Business analysts (BA) are one of the most sought-after roles in the industry. In the job market, jobs related to BA are expected to grow still, with a 25% increase in demand this year alone. There is no sign this number slowing down in the near future.
As the opportunities are vastly open, you can expect to join the bandwagon. However, it’s important for you to understand this role in detail, including its definition, responsibilities, and career growth.
Below, we’ve rounded up eight things you should know before becoming a business analyst. First on the list, let’s explore what you have to understand in this role.
Understanding the Role
You can’t do a job without understanding its definition, can you? In a nutshell, BAs solve problems for companies and make sure systems run smoothly. In other words, BAs focus on improving how a business works.
You’ll spend a lot of time figuring out what the company needs and then coming up with solutions that work for everyone. For example, if your company isn’t time-efficient, you have to find AI-driven tools to speed up any process.
Your job is translating business goals into practical steps, which can be challenging, especially for beginners. You’ll also be involved in project planning and often work with different teams like IT, management, and operations.
Key Skills Required
To be a good BA, you need a mix of skills. First, you must be analytical. This means you must be able to read data in any form and make sense of it, including spotting trends or problems.
Basic knowledge of programming and data analysis is essential for technical proficiency. Moreover, a good understanding of databases can be an additional strength as it enhances effectiveness.
No less important, familiarize yourself with project management principles and methodologies, as well as tools. These two are crucial to assist in overseeing projects.
Educational Background
Most business analysts hold a bachelor’s degree in fields like Business Administration, Information Technology, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, and Finance or Economics.
However, if you don’t have degrees in those fields, you can still build your skills to become a BA by obtaining professional certifications. This can be a challenging route, though, but some notable certifications are:
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) provided by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA).
- Agile Analysis Certification (AAC-IIBA).
- PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) provided by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
If possible, you should consider taking courses on data analytics, business process modeling, or specific software tools to enhance your skills further.
Challenges
Just like any other role, being a BA isn’t all smooth sailing. In fact, you’ll face some real challenges along the way. One of the biggest concerns is managing expectations. You’ll often have to balance the needs of different stakeholders, and they won’t always agree on what’s most important.
Isn’t it tricky to keep everyone happy while staying on track with the project’s goals? It is, indeed! In addition, constantly changing requirements can add up to the challenges you face. So, you must be flexible and adapt your strategies without getting overwhelmed.
Lastly, communication sounds like no big deal, but it can be a big issue. Explaining technical details to non-technical people can be tough. Many BAs collaborate with professionals, such as a voice-over company, to develop training materials or presentations that effectively communicate complex concepts.
Tools and Technologies
As a BA, you’ll need to be comfortable with a range of tools and software. The most basic and common tool is Excel. You use Excel for data analysis, visualization, and reporting, so make sure you’ve mastered this tool.
You’ll also likely use tools like SQL to pull data from databases and Tableau to create visual reports that make your findings easy to understand. On top of that, project management tools like JIRA or Asana will help you keep track of tasks, timelines, and communications.
Other than those, familiarity with programming languages (Python or R) can help you analyze data and automate tasks. If you plan to work in a larger organization, consider building knowledge of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems like SAP or Oracle.
Industry Knowledge
Have you thought of the specific industry you want to jump in? For instance, do you want to become a BA in finance, healthcare, retail, or tech? It’s important to note that each sector has its own set of rules, trends, and challenges.
If you want to be in the healthcare industry, you must study patient data privacy laws. Differently, you must understand regulations like compliance and reporting standards in finance.
Being familiar with industry-specific lingo, pain points, and workflows will help you create better solutions and build trust with your team. So, the more you understand your industry, the more valuable you’ll be as a BA.
Essential Soft Skills
No matter how great you are with technical tasks, you’ll have a challenging time without soft skills. You need to be a strong communicator because you’re often the link between different departments. You need to be able to explain complicated data and ideas in a way that everyone can understand.
Active listening is another big one. You will listen to what your team or clients are saying to fully understand their needs. Once you talk and understand their pain points, you must find the solution, which requires a strong problem-solving skill.
Also, please note that all industries can be very dynamic in this digital age. You must have good adaptability to be able to roll with the punches and adjust your approach when necessary.
Career Progression
Being a BA in the tech age allows you to have potentially good career progression. Most business analysts start in junior or entry-level positions, such as Junior Business Analyst or Data Analyst.
At the mid-level, you can upgrade your career to a business analyst or senior business analyst role, where you take on more responsibilities and lead projects. Coming to the mid-level may take a few years and solid achievements.
You can also consider specialized paths. Based on your interests, you can choose specialized areas like data analysis, process improvement, IT business analysis, or systems analysis. If you’ve proven your capabilities and accomplishments, you may get management or executive roles.
Final Thoughts
Being a business analyst can be a good career option. We can all agree that almost all companies in all industries need a business analyst to identify inconveniences and enhance workflows.
The above details can be your handy guide to becoming a business analyst. You can learn from many resources online, join online classes, or get experts’ tips to amp up your knowledge and understanding of this role. Good luck!