30 Application Analyst Interview Questions & Answers
1. What is your approach when you analyze and integrate new applications into an organization's IT infrastructure with limited resources?
How to Answer
In today's business environment, organizations have to accomplish more with less to remain competitive. This requirement trickles down to every operation within the organization, including the IT infrastructure. Application analysts are constantly being asked to do their job in less time and with fewer resources. Not only should you be able to discuss how you accomplish this, but you may want to provide examples of how you've successfully done this in the past.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"In every organization I have ever worked for, the resources have been limited. However, we still had to accomplish our application analysis tasks using what we had. This taught me to develop repeatable systems which I could use to analyze an application and determine if it would fulfill the requirements of the business. These systems incorporated processes and tools to help me quickly progress through my analysis, generate the required documentation, and communicate my recommendations. I update these systems periodically to meet the evolving requirements or the organization and changes in the application marketplace."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
2. Are you familiar with the tests systems engineers use to ensure an application's performance is optimized?
How to Answer
Determining whether an application is properly installed, configured, and is running appropriately can be difficult. Systems engineers have processes to achieve this and a portfolio of tests to ensure the new application is set up correctly. Even though managing applications is not one of the responsibilities of an application analyst, you should be familiar with these, so if an application you recommended isn't performing as specified, you can determine if this is because it wasn't installed properly by discussing these tests with the systems admins. The interviewer will ask you this question to see if you are prepared to do this.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"There are three tests systems engineers typically perform to ensure the application is functioning properly. These include a load test, stress, and volume testing. Load testing places the application under a heavy load near the software's specified limits. This may simulate a large volume of users, data, or transactions. Stress testing is a methodology that exceeds the maximum recommended load to determine the limits of the application. Finally, volume testing verifies how the software will perform when processing standard amounts of data, user requests, and other loads."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
3. What is the approach you use to perform a top-down application analysis?
How to Answer
The top-down approach to application analysis starts with looking at the major functionality of the application. Once this is identified and specified, the application's sub-processes and other functions are examined to meet the users' needs. The interviewer will ask you this question to make sure you understand this concept and use this approach in your role as an application analyst. Since this is the most common methodology used in your profession, you should be very familiar with and able to describe it.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"I have found that the top-down approach to application analysis is the most effective and efficient. I begin by looking at the major function of the application and how it relates to the business requirements the users are trying to achieve. Once I confirm this relationship, I look at the application's subfunctions and other lower functionality to see how these will impact the organization's business operations. I want to make sure that these support the major function of the application and are compatible with the company's current processes and procedures and its technology infrastructure. For example, if the application requires data from other sources, does it have APIs or other links with which to retrieve the information it needs to function."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
4. What steps do you take to optimize the cost efficiency of applications and other IT assets?
How to Answer
The main objective of an application analyst is to help organizations increase the efficiency of their applications while minimizing the costs of the IT infrastructure. The interviewer all be interested in the specific strategies you have used to accomplish this. When asking this question, the interviewer is more interested in the big picture and the global strategies and activities you use to make the company's IT infrastructure efficient. While you should avoid delving into the details, you can provide one or more brief examples of how you have achieved this in your previous positions.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"In my role as an application analyst, I am constantly monitoring and analyzing the organization's IT processes, applications, and IT infrastructure. I look for opportunities to reduce costs by minimizing software licenses, upgrading outdated systems that have become inefficient, and aggregating resources that can simultaneously perform multiple functions. One strategy that has consistently worked for me in the other organizations I've worked for is comparing the costs and benefits of integrating new IT assets into the organization's infrastructure with the productivity gains the organization would realize by doing this."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
5. How do you document the business user requirements when analyzing an application?
How to Answer
As an application analyst, you must always prioritize the business user requirements and how the application you are evaluating addresses these. Documenting the requirements is critical. This provides you with a record you can refer to during your analysis and will help you justify your recommendation as to whether the software meets the requirements. The interviewer will ask you to confirm that you understand the importance of business user requirements and that you have a system to document them for future reference.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"Any application analysis project begins with understanding and documenting the users' business requirements. This is the only reason the organization will adopt the software and add it to its infrastructure. I spend a great deal of time understanding what the business users are trying to accomplish, the functionality they are looking for in an application, and how they plan to interact with the software. I carefully document this by creating a needs analysis. I then refer to this periodically while performing the application analysis to ensure that I understand the user needs and that the applications I'm examining address the business requirements. Suppose, for some reason, the application I've recommended fails to meet the users' needs. In that case, I refer back to the needs analysis document to determine why this happened and whether it was because I misunderstood the needs."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
6. Please discuss the key modules in the SAP application and what they are used for.
How to Answer
Interviewers will ask you questions about specific types of software applications for two reasons. The first is to better understand your knowledge of the application and familiarity with it. The second is to explore your expertise in analyzing applications and ensure that you understand the fundamentals and function of the application. Your answer will also demonstrate your communication skills and ability to describe complex topics in simple, easy-to-understand language.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"SAP is a very complex application. It contains roughly 25 modules that apply to specific business functions. Therefore, some of the more commonly used and most important modules are accounting, sales and marketing, materials, human resources, maintenance, quality assurance, warehousing, and production. Each module can be customized for a specific business and the activities they use SAP to manage."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
7. Can you describe the differences between functional and technical application requirements?
How to Answer
The two categories of characteristics related to an application are its functionality and its technical requirements. The functional requirements refer to what the application is expected to accomplish, how it does this, and how the users interact with the application. The technical requirements refer to the hardware required to run the application, other software it interacts with, and any other dependencies it may have. Knowing this and describing it to the interviewer will demonstrate your qualifications for the job and your ability to communicate the key characteristics of an application to non-technical users.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"When analyzing any application, I look at both the functional and the technical requirements. The application's functionality refers to the job it performs, its processes to accomplish the task, and how users interact with the software. The technical requirements are related to the hardware and operating systems the software runs on, what memory or storage it requires, other software programs that integrate or interact with it, and other dependencies such as APIs, data imports, or interpreters required for the software to function properly. All of these must be scrutinized to ensure the application will perform as specified and meet the business users' requirements."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
8. What are the differences between SSH and SSL?
How to Answer
During an interview for an application analyst's position, most of the questions will be technical. You'll be asked about the wide range of technologies, applications, and information technology processes and practices. The best way to be prepared for this is to review these topics before the interview so they are top of mind. Researching the job posting and the company will give you insight into the types of technologies the employer uses and that you are expected to know about. If you're unfamiliar with the technology they are asking you about, admit it, and then describe how you would go about locating the answer.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"Both SSH and SSL are encryption technologies used when connecting or sending data between two or more computing devices. The main difference between these two is SSH addresses remote logins and controls businesses servers remotely. SSL is an encryption protocol used for transmitting confidential or sensitive information, such as health data or financial transactions."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
9. How do you evaluate existing software applications to determine if they are still appropriate for the organization's business requirements?
How to Answer
In addition to evaluating new or prospective software applications, one of the responsibilities of an application analyst is to review the organization's existing applications to see if they are still meeting the business requirements. The interviewer will ask you this question to determine if you do this and what systems you use to accomplish it. These processes will differ from the ones you use to analyze a new or prospective application. They should be simpler, faster, and performed more frequently. Your answer should reflect this.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"It is important to continually evaluate the applications an organization currently uses to ensure that they are still doing the job for which they were originally purchased. I do this by creating a schedule for annual reviews of each application the company uses. I use the process to provide the business users with a questionnaire asking them to evaluate the application, describe any issues they've had with it, and comment as to whether they feel it needs to be replaced or upgraded. I also examine the support team's records to see how often they have had to respond to user issues related to the software. Finally, I meet with the application's vendor to understand if there are upgrades available for the application, what benefits these provide, and how long the vendor is planning to support the current version of the application."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
10. Do you feel that it is important to register the software the organization uses, and if so, why?
How to Answer
It is common for many organizations not to register the software products they use or maintain records for it. This is usually due to neglect or simply not feeling that software registration is important. By asking this question, the organization either seeks to ensure that you consider software registration to be important or are curious about whether they should be doing a better job of maintaining their records related to the software they use. The best way to answer this question would be to emphasize the importance of maintaining accurate documentation for the software and describing a system that facilitates this.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"I feel it is critically important for an organization to maintain accurate records for the software it uses. This is important for several reasons. The first is that it provides the information a company needs to track the software it uses, ensure that it is licensed appropriately, have access to the support they need, and easily upgrade or replace it. In my previous companies, we used a variety of systems to make this easy to accomplish. These included its ERP system, the IT organization's databases, spreadsheets, and special products designed to document and track software applications. Implementing any of these systems is far better than having no system."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
11. Can you describe how you document your application analysis activities?
How to Answer
As with any profession, the job isn't done until the paperwork is finished. Documenting your activities is a critical part of the application analyst's job. There are several reasons for this. The first is to create a record of what you've done that you and other analysts can use to review the work. It also makes it easier to recreate the job or do something similar when analyzing another application. The final reason is that there may be compliance requirements that require documentation. No matter the reason, you should describe which of your activities you document, the system you use, and how to retrieve the information if necessary.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"When analyzing an application the business considers adding into their infrastructure, I document most of what I do. My documentation includes the process I use for the analysis, the results I obtain, and my recommendations for integrating the application. I also track my time which helps me analyze my productivity. I store this information in the company's ERP system using standard filing conventions. This makes the information available to other members of the IT team and easy to retrieve using simple queries."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
12. What are some of the items you examine when performing an application analysis?
How to Answer
During an application analyst's job interview, you'll be asked many technical and operational questions. These help the interviewer understand your qualifications, knowledge of technology, and processes you use to perform your job. Learning more about each of these helps the interviewer determine if you are qualified for the role. Your answers also demonstrate your ability to communicate complex technical subjects to non-technical individuals using easy-to-understand language.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"When examining applications and analyzing whether they are appropriate for the organization, I look at many factors. The initial items are related to the business processes and the business unit's issues with the application. Once I understand these, I then identify potential solutions. I examine each of these for how well they address the business issues, their ease of use, the reputation of the vendors, how much training would be required if they were adopted, how well they are documented, their interoperability with other applications, and how easily they are either upgraded or replaced if necessary. Once I've identified two to three viable candidates, I look at their costs, including the initial purchase price and additional costs related to the product's lifecycle."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
13. What is your process for assessing the organization's technology needs?
How to Answer
Any application analysis project begins with assessing the organization's business needs and how these can be fulfilled using technology. The interviewer expects you to have a detailed process for your assessment. The information they want you to provide includes what aspects of the business processes you examine, questions you ask the business unit leaders, and your approach to matching technology solutions to the business requirements. They may also be interested in how you stack rank items such as costs, ease of implementation, training requirements, and other factors which impact how well the organization can adopt new technology.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"When analyzing an organization's technology needs, I begin with the business processes and problems the business units are trying to solve. Understanding these is the key to determining what technologies will address these needs and how easily they can be implemented within the organization. Once I understand the business processes, I can then seek solutions to them which fit the organization's culture, are easily implemented, and are within the available budget."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
14. What activities and items do application analysts typically document?
How to Answer
Documentation is an important aspect of any job, but even more so for an application analyst. Documenting activities, findings, and recommendations provides a record of the work that can be referred to as conditions evolve if the recommendation proves to be incorrect. Documentation also helps processes to be easily replicated if necessary. The interviewer will be interested in what items you document, the systems you use to do this, and other aspects of your record-keeping activities. You should be prepared to discuss these and provide specific examples of your documentation processes and procedures.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"I make a point to keep a record of everything I do. Information I record includes the products I investigate, my findings, recommendations I've made, and other aspects of my analysis. I also carefully document the processes, procedures, applications, and tools I use to analyze any outside resources I depend on and the time I spend analyzing applications. These records are carefully maintained in the company's ERP system, including related documents, images, and other artifacts. Finally, I maintain a very detailed database of all the vendors I work with, their contact information, systems integrators and partners affiliated with them, and other industry contacts I have."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
15. What ERP system would you recommend for our organization, based on what you know about our operations?
How to Answer
The interviewer assumes that you are familiar with ERP systems and their organization's operations by asking the question. The interviewer will use this question to screen applicants who have not researched the organization before coming to the interview. They can also use the question to understand your knowledge of ERP systems and how they are best suited to different types of organizations.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"Before coming to the interview, I took time to research your organization, its operations, and some of the technology you currently use. I discovered that you interact with many different suppliers, have a high level of business transactions each month, and operate at several locations across the globe. Based on this, I would recommend that you continue to use SAP as your ERP system. If you haven't already, you may want to integrate some of the additional SAP modules to manage your production, distribution, and supply chain systems."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
16. Why do you want a career as an application analyst?
How to Answer
This is a typical opening question the interviewer will use early in the interview to start the conversation, learn more about your background, and collect information they can use throughout the interview. You should be prepared for this type of question and other common questions used during an interview. One way you can do this is to review these questions and answer them in your own words before going to the interview.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"I have always had a great desire to learn new things and investigate items and topics I encounter in my daily activities. This thirst for knowledge and the ability to look at a topic's details helped me develop intuitive analytical skills. I became very excited when I learned that my natural tendency to analyze things could be turned into a career as an application analyst. When I entered college, I immediately enrolled in a program that would help me acquire the skills and background needed for this profession. Once I obtained my first position as an application analyst, I knew I had chosen the right career, and I've never looked back."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
17. How adaptable are you, and how well do you react to frequent changes to business user requirements?
How to Answer
Information technology is constantly evolving, as are the needs of business users. The user requirements you were presented in the recent past may no longer be valid. The technology you're familiar with may become obsolete overnight with the advent of something new. Interviewers will seek to understand how flexible you are and how well you adapt to changes in your environment. When responding to the interviewer's question, you may want to provide an example that illustrates your adaptability.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"I understand that I work in an industry that is constantly evolving. This requires me to be extremely adaptable and able to change. Staying abreast of developments within the industry helps me to anticipate changes and be ready to address them. I also recognize that the needs of the business frequently change due to competitive pressures and developments within the organization's industry. Again, anticipating these and working to stay on top of them helps me be ready to adapt. An example of this is how I helped the company react to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic and the rapid move to remote work environments. I quickly analyzed and made recommendations for remote work solutions that would facilitate communication and collaboration among a widely distributed workforce."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
18. What are the requirements you analyze when deciding if a new project will support the company's business operations?
How to Answer
When beginning to analyze a project, the first step is always understanding the requirements that the project stakeholders are trying to fulfill and how to best achieve these. By asking this question, the interviewer wants to learn more about your process for doing this and the specific items you look at when initiating a new project and deciding if it makes sense for the organization. Your answer should outline the general requirements you analyze and how they relate to the business's operations. Always keep in mind that your role is to optimize the information technology applications that the business uses to achieve its objectives.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"Whenever I'm beginning to analyze the effectiveness of a new project proposal, the first thing I do is query the stakeholders about the business objectives they are trying to achieve. I then meet with the information technology team to understand the technical requirements of the business objectives and the type of applications that address these. Once I understand the business requirements and technology, I analyze the functionality of the various applications under consideration, how they would integrate into the organization's existing IT infrastructure, and any other dependencies. My analysis will determine whether it makes sense to move forward with the project and what its parameters should be."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
19. What types of firewalls do you typically recommend the organizations you work for implement and why?
How to Answer
As an application analyst, you will be asked to provide recommendations for a wide variety of software products. These include system applications, applications specific to business tasks the organization performs, network applications, and other types of software. You can be asked about any of these during the interview. You may not be familiar with each specific application, but you should be familiar with and talk about general categories. If you have never recommended a specific firewall application, respond to this question by talking about the firewall characteristics you consider to be important.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"When asked to make a recommendation about a specific type of firewall an organization should implement to prevent intrusions and fend off malware, I focus on the specific characteristics of the firewall. These include the levels of protection they provide, ease of implementation, flexibility and adaptability, upgrades and patches the vendor provides to keep up with evolving threats, and infrastructure requirements. Since no one firewall product is appropriate for every organization, analyzing the company's needs and the characteristics of the firewall will allow me to make a specific recommendation."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
20. What is the function of a DHCP server?
How to Answer
As an application analyst, you need to be familiar with a wide range of different software and applications. These include business applications, system tools, networking applications, and many more. When preparing for the interview, you can anticipate the type of applications you will be asked about by reviewing the job posting to understand the requirements and expectations thoroughly. You can also research the company to understand its business practices and the types of applications they use.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"The key function of a DHCP server is to manage the network users, configuring their systems and assigning them addresses and identities. It is used primarily by network systems engineers to manage the organization's network and optimize its performance. DHCP servers also manage components of the network such as subnets."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
21. How do you help the systems support team troubleshoot an application that has crashed?
How to Answer
While it is not the primary responsibility of an application analyst to resolve issues with applications once they have been put into production, you may be called upon to assist the systems support team. The interviewer is interested in how you would do this and what contributions you can make to the organization outside of your normal duties. You can briefly describe how you would do this, the benefits you would bring to the organization, and possibly provide an example of how you've done it in the past.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"My primary responsibility as an application analyst is to analyze perspective applications the organization is considering implementing and make recommendations regarding their suitability. This provides may a great deal of in-depth knowledge about the application. The system support team frequently calls on me to consult with them if an application fails or isn't performing per the specifications. I'm more than happy to do this for two reasons. The first is it helps the organization get the application back into production as quickly as possible. The second is that I learn even more about the application, possible flaws I overlooked, and ways to remediate these. This type of work adds to my body of knowledge and my expertise in this field."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
22. What are you doing to keep current with technology?
How to Answer
Staying abreast of developments within the IT industry is a daunting challenge. Things change quickly, new products are introduced daily, and the challenges faced by application analysts evolve quickly. You need to be able to stay ahead of these changes using a variety of different strategies. The interviewer will be interested in learning about this to ensure themself that you will continue to have the knowledge needed to do this job well after you are hired. When responding to this question, provide the interviewer with a high-level description of your strategy to stay current with IT developments and some of the sources you use to achieve this.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"One of the biggest challenges in this role is staying ahead of developments within the IT industry. This takes a great deal of my time. Fortunately, I am very interested in technology, so I spend time during and outside of work staying up to date on new developments. I do this by reading industry publications, listening to blogs by some of the industry's leading influencers, meeting with application vendors to discuss what they're working on, attending technology conferences, joining local user groups, and regularly collaborating with my associates to discuss recent developments."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
23. Give me a time when you had to set an important goal in the past and tell me about your success reaching it.
How to Answer
Setting goals and attaining them is a key talent interviewers look for when interviewing a candidate. A history of doing this indicates that the candidate can complete their assigned projects on time if hired. Responding to this question with a concrete example of how you achieved this in the past will help convince the interviewer that you are the right person for this role. Make sure that your story demonstrating this is relevant to the organization's business operations and the job requirements for which you are interviewing.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"At my last company, I was assigned to analyze a new financial application which the company wanted to implement on time to assist with year-end closing. I was given less than 30 days to complete my analysis and make a recommendation. To accomplish this, I had to be very organized, stay focused, and break the project down into individual tasks that needed to be completed. I developed a plan for the project and executed it flawlessly. I completed my analysis and made my recommendation a week early. The company was able to implement the software well ahead of schedule."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
24. As an Application Analyst, what do you believe is your best asset?
How to Answer
Many people are uncomfortable talking about themselves, their strengths, and their assets. This may be considered bragging, and we've been conditioned most or lives not to do this. However, you have to brag during an interview, talk about your strengths, and sell yourself to the interviewer. Nobody else in the interview will do this for you. It would be best to overcome your reluctance to brag and become capable of talking about your strengths and the benefits you bring to the organization.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"Some of my key strengths have always been my attention to detail and my organizational skills. These have helped me immensely in my role as an application analyst. Taking an organized approach to analyzing an application, being attentive to details, and noting anything extraordinary has helped me recommend applications that will benefit the organization and avoid ones that would be detrimental or not perform a function for which they are being considered. My attention to detail also helps me understand the business users' needs and identify applications to address these."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
25. Why are you the best application analyst for us?
How to Answer
This question is much like the one that asks why the organization should hire you. It is a question you can be prepared for by creating a script. This question variation allows you to quickly review your qualifications and discuss how well you will fit into and contribute to their corporate culture. Every candidate the company interviews is qualified for the role. However, every candidate may not be a good fit for the organization. Focus on this when responding to the question.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"I believe I am the best application analysis for this job because not only do I possess all the necessary technical qualifications, but I would be a great fit for the organization. I've worked with several other companies similar to yours and understand the importance of collaboration within my department and across the organization. I never lose sight of the fact that the IT organization supports the business operations of the company. I work hard to get along with the other departments and communicate complex technical topics in clear, easy-to-understand language. I also bring a great sense of humor which keeps the working environment light and friendly."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
26. How do you keep track of work so that it gets done on time?
How to Answer
Regardless of your skills as an application analyst, if you can complete your projects on time and under budget, you will not be effective in the position. An interviewer will ask how you track your work to determine your organizational skills and whether you have a record of accomplishing projects on time. During every interview, you should be prepared for this or a similar question and practice answering it, describing your methodology and any tools you may use to keep track of your work.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"Keeping track of my work during a project is a critical requirement of this role. I always want to know where I'm at concerning the project timeline and ensure I accomplish my tasks on schedule. This helps me stay on track and to finish on time. I do this using both spreadsheets and pert charts and sometimes project management software. I can break the project into individual tasks, schedule each task, and build buffers to accommodate changes or unexpected developments. I monitor my progress daily and adjust my schedule as needed so I don't fall behind. This methodology also allows me to schedule the resources and the external dependencies needed to complete the project."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
27. How quickly do you make decisions? Give me an example.
How to Answer
During an interview, interviewers will ask you about both hard skills and soft skills. You use hard skills to do your job, such as analysis, documentation, statistics, and others. Soft skills are not directly related to the job but still contribute to your effectiveness. These include communication, collaboration, decision-making, and others. Companies prefer to hire decisive candidates. People who can quickly analyze the situation and make a decision are usually more effective than ones who spend more time collecting information, analyzing an issue, discussing it with others, and extending the time it takes to make a recommendation. Demonstrating your decisiveness will better position you to be selected for the job.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"I consider myself to be very decisive. I prefer to reach a conclusion and make a decision as quickly as possible. I do this by collecting the information I need, analyzing the pros and cons, selecting a course of action, and moving forward. I also consider alternatives and determine when I might switch courses if my decision turns out to be incorrect. An example of this in my last position was when I was asked to recommend a hardware upgrade for our group. I quickly analyzed our current requirements, projected how these would grow during the next 18 months, and determined what off-the-shelf hardware would meet our needs. I looked at the total cost of ownership for three systems and chose the one that would do the job at the lowest cost. This turned out to be the correct decision based on the performance of the system and the fact that it met our needs for the subsequent 24 months."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
28. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.
How to Answer
When an interviewer asks you this question, they hope to understand the scope of your accomplishments and whether what you've accomplished aligns with the needs of the position they're trying to fill. Before coming to the interview, you should research the job posting and the organization to understand the position's requirements and the business's operations. You then answer this and other questions within the context of their needs, so they quickly understand that you're the right candidate for this role.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"The professional accomplishment I am most proud of was when I was able to help an organization reduce its annual software budget by 25%. I did this by analyzing every application the organization was using, identifying opportunities for cost savings, reducing the number of licenses the company was paying for, and upgrading the applications which had become obsolete or ineffective. While performing the analysis, I developed a set of systems and tools that I've used for subsequent analyses. This has resulted in similar savings for other organizations I have worked for."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
29. Why should we hire you?
How to Answer
This is a common question asked during an interview. It is a type of question you can prepare for by creating a script. Your answer should discuss the benefits you will bring to the organization, the problems you can help them solve, and how you can help them make money, save money, or save time. You may also want to touch on how well you will fit into their corporate culture and contribute to it. Avoid talking about your qualifications, experience, and skills. By inviting you to the interview, they have already acknowledged these and their fit for the position.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"The main reason you should hire me is I can help your organization optimize its IT operations and how well they support the company's business activities. I can quickly analyze the applications you're considering integrated into your IT infrastructure, determine if they are appropriate, and provide an estimate of the cost savings you will realize by adopting them. Once hired, I can monitor your existing applications to ensure that they are continuing to provide the benefits you originally purchased them for and, if necessary, recommend the appropriate upgrades or replacements."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
30. What major challenges and problems did you face at your last position?
How to Answer
No matter how much you enjoy your work, every job involves challenges and issues you need to solve. The interviewer will ask you about these to make sure that you are approaching this position realistically, not afraid of facing a challenge and learn about how you achieve this. Your answer should reflect your ability to overcome challenges and provide an example of how you've done this in the past.
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021
Answer Example
"Overcoming challenges is a key part of an application analyst's job. Regardless of how well you plan a project, something unexpected always occurs and needs to be resolved. While I don't look for problems, I enjoy challenges that require me to innovate and be creative to resolve them. For example, I encountered an issue with one of my tools to analyze applications in my last job. It didn't integrate with the company's ERP system. After some thought, it occurred to me that there may be an API available from the vendor. I contacted them and confirmed that they had a solution to this issue. I quickly integrated the API into the application, and it worked perfectly."
Written by William Swansen on August 13th, 2021