In a tough job market, you need to be even more conscious of how you present yourself in a job interview. Your chances of getting a job offer hinge on many factors in addition to your skills and credentials. One of them is whether you were memorable – whether your interviewer thinks of you first when going over their impressions from a round of interviews.
How do you stand out during a BA interview? See some tips in this video.
One of the tips I always rely on is having a BA portfolio. You can use it to:
✔️ supplement your answers
✔️ demonstrate your skills
✔️ highlight your maturity as a professional
✔️ be remembered as different from other candidates
There is no downside to having a portfolio, and many benefits. Even showing one BA artifact during an interview can make a big impression.
Of course, you should be able to speak to it and explain it. If asked, you should show how you created it or be able to do something similar as part of a hiring test. The bottom line is that just like one picture can be worth a thousand words, showing something visual during an interview can beat a lot of talking about how great you are.
We talk about the benefits of a BA portfolio a lot during our BA Mindset circle meetups. Many of our circle members were able to use the portfolio to their advantage.
Even if you are a new BA, it can help you demonstrate that you already have at least the foundational skills, such as creating a process flow and a context model.
Don’t know how to start? I will be running a BA Portfolio Building course in four parts. Part I starts on April 4 (four Fridays, two session time options).
Part I curriculum:
- Business use case diagram
- Process flow (swimlane diagram)
- Context model
- Project artifacts (Stakeholder register, RACI, requirements matrix)
What’s included:
- 4 one-hour hands-on classes in a small group (max 8 participants)
- Immediate feedback during the sessions
- Schedule flexibility (you can join an alternate session or access a video recording if you miss a session)
- Templates and best practices handouts
- Feedback between classes on the artifacts you create
- Access to video recordings for 3 months
- Video-only option includes everything except access to live meetings
At the end of this course, you will have:
- A new confidence in your fundamental business analysis knowledge and techniques
- BA portfolio with at least 6 artifacts to use in your next job interview
- Understanding of where and how to use each BA technique
- A friendly BA community
- Access to other resources and perks, including a free 1-month subscription to the BA Mindset video library
Do you really need a BA portfolio? Yes, you do! 10 Reasons To Have a Professional Portfolio.
For more tips, watch Best Business Analysis Portfolio Tips from the BA Mindset Mentor Yulia Kosarenko.
The dates for Parts II, III, and IV to be announced – please inquire.
Details:
4 virtual Friday sessions: April 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2025
Choose preferred time slot: 1-2 pm or 5-6 pm ET
If you are unable to attend, you may join the alternate session
Video recordings will be provided and available for 3 months after the course ends.
Tools used: free diagramming tools, MS Office/Google Sheets (2-monitor setup recommended)
A free 1-month subscription to the BA Mindset video library is included.
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