1 Day of an IT Recruiter: EP. 1 Finding Business Analysts

ordinarynatcha
KBTG Life
Published in
7 min readAug 1, 2024

Hey everyone, I’m Natcha 👋 For the past two years, I’ve been on an amazing journey as an IT recruiter at KBTG. What gets me most excited about this role is the opportunity to connect talented individuals with the perfect career fit. Here at KBTG, our work-from-anywhere culture, where everyone gets to work from wherever works best for them, makes my day a bit different from traditional office jobs. But one thing remains constant: the challenge of connecting talented individuals with the perfect-fit positions where they can truly shine — it’s like putting the right puzzle piece in place.

Today, I’m launching a new series called 1 Day of an IT Recruiter, where I’ll take you behind the scenes of our recruitment process for different roles. In this first article, we’ll dive into the world of finding talented Business Analysts (BAs)!

What is a BA? What Does a BA Do?

Imagine the IT department and business users as two puzzle pieces that don’t quite fit. IT Business Analysts (BAs) are the missing piece, the bridge that connects these worlds and ensures smooth communication. BAs act as translators, transforming business needs and processes into clear technical requirements that developers and testers can understand. They’re also problem solvers, working alongside technical teams to analyze business challenges and build solutions that deliver real values.

Apart from experience in IT projects, we seek BAs with a good understanding of key areas within the banking/financial business. This foundational knowledge helps BAs better grasp business needs and translate them into effective technical solutions. Here are some beneficial areas of knowledge:

  • Core Banking: Understanding the core functions of a bank, such as deposit accounts, loan processing, and managing customer accounts
  • Payments: Familiarity with various payment methods, including electronic transfers, online payments, and card processing
  • Channels: Knowledge of different customer touchpoints, such as mobile banking applications, online banking platforms, and branch operations

At KBTG, we expect IT BAs to do more than just order takers; they’re trusted partners to business users. They leverage their unique blend of business acumen and technical knowledge to collaborate closely with stakeholders. Together, they identify opportunities for improvement, design and implement technology solutions that address those needs, and ensure IT initiatives seamlessly integrate with the overall business strategy. Think of them as tech-savvy business partners, constantly on the lookout for ways to optimize processes and deliver tangible benefits. This crucial role is why we’re always searching for talented BAs to join our growing #OneKBTG team!

Starting My Day

Kicking off the week strong! My mornings typically begin with a cup of coffee and checking emails. Then, I plan my day, checking when I must attend meetings and interview sessions, and schedule candidate calls. Mondays also include a weekly meeting with my Talent Acquisition team for updates and knowledge sharing.

Fueled by my coffee and armed with the latest updates, I jump onto the KBTG recruitment system to review current BA position openings and see if there are new ones added. Since KBTG supports KBank’s technology and innovation across various areas of the banking business, each BA opening has different requirements. These may include years of experience, specific project experience, background knowledge, and proficiency in certain technical tools. To ensure a perfect match, I also chat with hiring managers to gain a deeper understanding of their specific needs for the role.

Finding the Best Fit: Job Posting & Sourcing

Once I have a clear understanding of the BA position openings, it’s time to find the perfect candidate! We post our openings on the KBTG careers page, of course, but that’s not all. Reaching out via relevant job boards (e.g., LinkedIn and JobsDB), social media platforms (e.g., Facebook), and the KBTG referral program helps us tap into a wider pool of talented BAs as well.

However, sometimes the best candidates aren’t actively searching for new opportunities — that’s where direct sourcing comes in. Through direct sourcing, I can proactively reach out to promising BAs who might be a great fit for our open positions.

Now comes the exciting part — screening resumes and applications! I look for candidates with the skills and experience that match the specific BA openings. This might involve experience with certain software tools, strong communication skills, a keen eye for analysis, and a passion for bridging the gap between business and technology. After an initial screening, I shortlist the most promising candidates for further evaluation.

Getting to Know You: Pre-screen Call

Next up is the pre-screening stage. This could be a quick phone call or a video chat to get to know the shortlisted candidates a little better. We’ll discuss their experience, career aspirations, and we’ll also explore what excites them about the BA opportunity at KBTG.

I usually ask candidates to tell me briefly about their work experiences to get a quick sense of their projects and to understand how their skills and experience align with the requirements of the position.

I’ll sometimes ask a candidate about a project they’re most proud of. We’ll delve into what the project was about, the challenges they faced, and how they went about solving those problems. This helps me assess their soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and resilience.

Then, I open the floor for questions. It’s a two-way street, after all! I encourage candidates to ask me anything they want to know about the job opening or KBTG. This gives them a chance to see if KBTG is the right fit for their career goals, while I get to learn more about their story and how they envision their role.

Making the Match: Interviews and Selection

After sending over the pre-screened profiles and getting the green light from the hiring managers, the next step is the interview. For Business Analyst positions, we typically do a two-round interview process. Thanks to the wonders of technology, most interviews happen online through Microsoft Teams for everyone’s convenience.

In the first round, the candidate gets to meet the BA team — senior BAs, team lead, the whole crew! This is their chance to showcase their BA skills through technical questions. It’s also a great opportunity to see if they vibe with the team dynamic and feel like they can be themselves at KBTG.

During these interview sessions, I basically become the interview moderator. Think of me as the friendly face guiding both the candidate and the interviewers through the journey! Before the session starts, I give the interviewers a quick intro on the candidate, just to break the ice. Then, I happily greet the candidate and make them feel welcome.

Of course, the interview is all about the candidate showcasing their skills and experience. I’m there to keep the conversation flowing and make sure everyone has a chance to chat. Sometimes if there’s a gap in the conversation or I feel a specific soft skill needs exploring, I might jump in with a question or two. But mostly, it’s about observing the interaction and seeing if there are sparks.

Once the interview wraps up, I always thank the candidate for their time and give them a heads-up on what to expect next, including when they can expect feedback. Afterwards, it’s my turn to gather feedback from the interviewers and their insights on the candidate.

Depending on how things go, there could be a second interview with other team members, or if it’s a clear match, they might even move on to the final interview with the management team. See? The interview process is all about finding the perfect puzzle piece to fit our team!

The Final Step

If everything clicks during the interview process, it’s time to make an offer! KBTG offers competitive salaries and benefits packages to attract the best talents. As for those who aren’t selected, I always follow up to thank them for their time and interest, as well as keeping in touch for future openings that might be a better fit for them.

Interested in joining KBTG?

If you’re a BA with a passion for technology and a knack for understanding business problems, head over to the KBTG careers page and check out our current openings! Who knows, you might be the next star of the “1 Day of an IT Recruiter” series!

Got any questions about the BA role or the recruitment process in general? Leave a comment below and I’ll be happy to answer them!

And for all you curious minds out there, wondering what role we’ll be tackling next in the “1 Day of an IT Recruiter” series — let me know what piques your interest and stay tuned!

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