The Standard Business Analyst Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

The Standard is a leading provider of financial products and services, focused on delivering customer-first solutions that drive success and innovation.

As a Business Analyst at The Standard, your role is to perform comprehensive business analysis across technology and business improvement projects. Key responsibilities include stakeholder analysis, requirement development and management, and acceptance testing. You will assist in identifying and clarifying innovative business solutions that align with divisional strategic goals and corporate strategy. Your skills in utilizing appropriate analytical tools will be crucial in delivering cost-effective solutions that meet business needs and enhance efficiencies.

A successful candidate will have a minimum of five years of progressive experience in business analysis within the insurance or financial services sectors, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and communication skills. You will also need a solid understanding of business practices and the ability to foster partnerships across various divisions. The ability to document business value propositions and maintain a focus on these throughout project execution is essential.

This guide will help you prepare for your interview by providing insights into the role and the expectations of The Standard, allowing you to showcase your skills and experiences effectively.

The interview process for a Business Analyst position at The Standard is structured to assess both technical and interpersonal skills, ensuring candidates align with the company's high-performance culture and customer-first approach. The process typically includes several key stages:

1. Initial Phone Interview

The first step is a phone interview with a corporate recruiter, lasting approximately 30 minutes. This conversation focuses on your background, professional experiences, and understanding of the role. The recruiter will also gauge your fit within The Standard's culture, emphasizing collaboration, accountability, and creativity. Be prepared to discuss your resume and provide examples of your past work, particularly in business analysis.

2. Technical Interview

Following the initial screening, candidates may undergo a technical interview, which can be conducted via video conferencing. This interview often involves a panel of three interviewers who will ask scenario-based questions. Expect to discuss your approach to documenting requirements, stakeholder analysis, and how you handle pressure in a business context. This stage is crucial for demonstrating your analytical skills and your ability to apply them in real-world situations.

3. Onsite Interview

The final stage is an onsite interview, which may also be conducted virtually. This round typically consists of multiple one-on-one interviews with various team members. Here, you will delve deeper into your technical expertise, including your experience with business improvement projects, acceptance testing, and the use of analysis tools. Additionally, behavioral questions will assess your communication and collaboration skills, as well as your ability to foster partnerships with stakeholders.

Throughout the interview process, candidates should be prepared to showcase their problem-solving abilities and their understanding of business value propositions, as these are critical components of the Business Analyst role at The Standard.

Now that you have an overview of the interview process, let's explore the specific questions that candidates have encountered during their interviews.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand the Company Culture

The Standard emphasizes a high-performance culture that values collaboration, accountability, creativity, and a commitment to doing what’s right. Familiarize yourself with their mission and values, and be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs. Demonstrating an understanding of their customer-first approach will resonate well with your interviewers.

Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect to face scenario-based questions that focus on your experience with stakeholder analysis, requirement development, and management. Be ready to provide specific examples from your past work that showcase your analytical skills and your ability to document and communicate requirements effectively. Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, as this will be crucial in demonstrating your fit for the role.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills

Given the emphasis on business analysis, be prepared to discuss the analytical tools and techniques you have used in previous roles. Highlight your experience in delivering cost-effective solutions and improving efficiencies. If you have experience with specific methodologies or frameworks, such as Agile or Lean, be sure to mention them, as they may be relevant to the projects you would be working on at The Standard.

Communicate Effectively

Strong communication skills are essential for a Business Analyst at The Standard. Practice articulating your ideas clearly and confidently, both verbally and in writing. Be prepared to discuss how you have facilitated discussions among stakeholders and how you have navigated challenging conversations in the past. Your ability to foster partnerships and collaborate with others will be a key focus during the interview.

Be Ready for a Panel Interview

Interviews may involve a panel of interviewers who will ask scenario questions. Prepare to engage with multiple interviewers by practicing your responses to common business analysis scenarios. Make sure to address each panel member when responding to questions, as this demonstrates your ability to engage with diverse stakeholders.

Reflect on Past Mistakes

You may be asked to discuss a time when you made a mistake and how you handled it. Reflect on your past experiences and be honest about what you learned from those situations. The Standard values accountability, so showing that you can take responsibility and learn from your experiences will be viewed positively.

Emphasize Continuous Improvement

The Standard is looking for candidates who have an improvement mindset. Be prepared to discuss how you have applied analytical skills to identify areas for improvement in previous roles. Share examples of how you have implemented changes that led to better outcomes for your team or organization.

Follow Up Thoughtfully

After your interview, send a thoughtful follow-up email to express your gratitude for the opportunity to interview. Use this as a chance to reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and the company, and to briefly mention any key points from the interview that you feel are worth emphasizing.

By following these tips and preparing thoroughly, you will position yourself as a strong candidate for the Business Analyst role at The Standard. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Business Analyst interview at The Standard. The interview process will likely focus on your analytical skills, experience in business analysis, stakeholder management, and your ability to document and communicate requirements effectively. Be prepared to provide specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your capabilities in these areas.

Experience and Background

1. Describe a time you had to take responsibility for a mistake you made.

This question assesses your accountability and ability to learn from your experiences.

How to Answer

Focus on a specific incident where you took ownership of a mistake, what you learned from it, and how you applied that lesson in future situations.

Example

“In a previous project, I miscalculated the timeline for a deliverable, which caused delays. I immediately informed my team and stakeholders, and we worked together to adjust our plans. I learned the importance of double-checking my estimates and now always incorporate buffer time in my project timelines.”

Stakeholder Management

2. How do you go about collecting and documenting requirements?

This question evaluates your approach to stakeholder engagement and requirement gathering.

How to Answer

Discuss your methods for engaging stakeholders, such as interviews, surveys, or workshops, and how you ensure that requirements are clearly documented and communicated.

Example

“I typically start by conducting stakeholder interviews to understand their needs and expectations. I then document these requirements in a structured format, using tools like user stories or requirement specifications, and share them for feedback to ensure clarity and alignment.”

3. Can you give an example of how you managed conflicting stakeholder interests?

This question tests your conflict resolution and negotiation skills.

How to Answer

Provide a specific example where you successfully navigated conflicting interests, highlighting your communication and negotiation strategies.

Example

“In a project where marketing and development had conflicting priorities, I organized a meeting to facilitate open dialogue. By encouraging both sides to express their concerns, we were able to find a compromise that aligned with our overall business goals, ensuring both teams felt heard and valued.”

Analytical Skills

4. Describe a complex problem you solved in your previous role.

This question assesses your problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking.

How to Answer

Choose a specific problem, explain the steps you took to analyze it, and describe the solution you implemented.

Example

“I faced a situation where our customer satisfaction scores were declining. I conducted a root cause analysis using customer feedback and identified key areas for improvement. By implementing targeted changes in our service delivery, we saw a 20% increase in satisfaction scores within three months.”

5. How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple projects?

This question evaluates your time management and prioritization skills.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to prioritization, including any frameworks or tools you use to manage competing deadlines.

Example

“I use a combination of the Eisenhower Matrix and project management software to prioritize tasks. I assess each task based on urgency and importance, ensuring that I focus on high-impact activities that align with our strategic goals.”

Business Improvement

6. How do you assess the business value of a project?

This question tests your understanding of business value propositions and metrics.

How to Answer

Explain your approach to evaluating the potential impact of a project, including any metrics or frameworks you use.

Example

“I assess business value by analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) and aligning them with strategic objectives. For instance, I evaluate projected cost savings, revenue growth, and customer satisfaction improvements to determine the overall value of a project before approval.”

7. Can you describe your experience with acceptance testing?

This question evaluates your familiarity with testing processes and quality assurance.

How to Answer

Discuss your role in acceptance testing, including how you define acceptance criteria and ensure that deliverables meet stakeholder expectations.

Example

“In my last role, I was responsible for defining acceptance criteria based on stakeholder requirements. I coordinated testing sessions with users to validate that the final product met their needs, and I documented any issues for resolution before the final rollout.”