Writing Samples

Did you know that most Business Analysts are hired to write lots of documentation? Of course!

Did you know that most Business Analysts do not walk into an interview with samples of their writing?
Crazy, right?

It stands to reason that anyone hired to write should provide samples of their past writing. Sure, I have heard the excuses of "my past projects were confidential" or "I didn't keep copies of my past work". That's really no excuse.

Think outside of the box! By now you know how to write a requirements document, so consider creating a document for an imaginary project. Include wireframes or realistic mock-ups for the imaginary system. Format the requirements as if you were handing them to an imaginary developer for creation.

For sharing during your interviews, consider having your requirements document spiral bound with a protective cover. Be sure to leave an additional spiral bound copy with the hiring manager.

I guarantee that hiring managers will (1) not recognize your sample is imaginary, (2) will admire your sense of creativity, and (3) remember you as one of the few BA's who provided a writing sample!

Your Email Address Matters

Did you know that your email address represents one of the first impressions you'll make on a hiring manager? We've seen a lot of examples of bad email addresses. Below are some examples (not actual, but you'll get the idea):
dogcatcher1971@yahoo.com
cakewoman@hotmail.com
johnsmith1165@gmail.com

The numerical ending to an email addresses just makes people wonder "what do the numbers mean?" Is 1971 your birth year? Is 1165 your mailing address? Who knows? Really - who cares?

Here are some examples of email addresses that are simple, effective, and easy to remember:
johnsmith@gmail.com
jsmith@gmail.com
john.smith@gmail.com
john.a.smith@gmail.com

Also consider the domain at which your email is hosted. Hotmail and AOL are "so 1990's". Gmail, Me, and Mac are great domains because they show you are using contemporary websites and cutting edge communications.

Welcome

Welcome to the BA-Get-Hired blog. Our goal is to provide many tips for Business Analysts who are seeking new employment opportunities. We have read thousands of resumes and conducted numerous face to face interviews. As senior analysts who are in the process of hiring analysts, we felt that BA's who are job hunting may benefit from stories about our experiences.