How to Become a Business Analyst
Business Analyst
Business analysts work across many industries, diving deep into a certain business’s performance and giving them reports about how they can improve using technology. Becoming a business analyst means using data to provide plans about how to revamp the company.
Business analysts quite simply consider the successes and downfalls of their particular business, and work out an action plan for improving it using technology. They work with data and technology teams to gather all of the information, and then act as the mediator between them and the rest of the company. They are responsible for aligning a business’s needs with the capabilities of technology.
A business analyst’s job will entail skills like:
- Getting to grips with the company’s individual data needs
- Analysing niche areas of the business
- Documenting findings in reports, and effectively ‘translating’ the data into everyday language
- Reaching conclusions about how the business can be improved
- Presenting these insights to other employees
People skills are essential for business analysts, as they will need to make presentations persuading businesses to make changes. However, candidates will also need to be able to work with technology professionals who are big on numbers and jargon; so it is really important to be flexible and able to alter a message to suit multiple groups. This position requires creativity and creativity, which should be demonstrated in a business analyst’s work application.
To become a business analyst, having a degree in relevant topics spanning from computer science to business management is hugely beneficial. A masters’ degree will further set a candidate in good stead to getting a business analyst job, but vocational experience is arguably more important. Graduates should make sure that they have a solid background of experience in similar fields and the industry that they will be working in. Non-graduates with a lot of experience and enterprise can work their way up the career ladder to become a business analyst.
What degree is most commonly held by a Business Analyst?
- BSc Computer Science
- BSc Business Analytics
- BSc Business and Management
- MSc Business Analytics
- MBA
Common Certifications
- IIBA ECBA
- IIBA CCA
- IIBA CCBA
- IIBA CBAP
- IIBA CBDA
- IIBA AAC
- PMI PBA
- CBIP
Career Transportability across Countries
Transportability: High
What is the Salary of a Business Analyst?
| Experience | Average salary | year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU$ | UK£ | US$ | ||
| Business Intelligence Analyst | $85,000 | £62,874 | $115,000 | |
| Business Intelligence Manager | 1-4 Years | $135,000 | £82,010 | $150,000 |
| Head of BA | 5+ Years | $225,000 | £100,000 | $185,000 |
What skills are needed to become a Business Analyst?
- Project Management
- Business Analysis
- Management
- Requirements Analysis
- SQL
- Microsoft Excel
- Requirements Gathering
- Microsoft Office
- Data Analysis
- Business Process Improvement
- Agile Methodologies
- Stakeholder Management
- Team Leadership
- Change Management
- Business Process
- Software Development Life Cycle
- Analysis
- User Acceptance Testing
- Business Requirements
- Business Analysis
- Integration
- Customer Service
- Business Intelligence
- Project Delivery
- Software Project Management
Business Analyst Courses
A micro-credential on data-driven decision making is an introduction to the technical aspects of business analysis, using R programming to tidy, harvest, and wrangle data.
Courses on data visualisation might also be relevant, helping to outline technological issues to non-technical managers.
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Business Analytics Using ForecastingDiscover how business can harness the power of big data to make better predictive analysis
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Business Problems and Software SolutionsDiscover how to overcome real-world business challenges with software solutions
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Big Data Analytics: Opportunities, Challenges and the FutureWe produce more data than ever before Find out how big data analytics can help you make use of it
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Data to Insight: An Introduction to Data Analysis and VisualisationGet a hands-on introduction to data science exploring principles of statistical analysis and data visualisation
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Risk Management in the Global EconomyWhat is risk This free course examines the financial markets and the role that risk management tools play in the global economy
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Survival Statistics: Secrets for Demystifying NumbersLearn to evaluate risk make useful approximations and more rational decisions with this online course on statistics
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Macro Environmental Analysis and Business Strategy: An IntroductionExplore the fundamentals of business strategy and learn how the macro environment affects strategy formation
Business Analyst Microcredentials
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Data Analytics for Business with Tableau TrainingGet professional quantitative data analytics training and fast track your career in a leading industry with high job growth
Need even more evidence about why you should learn on FutureLearn?
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Big Data Analytics: Opportunities, Challenges and the Future
We produce more data than ever before. Find out how ‘big data analytics’ can help you make use of it.Show course overview -
Survival Statistics: Secrets for Demystifying Numbers
Learn to evaluate risk, make useful approximations and more rational decisions with this online course on statistics.Show course overview -
Macro Environmental Analysis and Business Strategy: An Introduction
Explore the fundamentals of business strategy and learn how the macro environment affects strategy formation.Show course overview