Business Analyst Career Path

If you’re interested in starting a career as a Business Analyst, 2023 is a great time to do so. This article will cover how you can get started on this career path, which educational options will prepare you to work with business analytics, and what jobs are currently available for those interested in this profession. 

Getting Started 

If you’re new to business analytics, a great starting point is to perform some basic research. You may want to search the internet to get a feel for what Business Analysts do, what training they have acquired, and what industries are actively searching for those with a background in business analytics. A general, basic search can yield a lot of relevant information so you can begin to get a feel if this career path is something you’d like to pursue further. 

Connecting with Business Analysts who currently work in the field is another way to learn from firsthand accounts what it is like working with analytics. This may involve conducting informal interviews with individuals working at small and large organizations or reaching out to former professors, family friends, or acquaintances. You may also look into attending free information sessions or classes at local libraries or colleges to gain a better understanding of business analytics.

Education

According to Zippia, almost 75% of Business Analysts have earned a bachelor’s degree, 18% hold master’s degrees, 7% have associate’s degrees, and 2% possess “other” degrees. Among those who have a bachelor’s degree, 29% of these degrees are in business, 10% are in computer science, 9% are in finance, and 45% are in other disciplines. 

However, pursuing undergraduate and graduate study in business or a business-related field isn’t the only educational path toward working in business analytics. Aspiring Business Analysts can also acquire the necessary training in other educational environments:

• Online courses are an excellent option for those interested in learning business analytics skills but wish to do so from the comfort of their own home or office space. Many online classes are offered by both universities and other educational providers. For example, top-tier universities like the University of Pennsylvania, MIT, and Harvard have current course listings in topics such as Business Analytics Foundations, Systems Analysis, and Customer Behavior and Analytics, among others. Online classes are also available from providers like Udemy, EDX, and Coursera, with a focus on topics like Process Modeling or Project Management. One of the main benefits of online study is coursework is relatively short in comparison with traditional degrees. Most online classes can be completed in just weeks and are comprised of self-paced learning so students can balance their studies with other commitments.

• Certifications in business analytics are also offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) also offers certifications in business analytics. These certifications are particularly helpful for those interested in becoming Business Analysts but have not completed master’s-level study. Currently, three IIBA certifications are available: Entry Certificate in Business Analysis, Certification of Capability in Business Analysis, and Certified Business Analysis Professional, in addition to specialty certificates in cybersecurity, business data analytics, and agile analysis.

Internships

Many Business Analysts start their career paths with an internship in business analytics or a related field. Although job descriptions will vary depending on the type of organization, a Business Analyst intern will likely receive a variety of career-relevant training, such as:

• Collecting & compiling data
• Analyzing data
• Designing frameworks
• Recommending solutions
• Making proposals

In addition, internships in business analytics also allow employees to develop critical soft skills that are essential to this field, like communication, time management, attention to detail, and problem-solving. 

Entry-Level Business Analyst Jobs

Once you have completed your education, interned for an organization, and developed your repertoire of business analytics skills, it’s time to look for an entry-level Business Analyst job. Also known as Junior Business Analysts, entry-level business Analysts are typically hired by organizations to gather and analyze business-related data that professionals can then use to improve various systems, integrate technology across departments, and increase work efficiency.

Most Junior Business Analysts work in a team devoted to business solutions, which is run by more senior analysts. This allows those who are new to this field to get a feel for their duties and responsibilities while simultaneously gaining on-the-job training. 

Mid-Level Business Analyst Jobs

After working as a Junior Business Analyst for a few years, it’s common for employees to progress to Mid-Level Business Analyst jobs. By the time a Junior Business Analyst is ready for a mid-level position, they’ve acquired around five to seven years of experience working with projects and proposing recommendations to their organization. This is usually sufficient time for them to know whether they love working with business data or if this path has left them feeling burnt out and needing a change. For those who still feel passionate about big data and how they can use it to benefit their organization, this role provides them with new, more complex projects to complete and greater independence to do so.

Senior Business Analyst Jobs

Those who work as Senior Business Analysts have around ten years of experience working with business analytics. They have achieved a high level of professionalism, an ability to see the larger picture in their organization, and the skills needed to identify and remedy problems that occur throughout the organization.

Among their many responsibilities, Senior Business Analysts are often tasked with:

• Completing more complex projects
• Understanding the business process, despite changes to the software 
• Working with new business domains
• Consulting with internal stakeholders
• Presenting to senior executives
• Mentoring Mid-Level and Junior-Level Business Analysts

Another Path: Freelancing

If you’re interested in working as a Business Analyst but prefer having more job flexibility than a nine-to-five commitment, freelance work may be for you. Freelance Business Analysts perform many of the same tasks as full-time, salaried Business Analysts pertaining to improving their organization’s efficiency. However, freelancers own their own businesses and may elect to consult with multiple clients or companies rather than devote all their efforts to one organization. Freelance Business Analysts can generally decide the number of hours a week they wish to work and choose their clients. 

Enroll in Hands-on Classes to Learn More About Business Analytics

If you’re looking to start a career as a Business Analyst, a variety of courses are currently available for beginners, intermediate, and advanced students who hope to brush up on their business and analytic skills. Noble Desktop's Business Analyst Certificate is a great learning option for any aspiring Business Analyst. Relevant tools and skills such as data analysis, Excel, Tableau, and SQL are covered in this program. Those enrolled in this intensive course can elect to study online or in person in Manhattan. This class comes with the option of a free retake for learners who wish to revisit course material. 

In addition, a great resource for finding business analytics classes close to home is Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. You can use it to search more than 250 live online and in-person business analytics courses currently available in topics such as SQL, PowerPoint, and Excel for Business, among others.