Reply to: ISEB or Prince2

[Captain Jack]

Well done. If you can get half of them to get back to you, you are doing very well indeed.

Good luck!

[training12]

Update:

Phoning them seems to have done the job. Half of them you get through tell you that they will ring you back, but actually don't. But one or two are interested and want to know more. Thats good by me.

[training12]

That makes perfect sense, its just that I wouldn't have thought that agents cared. I really appreciate the feedback. Thanks

[Captain Jack]

That's part of the job. A good BA must be a good communicator so if you don't make personal contact no agent will take much notice of you.

[training12]

Ok, I am doing that right now.

Just goes to show how different this is to the technical work I used to apply for.

[Captain Jack]

Always, always, always follow up the sending of a CV with a phonecall 5 minutes later. This gets you to the top of the pile.

[training12]

I rewrote my CV yesterday to have a BA slant.

Question - I have sent off my CV to a number of ads on JS and haven't had a single reply. Is this normal? When I apply for technical jobs I used to get replies within minutes. Maybe there are a hell of a lot BAs out there.

[martinb]

No qualification will get you a gig. Just read around the subject so that you can sound knowledgeable at interview if asked.

For example, I am often asked at interview, "do you know Prince2". I just say "yes" and leave it at that. I've never practiced it but I know what it involves and that's good enough. 90% of clients who require it don't practice it themselves in any case.

I agree in the main - but a qualification can HELP to get you a gig. In my particular case, I decided to take the Prince2 certifications when I was between contracts. (Side issue - does investing in your own training aid IR35 status?) I just did self study - so not the same level of investment as attending a traning course. I would not have got my next contract without having the cert - it was a prerequisite. In reality it made sod all difference to my ability to do the job.

Ultimately though, any certification course simply teaches you to pass an exam. Learn the things the exam expects, get the cert. As I'm sure everyone here will testify, real life is a different ball game and real life experience counts for a whole load more in doing a good job.

In summary - a cert can help you get your foot in the door, but real life experience counts for a lot more once you've walked through the door.

[cojak]

It's all about Return on Investment - never spend/waste your money on training unless:

1) It ensures a rate increase
2) It encourages the client to extend your contract.

*And this is from a proper trainer*

[Captain Jack]

Correct approach. The only time to consider getting certification like that is in the unlikely eventuality that a client says they would have given you the job if only you had a piece of paper with "Prince2 Practitioner" (or whatever) written on it.

In contracting, experience is everything. When clients are in the market for a BA all they are looking for is someone who has worked on a virtually identical project before that came in successfully on time and budget. That's it.

[training12]

Ok, so I have decided that I will not pay for a training course as yet and rewrite my CV. When I get an interview I will read around the subjects on the job spec. I'll keep you guys updated.

[Captain Jack]

No qualification will get you a gig. Just read around the subject so that you can sound knowledgeable at interview if asked.

For example, I am often asked at interview, "do you know Prince2". I just say "yes" and leave it at that. I've never practiced it but I know what it involves and that's good enough. 90% of clients who require it don't practice it themselves in any case.

[training12]

Sorrry guys, but this does not really halp me that much. Can anyone with either qualification share their experiences?

[Lucifer Box]

I agree with DP. The "right" qualification is the one the client wants (which on many occasions will be "none at all").

[DimPrawn]

Okay I don't really know the answer but if it were me i'd:

Search jobserve and the like and see which of these is mentioned the most.
Talk to colleagues who are already doing BA work.