How to Become Business Analyst: Complete RoadMap

Business analysis has turned into an invaluable asset for different companies. It involves several steps that help identify an organization’s business needs and solutions. A person skilled in dealing with this process is referred to as a business analyst. This is a field of work that has immense potential for career growth. No wonder many people are now eager to know how to become a business analyst. You can treat this article as a stepping stone, that will help you understand this industry. The piece also aims to guide you in entering this world.

The position of a business analyst has been in existence since the 70s. However, the meaning and the working process involving this role have drastically changed. Gone are the days when business analysts were just responsible for the conversation of analog data into a digital format. Presently, they analyze and access any business using innovative tools. In the modern world, professionals are keen on generating meaningful insights that can help a business improve its functioning.

If you are seriously thinking about how to become a business intelligence analyst, it will prove to be a good career move. The role of a business analyst in a corporate structure is presently considered one of the most important. The professionals in this position often help shorten the gap between a corporation’s business and its software teams.

How to Get into Analytics

The path that leads to the world of business analysis as a profession is not hard. You need to be aware of certain things to get a job in this field and become successful, even if you are thinking about how to become a business analyst with no experience.

Business Analyst Requirements

Let us start with the requirements before you start a career as a business analyst.

1. Business Acumen

One thing that will create the base for your career as a business analyst is understanding the fundamentals of the business. You cannot be in this profession if you are not aware of operations, finance, strategy, and human resources.

If you are not aware of these building blocks of a business, then you must start reading about them. When you have proper knowledge about the different aspects of a business, you can take your career in the right direction. You can also enrol for business management courses to help you prepare.

However, the knowledge should not all be generic, and you also have to understand the working of your own company. You can ask your senior or colleagues to know more. Alternatively, you can also read up on the public materials related to the company.

2. Data Analytics

Do you think your job as a business analyst sounds like a business administrator? Both professionals entail various kinds of work. As a business analyst, you should have the ability to process the data you have collected. It is also important to mention that you should be familiar with working with data. Also, you should know how it can contribute to the business’s success.

The internet is also filled with various resources to help you get started with data analysis. Knowing more about this process can help you find a successful answer to how to get a business analyst job.

3. Methodologies of business analysis

Now that you know the business fundamentals and data analysis, it is time to take the next step. Wondering what that might be? First, it is to learn about the different frameworks and methodologies that you can employ to create better business solutions.

Correlation analysis, predictive analytics, and segmentation are some of the methodologies you should be aware of to ensure that you can use them to solve a problem. Also, you can pick real-life situations and try implementing these methodologies as a process that can help you hone your skills. Once you follow the correct paths systematically, the answer to how to start a career as a business analyst becomes easier.

4. Communication Skills along with the power of storytelling

Business analysts have to work as a liaison. It means they also need to possess soft skills to help them do their job in the best way possible. One of those ways is the power of compelling presentations. Backed by effective communication, a good storytelling capability can help you do your job smoothly.

Landing Your First Job

You are now aware of your qualifications to start in this field. Now, the question that you may ask is how you can land your first job. Here are some of the basic things that you should do.

1. Update your resume

A resume is the first point of contact to capture a potential employer’s attention. So, it would help if you made sure that it is prepared in the best way possible. Here are some tips that can help you.

People who have an academic background in the business or software field are preferred over others, so highlight your education if it is in these fields.

• List the courses and classes you have taken related to business analysis
• Emphasize on the self-taught business analysis projects
• Create a portfolio to give the employers an idea of your skillset

2. Networking matters

Professional social networking sites like LinkedIn have made networking in the business world easier. So, use that opportunity and reach out to hiring managers to connect with them virtually. In addition, many use online platforms to search for potential candidates. Staying in touch or connecting with the hiring managers can help you stay on their radar and increase your chances of getting a job.

3. Search for a related job

When wondering how to get into a business analyst job, it is important to remember that, at times, it may take time for you to land your dream job. In the meantime, you can start working on other roles related to this profession. In addition, since this is a field related to both business and software, you can search for jobs in those fields and wait for the right opportunity to knock on the doors.

How to Become a Business Analyst?

Now we will take a deep dive and look into the factors that can help you become a successful business analyst. Besides the primary qualifications and skills needed for business analyst, this section will also help you understand the career options this business domain offers.

Academic Qualification Requirement

To start a career in this field, you need to have a bachelor’s degree. If you have the opportunity to start your studies again, it is better to choose some field more than that of the others, which can help you forward yourself in this domain. Taking a proper course in these fields may prove more useful than you can imagine. So, what are those fields?

• Business
• Accounting
• Economics
• Information Systems
• Human Resources

If you already have a bachelor’s degree other than in these fields, it will be beneficial to get a master’s degree in business administration.

Acquire Business Analyst Skills

To do this, you need to make sure to enhance your skills. Read on to know how to do that.

1. Business Analytics: Hone your analytical skills of probability and statistics as they are essential in this profession
2. Problem Solving Skills: Complications are a part of the business. You should have those skills that can help businesses to overcome challenges.
3. Communication Skills: Effective communication skills can help you to negotiate with people
4. Stakeholder Analysis: This process helps identify and eliminate obstacles to understanding the development of a project in a better way.
5. Technical Skills: Database analysis, data visualization, frameworks, and systems, are some of the technical skills that you need to possess

Get Online Certification

Certifications can be beneficial for developing your core competencies and staying updated on the industry trends. They are also how you can stand out in your field of expertise. So, enroll in a course from a renowned institution and get a proper certificate to help you move forward in your life.

Gain Hands-on Experience

Though the certificate courses are important, it is also essential to get hands-on experience. Therefore, it is always advisable to begin your career as an intern or junior business analyst that can help you learn more about the resources and technologies available. Also, how you can use them. Also, when you are a junior business analyst, working under a senior business analyst can help you learn different things.

Apply for a Job

When you have proper skills and experience, the next logical step is to apply for a business analyst job. But first, update your resume and apply for a position you like. Remember to include your skills, courses, and experience while applying for the job. This helps you catch the interviewer’s attention through your resume.

What Does a Business Analyst Do?

The primary job of a business analyst is to evaluate the company’s data, both past and current. In addition, the professional does it to increase the quality of the decision-making processes within the company.

Business Analyst Job Roles

Here are the career opportunities that a business analyst can explore. If you are thinking about becoming an IT (Information Technology) business analyst or a position in another sector, explore this section.

• IT Business Analyst: They focus on improving all IT operations within a company. From analyzing all the software and hardware to IT operations within the company, they are responsible for everything. On average, an IT business analyst earns about ₹611,846 in India.
• Data Analysis Scientist: The job of a data analysis scientist is to gather required information through surveys on a specific topic, interpret them, and present a report based on them. The average salary in this role in India is ₹860,316.
• Business Analyst Manager: With an average salary of ₹800,000 in India, the job in this role is to manage a team that can develop, implement, and gathers data.
• Quantitative Analyst: They use mathematical models to support all the financial decisions on risk management. They also deal with the investments and pricing structures of the company. Their goal is to reduce business risk while also maximizing profits. The average salary in India for this role is ₹1,018,422.
• Data Business Analyst: A Data Business Analyst, on average, earns ₹833,165 in India. This role requires a person to identify trends and create charts and visual representations using huge data sets. Their analysis helps with business decisions.

Conclusion

Companies in modern times have huge data, increasing the demand for business analyst. With proper academic background, training, and hands-on experience, one can not only thrive but do wonders in this ever-growing field of work. So, these are some aspects that hopefully can answer your question on how to get into business analytics. You can enroll yourself in business management online courses at KnowledgeHut to upskill yourself.