High Demand Supports Transition to Business Analyst

Considering a career change to become a business analyst?The data that companies handle grows every minute, increasing the need for a dedicated analyst to best utilize self-service business intelligence and analytics platforms. Yet most companies don’t have a business analyst to handle all their data needs. Experienced analysts are hard to find.

If you’re interested in becoming a business analyst, now is the perfect time. Demand remains as high as it’s ever been for this field. What follows are a few tips to help you get started on your path to becoming a business analyst.

Do You Really Want a BA Career?

Before changing careers, be sure you want to become a business analyst. Read A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK Guide) to learn what tasks, activities and competencies you’ll perform and need.

The  International Institute for Business Analysis (IIBA) offers career webinars that detail the demands of the job.

Learn more about utilizing self-service business intelligence and analytics at the Izenda Embedded BI User Conference.

Start by Doing

You may already be doing business analyst work without realizing it. Sit down and think about what your role has been on recent projects. Some tasks related to business analysis can include:

  • Defining problems as a project SME
  • Process mapping, analyzing problems and doing process improvement
  • Defining client needs and requirements

If these tasks are already a part of your job, then you’ve been doing business analysis, at least in a small way. This means that you have many more business analyst skills in your toolbox you might be able to bring to the team. Learning by doing is one of the best ways to gain the skills you need for a business analysis career.

Look for Certification Programs

While heading back to school is always an option, a certification program will train you at a fraction of the cost. It’s important to note that business analyst certification programs can vary widely in the courses they offer.  Make sure that if you decide to pursue certification, you pick a program that matches your skill set and the needs of your business.

Once you’ve completed training, you may need to take the test for IIBA certification. The IIBA created the Early Certificate for Business Analysis for beginners.

Volunteer Your Time

One way to start down the path is to volunteer your time outside of work. Look for a non-profit organization that can use your services now to help build your resume. Volunteering gives you on the job experience. This chance to hone your skills proves to employers that you’re willing to go the extra mile.

What Can Your Company Do to Help?

While you want a business analyst career, businesses need to fill analyst positions. So, this begs the question: What can companies do to encourage employees to step into these business analyst roles? Some of the ways that businesses can cultivate business analysts from their staff, include:

Training – Many courses exist that can help employees move into a business analyst role. Providing access to these classes for employees encourages them to move into these positions. I’ve started taking UC Irvine’s free Fundamental of Business Analysis course to get a better grounding on the subject.

Mentoring – Set up a mentoring program for employees to work with an existing business analyst to get them into the role.

Provide Opportunities – Don’t discourage employees with no formal BA experience. Give them full consideration when applying for existing roles.

Website, Membership Add Value

The IIBA created its own Steps to Becoming a Business Analyst article. The entire site offers a wealth of information, though much of it requires membership. Once you commit to this career, it should prove its worth.

Do you have a BI software solution that works for your company? If not then look into what products Izenda can provide for your business.
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