst, especially one working at Pretius – a company that does projects for clients in various industries – you always need to be ready to learn new things and have problem-solving skills necessary to find solutions to various issues quickly. You must be adaptable and can’t fall into the trap of being too schematic. There’s no such thing as a wrong solution – only one that doesn’t fit a particular project but may very well be perfect for another one.
• Be assertive and good at communication – Communication is a critical skill in business analysis. You need to know how to talk to different groups and members of various roles. Assertiveness can also be very important because sometimes you’ll have to convince the client that their idea isn’t as perfect as it seems on paper.
• Know SDLC like the back of your hand – Seriously. Do. It’s the very basis of software development – especially for IT analysts, who often partake in every step of the project’s lifecycle. Knowledge deficiency in this area will probably disqualify you.
• Be up to date with current trends – As an analyst, you need to know what’s the latest technical talk in town or what’s the new tool or methodology everyone brags about. You’re one of the people responsible for steering projects in the right direction. You need to know what that direction is, and to do that, you need to have a decent outlook on your field and the industry you’ll deal with.
• Be professional – Don’t get us wrong – we all like to joke and laugh. However, an analyst is someone who, in a way, represents the company during meetings with clients. You need to pay attention to the language you use, manners – all kinds of things. 
• Get ready for a challenge – At Pretius, a job interview includes a task you must do at the meeting (and no, we won’t list examples 😉). Be ready to prove your skills!

Conclusion

The system analyst interview questions we provided in this article are designed to assess technical skills, problem-solving abilities, communication style, teamwork skills, and various other characteristics. You can – and should – prepare for them by reviewing your past projects, as well as researching the company you’re applying to, its clients, and past projects. Also, be sure to demonstrate your enthusiasm, curiosity, and professionalism throughout the interview – and, most importantly, show you know how to communicate well.

Looking for great system analysts?

At Pretius, we are very proficient in designing and building complex software systems from scratch. Our system analysts, business analysts, UX/UI designers, and software architects have a great deal of experience with various industries and fields. If you’re looking for this kind of expertise, write us at hello@pretius.com or use the contact form below. We’ll see what we can do for you.

Systems analyst interview questions FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions regarding systems analysts, and interview questions. The list will surely be expanded.

What are user requirements?

User requirements are the needs and expectations of the system’s or product’s users They describe what the users want to achieve, how they want to interact with the system, and what constraints or preferences they have, and are essential for designing and developing a system that meets the user’s needs.

What is a systems analysts document?

It’s a written report that describes the current state and problems of a system, along with potential solutions. Example: a business systems analysis, which shows the business processes, data, and information of systems within an organization.