Jeff Martin ⋅ Ashburn, VA The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ⋅ 25 years experience

I’d suggest that you network at the target company or industry. Use LinkedIn to find people already working there and reach out to them. Ask them the process they used to get hired and ask them to help you navigate the hiring process and if they are willing, ask them to submit you as a referral. These activities require much more time on your part but in my opinion would greatly increase your chances for success. Good luck!

Joe Engle ⋅ Indianapolis, IN Electrical/Software Eng. + MBA ⋅ 30 years experience

Hello Frank.
Usually companies looking for the business analysts you describe, are looking for very experienced people, frequently with knowledge of the company's industry, to critique their operations and suggest improvements. Typically these are not internal positions. Usually these positions are in a consulting company. (For example, Company ABC would like to have some processes reviewed, so they would hire a consulting company for X months to come in, review processes, and submit a report with recommendations.) You might seek a position in a consulting company.

Your interest and skill in process improvement/business analysis, would fall under the more general responsibilities of a manager. Managers are responsible for doing that day in and day out. So you might consider a management position in a company, where improvements would be recognized. That could lead in any number of directions.

Quality Assurance is a broad term, but as you mentioned software and IT, I will stick with that. There are MANY positions available in software testing now, and for the foreseeable future. If you have an interest in this, you should not have much trouble landing a job. Simply, this is a position where you test and review software. (For example, say company ABC produces accounting software. The software tester would look for bugs and give feedback about how to improve the software or make it easier for the user.) Usually these positions do not require software experience, but say that some knowledge of software is helpful.

You are correct, that covid has hiring fairly frozen right now, but we will be back to normal in a few months.

Hope these thoughts help. Good Luck!

Joshua Bastman ⋅ Huntsville, AL ⋅ 3 years experience

I was artillery and logistics in the army. My hiring manager knew how accurate artillery needed to be, he also knew how anal retentive infantry officers can be (company arms all fall generally in the same line). I played that piece and the fact I read the FAR book, and could make him laugh (relate to him). 2 days later I had a job offer from HR to be a quality analyst... Defense Contractor. I got the door in from a guy I met virtually in a boarder agent webinar, linked with him on LinkedIn,messaged him 10 months later. He hooked me up with the veteran recruiter for the company. Boeing's is horrible, Lockheed and Northrop's are good. Not sure the others.

In another company's interview... CAT Inc said it the best. We can teach you all you need to know, but we need you to fit in our family, that we cannot reach you. I fit, they hired me, and I got to learn all about making large power diesel engines and controlled a robotic cell. Oh, Spanish major here.

Play your personal strengths, demonstrate that you learn on the go, prove you are a self-starter (took the initiative), and give stories where people said "well, I wish I would have thought of that".

Always ask for a starting bonus to help you move, don't claim the military will move you, none of their business, and never take the first salary offer. I asked for a $5k starting bonus to help me move, and got a $10k bump in pay instead.

Network in LinkedIn and use the company's veteran portal, find people who align to the company you want to work for and find those recruiters on LinkedIn.

They'll teach you anything and won't care you don't know it if they like you.

Best of luck.

Michael Del Vecchio ⋅ Killingworth, CT U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant ⋅ 3 years served

Hi Frank,

I am retired now but held several positions in this field including several companies of my own. We can have a conversation if you like - contact me at delvecchiomf@gmail.com to set up a phone call. Stay safe.

JP Barna ⋅ Livonia, MI U.S. Marine Corps, Corporal ⋅ 5 years served

Hey Frank,
I am in the same boat as you, applying and interviewing for analysts jobs in Michigan with no work experience as an analyst. One thing that has helped me break through and land interviews is having some basic training. I signed up for VTC online and watched a few courses, specifically SQL. The course was 8 hours, and I spent another 8 hours of self study. I took the Microsoft Certification Exam 98-364 for Database fundamentals. I am now able to add SQL to my skills on my resume. I think that is a big one for these types of roles, since it shows that you know one language and have the chops to quickly learn another or learn the company analysis tools that they use. You could also increase Excel knowledge so you can tout Pivot Table knowledge or Power Query know how on the resume and during the interview process. You don't necessarily have to use VTC but I found it to be the cheapest and they have an impressive catalog of courses to learn.

Best,
JP

Frank Shade ⋅ Copperas Cove, TX U.S. Air Force, Technical Sergeant ⋅ 20 years served

Joe, thank you so much for that detailed answer. I really appreciate it.