Considering doing a Business Analysis course

neaideabh

Can get the interviews but can't get the job

What should I do...

Have 4 years experience under my belt but with a domestic company. Get interviews with international company's. Can't help thinking that the other candidate have more relevent experience than me. This makes me ramble at interviews in an effort to stress that I do have the experience!

Then there are the outcomes of interviews them selves... Most of the time I don't get by the first phase... then the odd time , I'll get called for an 2nd interview but that has been it so far. Then, one of the companies who brought me for a 2nd interview about 2 yrs ago were hiring for a similar position. I applied, and e-mailed directly one of the managers who interviewed me. He said, he would let HR know but then didn't hear anything!

I did a 9 month internship last year but apart from that I have been unemployed since late 2009.

Don't want to leave the country...

I am considering doing a certificate in Business Analysis from National College of Ireland at the IFSC. Has anyone done this or know anything about it? Would it be worth paying the €3000+ plus to do it?

neaideabh

neaideabh wrote: »

Can get the interviews but can't get the job

What should I do...

Have 4 years experience under my belt but with a domestic company. Get interviews with international company's. Can't help thinking that the other candidate have more relevent experience than me. This makes me ramble at interviews in an effort to stress that I do have the experience!

Then there are the outcomes of interviews them selves... Most of the time I don't get by the first phase... then the odd time , I'll get called for an 2nd interview but that has been it so far. Then, one of the companies who brought me for a 2nd interview about 2 yrs ago were hiring for a similar position. I applied, and e-mailed directly one of the managers who interviewed me. He said, he would let HR know but then didn't hear anything!

I did a 9 month internship last year but apart from that I have been unemployed since late 2009.

Don't want to leave the country...

I am considering doing a certificate in Business Analysis from National College of Ireland at the IFSC. Has anyone done this or know anything about it? Would it be worth paying the €3000+ plus to do it?

Anyone have any views on this course! Would it help in my situation?

Mr. Loverman

If I understand correctly:

You have 4 years BA experience
You haven't working since 2009

Can I ask why you haven't worked since 2009? Companies struggle to get BAs.

Perhaps you should consider doing an interview training course instead?

I am pie

Yep, 4 yr gap if not explained satisfactorily will torpedo you every time.

Aside from that are you rambling interviews, well, being a good BA is focused communication skills amongst other things. Rambling, not good.

neaideabh

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

If I understand correctly:

You have 4 years BA experience
You haven't working since 2009

Can I ask why you haven't worked since 2009? Companies struggle to get BAs.

Perhaps you should consider doing an interview training course instead?

No.... I have over 4 years of experience in Supply chain which is the area which I am qualified in. I have been out of work because I got shafted by a recruitment agent and an employer who hired me to satisfy their ulterior motives. Since that episode, I had been working in a pub part time and completed 2 courses... (both 2 week courses)

Lean thinking and Six Sigma

Supervisory Management and Communication skills

Recently, I have completed a nine month internship which finished last Oct. So I haven't exactly been out of work for 4 years...

I have always being getting interviews. On average I would get about 2 or 3 interviews per month. A few times I had high hopes of landing a role, which is why I continued on without having to upskill/make some signifigant change to how or what I am doing in an attempt to gain employment.

I know I can be nervous and certain questions at interviews can throw me and make the interviewees dismiss me there and then (So I fear!).

A big problem for me is my experience or lack of... I have pretty simple experience. I have only minimal experience in a regulated or quality controlled environment. So I can't help thinking that the others who I am up against are better qualified ( in terms of a results in their degree/type of degree) with experience in blue chip companies, etc. I would like to know how my competition conducts themselves at an interview. I mean all I know about interviews is "me". I have gotten opinions and feedback on my interviews in the past, but I need to see first hand what I am up against. To me, it's like anything in life... to excel and do better at something, you need to know what the standard is like to aspire to or beat!

I am thinking of doing that Business Analysis course as, for one, there seems to be a few Supply Chain Analysts positions out there and elements of supply chain would be part of business analysis that companies do.

Also, this course incorporates Consultancy training, which I think would make me more confident in dealing with people at more of a senior rank within a company.

Mr. Loverman

Would you consider doing any interview training course?

They wouldn't be calling you for interview if they didn't think your education/experience were at least somewhat acceptable.

It's not normal to lose out on so many jobs.

My feeling is you are doing something or saying something which is destroying your chances.

neaideabh

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Would you consider doing any interview training course?

They wouldn't be calling you for interview if they didn't think your education/experience were at least somewhat acceptable.

It's not normal to lose out on so many jobs.

My feeling is you are doing something or saying something which is destroying your chances.

Yeah... thinking off doing this

But, I still would like to know is it worth doing the Business Analysis course!

Mr. Loverman

There's no harm in having the qualification, but I don't think it's necessary for the job.

starlit

Have you done certs for business analysis?

neaideabh

doovdela wrote: »

Have you done certs for business analysis?

What do you mean... That's what I am asking in this thread.... I am thinking of doing this cert but want to know if it is worth €3000+ for...

I have a Bachelor of Business Studies and a BA (Hons) Logistics and Supply Chain Management (1 yr add on degree from the uk)

I am pie

Listen, as someone who has interviewed at least 30 BA´s over the last few years you are going to have to come up with a really really good answer re: your work experience from 2009. In an interview situation you cannot blame something that happen with a recruiter in 2009. I am being intentionally tough on you here as you need seem in an interview that you wanted to be asked this question and you are glad to have the chance to remove the doubts in the mind of the recruiter.

Also, can you talk about your time as a supply chain analyst more in terms of Business Analyst in Supply Chain projects? It might be a stretch but if you can talk about a time you were responsible for documenting requirements and supervising their implementation via various test phases then you have the bones of a good interview.

Are you more suited to an 'operational' business analyst role (maybe support, maybe process improvement for ongoing operations or are you more suited to project work? BA is a very wide discipline, regardless of certificates you need to be applying for roles which you can tailor you experience to fit...if not, you will struggle.

You cannot speak negatively about a former employer in an interview. Immediate red card. Only how you felt compelled by a new challenge etc.

If you do this certification, what level of job will you pitch for? You are out of the running for graduate jobs due to previous experience as far I would be concerned. Companies will source graduate jobs direct from colleges.

Las october is a long time ago for an internship to finish without follow up work? How did you source that job? Is there any follow up with that employer? Was 9 months all that was offered or did you terminate early? Was it in BA work, as in how are you representing it on your CV ? It might be the difference in pitching yourself as a BA with 1 to 2 years exp (based on internship and transferable skills from other roles) and pitching at grad level.

You are unwittingly at a rather important juncture in your career. More time out of work is going to really strack up against you, so you need to get in somewhere. If you have communication skill issues (getting nervous, rambling) you need to address them asap. You need to drop any reference to poor treatment of your previous employer in interviews as alarm bells will sound loud and clear for them.

apologies for the harsh message and the untidy response, i am literally typing as I think.

I have around 15 yrs exp as BA & PM..mostly in fin services & consulting co's Consider me the horses mouth in terms of recruitment.

Tough love required.

starlit

Projects from your previous courses and work experience be more of value but from point of view of updating skills the cert seems like a good idea but the cost of it is far too much. I think try get some part time work or internship. Or do an online course or night course. Try getting work and study for cert but find one less pricey depends what you want from it.

neaideabh

I am pie wrote: »

Listen, as someone who has interviewed at least 30 BA´s over the last few years you are going to have to come up with a really really good answer re: your work experience from 2009. In an interview situation you cannot blame something that happen with a recruiter in 2009. I am being intentionally tough on you here as you need seem in an interview that you wanted to be asked this question and you are glad to have the chance to remove the doubts in the mind of the recruiter.

Also, can you talk about your time as a supply chain analyst more in terms of Business Analyst in Supply Chain projects? It might be a stretch but if you can talk about a time you were responsible for documenting requirements and supervising their implementation via various test phases then you have the bones of a good interview.

Are you more suited to an 'operational' business analyst role (maybe support, maybe process improvement for ongoing operations or are you more suited to project work? BA is a very wide discipline, regardless of certificates you need to be applying for roles which you can tailor you experience to fit...if not, you will struggle.

You cannot speak negatively about a former employer in an interview. Immediate red card. Only how you felt compelled by a new challenge etc.

If you do this certification, what level of job will you pitch for? You are out of the running for graduate jobs due to previous experience as far I would be concerned. Companies will source graduate jobs direct from colleges.

Las october is a long time ago for an internship to finish without follow up work? How did you source that job? Is there any follow up with that employer? Was 9 months all that was offered or did you terminate early? Was it in BA work, as in how are you representing it on your CV ? It might be the difference in pitching yourself as a BA with 1 to 2 years exp (based on internship and transferable skills from other roles) and pitching at grad level.

You are unwittingly at a rather important juncture in your career. More time out of work is going to really strack up against you, so you need to get in somewhere. If you have communication skill issues (getting nervous, rambling) you need to address them asap. You need to drop any reference to poor treatment of your previous employer in interviews as alarm bells will sound loud and clear for them.

apologies for the harsh message and the untidy response, i am literally typing as I think.

I have around 15 yrs exp as BA & PM..mostly in fin services & consulting co's Consider me the horses mouth in terms of recruitment.

Tough love required.

Appreciate your advice... Don't worry, I know well not to speak negatively about a former employer.

But you speak that I need to do something quick as the time that I am out of work is becoming critical to how I look as a candidate to employers...

What happened to... "we are in a recession and competition is fierce for jobs"? That's why I am looking at doing this course.... to help differentiate myself from the competition. And to address any concerns in my interview, I intend to receive interview coaching!

I know I have a gap but look at it this way...

2009: let go by employer...
Had and continued to work part time in a pub up until I started the internship which was only 9 months.
2010 and 2011 Completed 2 courses
2012 Internship
End of 2012 Seasonal work in Dunnes Stores
2013 nothing.

And all through this I constantly and consistently applied for roles that I was qualified and experienced for. The odd time I received an invite for second round interviews but never got the job. Any gaps is not because, I was sitting around at home doing nothing! I just couldn't get the job!

starlit

I suggest go back to dunnes or do voluntary work.

sa_ba

I've done this course (Business Analysis in NCIRL) and with the exception of the Communications module, I couldn't recommend it less.

Mostly nonsense.
Waste of money.