How do you use SQL or data analysis in your work as a business analyst?
What the interviewer wants to hear
- Validate stakeholder claims and size problems with data
- Understand current data structures and quality
- Support data migration and mapping
- Define and check report logic and KPIs
- Help test and verify outcomes
- Be careful with data privacy and access
Model answer
I use SQL to turn opinions into facts. For example, if stakeholders say most refunds are late, I query the data to see how many, for which products and how late. This sizes the problem and sets a baseline. I also use queries to understand the current data structure and quality, such as finding duplicates, missing values or records that break business rules, which is vital before a migration. During migration I help with data mapping and check record counts and samples. When defining reports or KPIs, I write queries to check that the logic matches what the business means, for example how 'active customer' is counted. In testing, I use SQL to verify results behind the screens. I always follow data access rules and avoid copying personal data into spreadsheets or tools that are not approved.
Can you answer it under time pressure?
Take a timed medium round and get scored on every answer.
More medium Business Analyst questions
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- Walk me through how you would model a business process using BPMN.
- How do you manage changes to requirements once development has started?
- How do you elicit and write non-functional requirements?