It is highly important when you write a job description for your systems analyst position that you follow
the best practices in order to create a description that really stands out. This way you can save hours of
busywork that it would take to find and recruit high-level candidates. The better your description, the
more likely it will be to weed out undesirables. The team working for your company should consist of all-
stars, and the best way to guarantee this is to have an all-star job description. The small amount of extra
time it takes to really put the right thought and consideration into how you describe the job you want to
fill is nothing compared to how long you might be waiting if your description is not very good. We have
provided you with this systems analyst job description sample to give you an idea of what kind of
posting will bring in the best of the best.
Systems Analyst Job Summary
For this position you will be utilizing your skills in analysis and knowledge of computer system
requirements to define problems within a system and break them down to specifics. By implementing
and testing a reliable set of standards, you will be providing solutions to any of the issues that arise all
the way down to the most basic elements, ensuring smooth operation and consistent functioning of all
systems and software.
Systems Analyst Job Responsibilities and Duties
- Works to achieve mission of organization by analyzing systems and relating results to relevant
parties
- Tests programs to validate functionality in correspondence with results
- Confers with clients to understand and define problems in applications as well as evaluates all
processes and procedures that go into said applications
- Prepares and develops alternative workflow solutions, ensuring their reliability through
evaluation
- Establishes specifications in order to control solutions, doing so in coordination with
programmers
- Trains client personnel and offers support to ensure smooth operation
- Writes and documents all activity for reference
- Maintains an updated knowledge of job via participation in education, networking, professional
organizations, and reading of recent professional publications
Systems Analyst Skills and Qualifications
- Bachelor Degree or higher in technical subject, preferably in computing or software engineering
- Software Design and Documentation
- C, COBOL
- Software Testing and Maintenance
- Software Requirements
- Software Development Process
- Software Architecture
- Experience working on teams and general consulting skills are highly valued
Company Background
SoftCo is a small software designing company serving multiple clients, primarily those that are looking to
implement their ideas as applications for mobile devices. Founded in 2013, we have always prided
ourselves on having a small elite team providing custom service tailored to the specific needs of each
one of our clients. We treat our employees like family because we know that a highly motivated team
will produce the best top-of-the-line software and will provide fast and quality solutions. This is a
promise we keep to every client.
Writing a Job Description Best Practices
The systems analyst job description sample we provided above is an example that will guide you in
writing a top-notch job description. In addition to this sample, here are some basic practices to follow
for any job description that will attract the kinds of candidates you will want to hire.
Don’t make your job description vague or unclear. Candidates should have a good idea of what
department they’ll be working in and what exactly they’ll be doing.
Do be specific in the duties you describe to candidates. Applicants need to have a solid sense of
what will be expected of them. Think of a typical day on the job as if you are an employee in that
position, and describe it thoroughly.
Do share your organization’s personality and culture. This includes your goals and the kinds of
clients you want to be serving. This way you can be sure that applicants will be the right fit.
Don’t neglect search engine optimization. Making sure to have relevant phrases and natural
occurrences of specific keywords will more than double the likelihood of your job description
showing up at the top of search engine results.
Keeping all of these factors in mind will really help you to find the best possible applicants for your
position. You will notice that all of this advice is exemplified in the above systems analyst job description
sample.
Systems Analyst Job Responsibilities
When preparing your systems analyst job description, it’s important to present a target list of job responsibilities in order to attract the top talent. More than a simple list of perfunctory tasks, the job responsibilities section should outline the role and contributions of the position.
An effective list uses 6-8 bullet points to illustrate the core responsibilities in concise phrases, using action verbs to engage the reader. A bullet list makes the section readable and direct. Don’t include an endless list of tasks; this can overcomplicate the position and deter applicants. Instead, the job responsibilities should provide a clear picture of your expectations and the most suitable candidate for the job.
In your systems analyst job description, be sure to call attention to how much each responsibility contributes. Include specific information, such as to whom the employee reports or the overarching goals of each task. In essence, you want to sell the position to the right candidate.
Here are some useful examples of systems analyst job responsibilities to assist you in creating a successful job description:
- Optimize computer systems to maximize work flow and productivity
- Maintain data records and perform bi-quarterly systems analysis
- Provide staff with helpdesk services and facilitate training seminars
- Align IT strategy with management principles and objectives
- Test and monitor current network platform
Systems Analyst Job Specifications
The skills and qualifications section of your systems analyst job description is your opportunity to weed out unsuitable applicants. In this section, you provide the core qualifications needed for the role, including necessary experience and education levels, professional skills and specialized expertise.
Through a carefully curated list, you can effectively tailor your job description to the ideal candidate. However, you must consider the kind of applicant you’re looking for; to attract the best talent, you need to present a list of specialized traits. To do this, create two lists of required and preferred skills. Next, arrange each skill by order of importance. Pick the top 6-8 qualifications you think best describe the candidate you want. As in the job responsibilities section, your list should be concise and readable.
A successful systems analyst job description should naturally limit the applicant pool. To achieve this, it must be specific to the job at hand. For instance, it should include references to IT management, network support and diagnostics, performance analysis and other systems management requirements.
Here are some useful examples of systems analyst job specifications you can refer to while constructing your new job description:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, business management or communications
- Systems maintenance expertise with equipment and software
- Efficiency management and workflow optimization
- Effective team coordinator and strategy leader