Effective recruitment begins by ensuring advertised positions have clearly defined job specifications that are successful in targeting and attracting the right candidates. A well-written job specification is more than just a checklist of skills and experience; it’s an invitation to high-calibre professionals who hold a deep understanding of the role and are capable of quickly adding value to your business.
What’s a Business Analyst?
Often closely aligned with in-house IT teams, contract business analysts are engaged to support short-term initiatives, deliver projects, and bridge resource gaps. They can play a pivotal role in utilising business data to evaluate operational capability and implement actions to boost efficiencies or help execute a wide range of programmes in areas such as digital transformation, regulatory compliance, or process improvement.
The role of a business analyst is constantly evolving, requiring businesses to ensure they adapt job profiles to reflect the changing demands of the role and establish a foundation for long-term growth and success.
What Business Analysts do
A business analyst enhances overall organisational effectiveness by utilising data modelling techniques to identify opportunities for improvement and greater productivity, ensuring the engagement of senior leaders to understand and align their recommendations with the company’s strategic goals. Conducting thorough research, they analyse the current operations of an organisation and propose innovative solutions, capturing the benefits of new technologies and evaluating their impact.
Additionally, business analysts lead the implementation of these changes, ensuring that all stakeholders are informed and involved throughout the process. Delivering training to support affected staff and creating comprehensive documentation outlining the proposed changes helps drive engagement and contributes to the overall success of new systems and processes. Connecting effective communication skills and in-depth analysis, they help organisations navigate the complexities of change and drive lasting business improvements.
What to include in a job specification
Project briefs for a contract business analyst are varied, making it an appealing career choice for those who embrace change and enjoy facing interesting and unpredictable new challenges from day to day. As the role works across an organisation and engages with multiple departments, it is important to be clear on where it sits within your business and where the role is expected to contribute.
A clear outline of the role’s objectives, together with your organisation’s core values and mission, are key elements of an effective job specification. Additionally, defining what your organisation can offer to candidates and setting out the key deliverables of the role will help you attract the right contract business analyst with the right skill set needed to deliver your project. Essential elements of an effective job specification include:
Define Key Responsibilities
- Don’t use generic phrases without context, but be specific when defining key actions and their value. Avoid listing vague duties and instead highlight specific areas of ownership so the contract business analyst understands where they’ll add value, such as:
- Scope project definition and lead requirement gathering across the business.
- Lead stakeholder engagement across multiple functions and at all levels.
- Steer process mapping and gap analysis.
- Drive quality assurance throughout systems development.
- Support testing, training, and change management.
- Spearhead solution design and validation.
Outline Required Skills and Experience
- To ensure quality candidates are not deterred from applying, the job specification should prioritise highlighting important attributes and avoid an exhaustive list of non-essential skills. Rather than setting out a technical checklist, focus on core competencies such as:
- Robust analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Experience with Agile or Waterfall methodologies, or both.
- Proficiency in tools like Jira, Confluence, or Visio.
- Industry knowledge, together with an awareness of relevant regulations.
- Strong technical writing skills.
- Highlight Contract Details
Clarity is key when hiring contractors, so be transparent about what your business can offer and what you expect in return. Highlighting these details can help build trust and save time for all parties. Things to include are:
- Contract length and an indication of any possible extension.
- Working arrangements (on-site, remote, or hybrid).
- Day rate and whether it’s inside or outside IR35.
- Interview process and timeline.
- Explain the Structure and Culture
While contractors may only be joining your business temporarily, they will still seek collaborative, engaging environments in which to work. Sharing details of the teams they will join and work with helps ensure a smooth integration. Furthermore, highlighting the values that guide your organisation will help business analysts assess cultural fit.
Streamline the Application Process
Finally, ensure each stage of your hiring process is clearly defined and provide a point of contact for questions. Making the application process as straightforward as possible will be a benefit, as experienced contractors often move quickly and appreciate efficient hiring journeys.