In today’s competitive market and resource-constrained environment, practically every business leader spends a great deal of time focusing on driving continuous growth and future-proofing their business.
Why hire a business analyst, you may ask? Not only are they able to identify pertinent issues and make recommendations for business improvement, but they can also assist in reducing risks, enhancing value, and identifying cost-cutting opportunities.
Here are some items to keep in mind when you want to hire a business analyst.
Define the Role and Responsibilities
What is the role of a business analyst? Before hiring one, you should identify the specific skills and credentials required for the position. For example, you may need someone with expertise in a particular sector or process, as well as knowledge of technical data analysis and experience in project management.
Start with the most critical departments of the business and expand from there. In addition to technical skills, you should explain in the job description if you’re seeking an analyst who will also need to supervise others and serve as a team lead.
Here are some ideas on how to define the role:
- Collect and evaluate data to find trends, patterns, and opportunities for improvement.
- Organize meetings, surveys, and workshops with stakeholders to determine their needs.
- Identify and document business requirements and scope using process maps, flowcharts, wireframes, or other visual aids for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Communicate and collaborate with cross-functional teams, including IT, finance and accounting, procurement, human resources, and external vendors to ensure project requirements are met.
- Assist in developing and implementing new systems and processes, including testing and training end-users.
- Monitor and report on the effectiveness of the new system or process in achieving defined business objectives. Performance indicators could include improved end-user experience, increased productivity of teams, cost reductions, etc.
Develop a List of Qualifications and Skills
In addition to explaining the role, describe the qualifications you are looking for from a candidate. Here are some skills that are typically required of a business analyst:
Refined Communication Skills
Business analysts frequently interact with clients, developers, and executives of an organization. They must be adept at translating data and high-level technical language into information that all stakeholders can understand.
These experts must be able to effectively convey project expectations, suggested solutions, and other information relevant to enhancing the efficiency of the organization. To perform the job properly, they need to be a skilled negotiator to reach an agreement among stakeholders that may have conflicting interests.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills
A business analyst must possess a strong analytical mind to discern outcomes from graphs and data and draw conclusions. Successful business analysts must have highly developed critical thinking abilities to be able to process massive amounts of very complicated information.
These experts also devote a large chunk of time to identifying resolutions. Good problem-solving skills are necessary for properly assessing pain points and developing workable solutions.
Research Abilities
Business analysts need research skills to effectively gather and analyze information. Data may be gathered from surveys, focus groups, quantitative and qualitative analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and business process modeling.
Documentation Skills
Reporting is among the most vital aspects of business analysis. Business analysts frequently prepare their findings and submit them to leadership. They must develop accurate, exhaustive, pertinent reports to drive effective organizational change by utilizing their documentation skills.
Project Management
At times, a business analyst’s duties resemble those of a project manager. This happens during the planning and execution of a system or process change. It entails linking business and technical team members, keeping everyone focused on a single objective, and monitoring timetables, budgets, and priorities.
Knowledge of Technology
Business analysts use tools such as:
- Tableau, PowerBI, or Excel to create visualizations
- Visio, Lucidchart, and Bizagi for business process modeling
- JIRA, Confluence, or ReQtest for project management
- SQL, R, and Python languages
Find Your Ideal Candidate
Depending on your organization’s needs, you could hire a full-time business analyst or a freelancer. Employing a freelancer may be advantageous for businesses that need a one-time or short-term evaluation of their operations; companies that are continuously enhancing their processes and systems may need to hire a full-time business analyst.
Of course, there are many different recruitment methods you can employ, but it is simpler to visit Guru and find expert talent from around the globe. Check out our online search full of experienced freelance business analysts to find the best candidates for your business, or post a free job listing and let qualified professionals come to you!
