Reply to: ISEB qualifications

[Svalbaard]

As I think I've said before, it can't do anything but help to have these qualifications as even if client co. doesn't require them, it at least shows willingness to pursue your chosen field.

However, there seem to be a proliferation of these ISEB tickets around these days, but at the coal face the only one I ever see as a corp. requirement is the ITIL service management framework.

I looked at doing the BCS/ISEB Consulting practice thingy a while ago until I realised that it was a pile of old tosh and that I'd be perfectly fine without it.

[Gonzo]

PESTLE analyis? I agree. Never ever crops up does it? Or for that matter, I remember something called CATWOE which I cannot remember for the life of me what it was all about now.

Along with the PESTLE that is one of the soft-system techniques and most of us don't worry about soft-systems.

My flippant description of them from the time was that they are tools to enable Business Consultants to start with nothing but quickly produce something that can be presented back to the client.

As for the interview - I didn't pass on the first attempt, but I cannot now remember what the feedback was. I think the interview is there because the written exams are open-book, and it is a check to ensure that you do really understand what you are talking about.

[Rookie]

Do I think they are worth it? - that isn't as straight forward a question to answer as you might think.

The courses cover a number of different BA techniques that span the range of things that a BA might do - from software development but also business organisation and strategy. So it is quite likely that you could end up learning about things that you don't have the opportunity to put into practice in the role that you are doing.

I do think they are worth doing because they make you aware of that range so you understand that in any situation there will be a technique that you can pull out of your toolkit.

I didn't take the "Business Organisation" course though. I just took the exam without going on that course. I think that one might be useful for someone who has gone straight from university into software development, but less so for someone with a bit of "experience of the outside world".

If I ever undertake a PESTLE analysis in real life though I will eat my hat.

PESTLE analyis? I agree. Never ever crops up does it? Or for that matter, I remember something called CATWOE which I cannot remember for the life of me what it was all about now.

[Gonzo]

Gonzo, do you feel like the courses were worthwhile though? I did 4 of the ISEB BA certificates a few years ago - didn't complete the Diploma though which is basically the 1 hour 'interview' at the end I think. I thought that they were a good foundation but not a geat deal more.

What was the diploma interview like?

Do I think they are worth it? - that isn't as straight forward a question to answer as you might think.

The courses cover a number of different BA techniques that span the range of things that a BA might do - from software development but also business organisation and strategy. So it is quite likely that you could end up learning about things that you don't have the opportunity to put into practice in the role that you are doing.

I do think they are worth doing because they make you aware of that range so you understand that in any situation there will be a technique that you can pull out of your toolkit.

I didn't take the "Business Organisation" course though. I just took the exam without going on that course. I think that one might be useful for someone who has gone straight from university into software development, but less so for someone with a bit of "experience of the outside world".

If I ever undertake a PESTLE analysis in real life though I will eat my hat.

[Rookie]

I obtained the ISEB Diploma in Systems Development focusing on Business Analysis about five years ago.

To get that required passing 4 written exams and 1 interview (which I did over the course of two years - my permie employer paid ).

Not once has it ever been mentioned when looking for gigs. I haven't been looking recently though so can't comment on current circumstances.

The written exams are open-book so you can sit there with the course material relevant to that particular exam. You can look all the answers up but you will need to know the content well enough to understand what is being asked and where to quickly find the answer.

You will need to know the subject for the interview.

Gonzo, do you feel like the courses were worthwhile though? I did 4 of the ISEB BA certificates a few years ago - didn't complete the Diploma though which is basically the 1 hour 'interview' at the end I think. I thought that they were a good foundation but not a geat deal more.

What was the diploma interview like?

[Rookie]

Yes - there's plenty of free-ish ISEB material around(ebay etc) which will get you through, so no need to attend a course. The exam is multi-choice with a low pass rate (69% I think) which I did via Prometric. It's actually called the ISTQB now.

Can't think it would be useful to a BA though? For testers it's more important than a degree.

Yes, the ISEB testing exam is multiple choice. The ISEB BA exams are open book type.

[Gonzo]

For BAs?

Has anyone found these useful in securing new contracts?

I obtained the ISEB Diploma in Systems Development focusing on Business Analysis about five years ago.

To get that required passing 4 written exams and 1 interview (which I did over the course of two years - my permie employer paid ).

Not once has it ever been mentioned when looking for gigs. I haven't been looking recently though so can't comment on current circumstances.

The written exams are open-book so you can sit there with the course material relevant to that particular exam. You can look all the answers up but you will need to know the content well enough to understand what is being asked and where to quickly find the answer.

You will need to know the subject for the interview.

[norrahe]

Yes - there's plenty of free-ish ISEB material around(ebay etc) which will get you through, so no need to attend a course. The exam is multi-choice with a low pass rate (69% I think) which I did via Prometric. It's actually called the ISTQB now.

Can't think it would be useful to a BA though? For testers it's more important than a degree.

Thanks for that, my OH is a tester, so I'll mention it to him.

[spud]

Can you study for these yourself and just sit the exams? The courses are very £££!

Yes - there's plenty of free-ish ISEB material around(ebay etc) which will get you through, so no need to attend a course. The exam is multi-choice with a low pass rate (69% I think) which I did via Prometric. It's actually called the ISTQB now.

Can't think it would be useful to a BA though? For testers it's more important than a degree.

[norrahe]

If it's becoming a requiement Norrahe, then you may as well sign up for it.

I have a degree in Safety, but I was made to sit the construction certificate (2 week - not quite Mickey Mouse, but I'd covered it all before to a greater detail) as without it I am basically barred from many job specs.

I've only seen one instance of it, today, where the pimp insisted that iseb qualifications would be preferred by clientco.

I haven't seen it asked for in the Insurance industry where some BA roles require P2

Just wondering if roles are going to go the way of P2 like they were last year.

If it becomes the norm whereby every role I see asks for it then yes I will consider doing it.

[Fairly New graduate]

Can you study for these yourself and just sit the exams? The courses are very £££!

[TykeMerc]

It appears to be becoming one of those boxes to tick to get you past Agents, HR and uninformed Hiring Managers to secure interviews.

People can scoff all they like about paper qualifications, but the simple fact is unless you have very niche skills you can compete better with extra bits of paper.

[thelace]

If it's becoming a requiement Norrahe, then you may as well sign up for it.

I have a degree in Safety, but I was made to sit the construction certificate (2 week - not quite Mickey Mouse, but I'd covered it all before to a greater detail) as without it I am basically barred from many job specs.

[Rookie]

It is, if you work in the area that I do.

What area is that exactly?

[norrahe]

Don't really see how PRINCE2 practitioner is overly relevant for a BA. I agree that it gives you an appreciation of the P2 Project Management framework but other than that - I'm not sure. For instance, it wouldn't give me any clues about some of the BA skills such as gathering requirements or modelling business processes.

As I say it depends of the type of roles that you go for and if the bias is for a BA or PM.

It is, if you work in the area that I do.