How to Break Into the Business Analyst Field

Business analysts help organizations improve business performance.

You can break into the business analyst field by following a number of different career opportunities. According to the International Institute of Business Analysis, career roles include business analyst, systems analyst, requirements analyst, management analyst and consultant. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests other possible career opportunities with a stronger business focus, including management analyst, market research analyst, financial analyst and operations research analyst. To break into any of those fields, you need the right combination of education or training and work experience.

Instructions

1. Identify the career route you want to follow. Choose a business route if your strengths or qualifications are in a discipline such as management, finance or marketing. Look for opportunities in careers that combine business and technology skills if you have a more technical background. Business analysts with technology skills help organizations improve business performance through the use of information technology, according to Boston University Corporate Education Center.

2. Complete a bachelor’s degree in a major such as business, marketing, finance or economics if you plan to concentrate on a nontechnical career in business analysis. Obtain a higher business qualification such as Master of Business Administration (MBA) if you are aiming for a role as a senior business analyst or consultant. Take a bachelor’s degree in a major such as information science, computer science or management information systems if you want to concentrate on a career that requires strong information technology skills.

3. Demonstrate essential business analysis skills in analytical thinking and problem solving, business knowledge, communication and interaction. Improve those skills through training and certification through an organization such as the International Institute of Business Analysis or a training consultancy. Prove that you can use the essential business skills by gaining experience in a job such as marketing, finance or general management. Develop your technology skills through experience working in an IT department.

4. Apply for business analyst jobs by responding to advertisements or registering with an employment agency. Look for general openings under job titles such as business analyst, information systems analyst, business technology analyst, systems analyst, management analyst or operational research analyst. Concentrate on job openings in fields such as market research analysis or financial analysis if you have specialist qualifications. Approach a management consultancy or a firm specializing in change management or IT consultancy if you have the experience and qualifications to act as a consultant.

References

• International Institute of Business Analysis: Becoming a Business Analyst
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Wage Distributions of Possible Occupations for Business Majors, May 2007
• Boston University Corporate Education Center: Your Career as an Information Technology (IT) Business Analyst
• International Institute of Business Analysis: IIBA Certification