A person who likes problem-solving and using IT skills may consider a career as a business systems analyst. This sort of employment will require a college degree emphasizing information technology skills as well as skills in management, business, marketing, and the necessary supporting background in math, economics, accounting and related topics. Most with a really successful business analyst career will go to a master's degree as well.

Careers in the business analyst market might lead to exotic trips and a lucrative salary. Starting out, a business analyst could earn $75,000, depending on where you are working. The opportunity to earn more with each year of experience you have is a really amazing, especially in the business world. Shy or retiring people need not apply, because no matter how much you learn in school, new employees have a steep learning curve once they start working.

Of course, a business analyst career only becomes real when a person is hired for a job, and preparing for application and interview techniques is essential. Currently, many companies will conduct a telephone interview as part of the process of weeding out candidates and choosing which ones to ask to the live interview.

Don't underestimate the importance of a telephone interview. It is important to prepare just as much for your phone interview as you would for an in-person interview. Ordinarily, the interviewer will call your home or cell number, so taking a call at your current job shouldn't be a problem. In your cover letter, indicate your work hours and be clear when you are available. Often these calls last 30 minutes or more, so do not assume they will fit into your break time.

It is best to use a land line telephone to avoid poor reception or a dropped connection, but if not make sure you have great reception before starting. During the interview, do not take any other calls and have the area you are in free of distractions. If you have the feature of call waiting or holding, it may best to ask the interviewer if you can call back so that it can be disabled. It is impolite to eat or drink during the call or do anything else that you normally wouldn't do when being face to face, such as smoking or chewing gum

You need a pad and pen to jot questions and should be logged on to the company site or whatever resource you wish, and you need your resume in front of you to be sure you say what it says! Practice common questions well in advance, such as inquiries about your strengths and weaknesses, your long and short term goals, why you think you are the best for a given position, and questions about specific projects or accomplishments you have under your belt.

Keep your answers short, and enunciate your words carefully. When others can only hear your voice, they cannot pick up on your body language, but smile when you're talking to add a positive tone to your speech. Many people believe you should stay focused by standing up during the interview. You may be asked to elaborate on some of your answers, so make certain that you can. One telephone call can make or break your career as a business analyst.