Business Continuity
Business Continuity is a company's plan to keep operating during unexpected problems or emergencies. Think of it like a backup plan that helps organizations stay running when things go wrong - whether it's a natural disaster, cyber attack, or other crisis. It's similar to disaster recovery or emergency planning, but focuses more on keeping the whole business working rather than just fixing technical issues. Companies need people who can create and manage these plans to protect their operations, employees, and reputation.
Examples in Resumes
Developed and implemented Business Continuity plans for 5 regional offices
Led annual Business Continuity testing and training exercises across departments
Updated Business Continuity and Business Continuity Management procedures following COVID-19
Managed BCM (Business Continuity Management) program for Fortune 500 company
Typical job title: "Business Continuity Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Business Continuity Managers
Professional Organizations
Online Communities
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you develop a business continuity strategy for a global organization?
Expected Answer: Should discuss conducting risk assessments, identifying critical business functions, creating detailed response plans, considering different regional requirements, and implementing testing programs across multiple locations.
Q: Tell me about a time you managed a real business continuity incident.
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate experience in actual crisis management, decision-making under pressure, coordinating response teams, and implementing recovery procedures.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you ensure business continuity plans stay up to date?
Expected Answer: Should mention regular review cycles, testing procedures, updating contact lists, incorporating lessons learned, and adjusting plans based on business changes.
Q: What elements should be included in a business impact analysis?
Expected Answer: Should explain identifying critical processes, determining recovery time objectives, assessing financial impact, and mapping dependencies between different business areas.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the difference between business continuity and disaster recovery?
Expected Answer: Should explain that business continuity covers keeping the entire organization running, while disaster recovery focuses specifically on restoring IT systems and infrastructure.
Q: How would you conduct a business continuity test or exercise?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic steps of planning a test, involving key stakeholders, documenting results, and identifying areas for improvement.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of business continuity concepts
- Ability to maintain and update existing plans
- Experience with document management
- Basic risk assessment knowledge
Mid (2-5 years)
- Development of business continuity plans
- Conducting impact analysis
- Managing testing and exercises
- Stakeholder communication
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic program development
- Crisis management experience
- Enterprise-wide planning
- Team leadership and training
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of basic business continuity standards or frameworks
- Lack of experience in plan testing or exercises
- Poor understanding of risk assessment
- No crisis management or emergency response experience
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