Business Analyst-Related Career Paths

This article will provide a brief discussion of the field of business analytics. It will also explore some of the most popular career paths related to business analytics and will offer an overview of the job responsibilities of each. 

What is Business Analytics?

Business Analysts observe and review an organization’s procedures, processes, and data to suggest ways to improve its overall efficiency and performance. They often work with those in other departments, as well as in management, to cut down on inefficiencies, reduce costs, and ensure that the organization remains competitive in the ever-changing business world. Business Analysts are also tasked with analyzing and evaluating the necessary requirements for implementing changes to policies and information systems, which can involve corresponding with internal as well as external stakeholders. 

Being a successful Business Analyst requires a thorough knowledge of what an organization currently does, as well as how it operates at different levels. Once areas for improvement are spotted, the Business Analyst then helps to improve existing features, create new ones, and eliminate those that no longer serve the organization’s needs. All new procedures that a Business Analyst implements will then need to be evaluated for efficacy and documented for later reference.

Business Analytics Career Paths

The following are some of the most popular career paths for Busines Analysts in 2023:

Information Security Analyst

Because of the recent increase in cybercrime, individuals with a background in cybersecurity are currently in huge demand at all organizations across industries. Those who work as Information security Analysts are involved with overseeing IT systems and networks, as well as interpreting security data. People who are skilled at ethical hacking are often well-suited for Information Security Analyst positions where they can spot and eliminate weaknesses within systems.

Data Business Analyst

The role of a Data Business Analyst differs from that of a Data Analyst in terms of what they ultimately do with the data they find. Whereas data tends to be the end for a Data Analyst, it is a means to an end for a Data Business Analyst. Those working in this field must have a strong background in programming, research, statistics, and data visualization to present data findings in an accessible manner to decision-makers.

Project Manager

There are many different Project Manager roles, which vary depending on the employer, the industry, and the size of the organization. Project Managers who specialize in data analytics work to monitor data-related projects from start to finish. This involves making sure that the teams working on the project are on schedule to meet approaching deadlines and complete their assigned tasks. 

Network Analyst

Those working with network analytics are involved with installing, as well as laying out and maintaining, their organization’s computer network. Network Analysts also configure software and hardware, optimize IT operations, and study network requirements. 

Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analysts are tasked with gathering and analyzing large volumes of marketing data. They are hired by organizations to help them identify new customers, as well as to suggest how much potential customers are willing to spend on a particular product. A Market Research Analyst will ultimately help their organization make a greater profit by targeting those most likely to purchase its product or service. 

Quantitative Analyst

Quantitative Analysts work primarily with mathematical models. They create these models, implement them, and then present them to various stakeholders. Their models are used to back up financial decisions pertaining to investing, pricing structures, and risk management. In addition, Quantitative Analysts research current market trends and help their organization reduce its market impacts and transaction costs.

Principal Data Analyst

Principal Data Analysts generally lead a large data team within their organization. Their job involves comprehensively understanding their organization’s operations and needs, creating complicated data systems, and steering their organization toward its goals.

Operations Research Analyst

Those working with operations research analysis analyze the operations data from their organization, and then create a relevant and engaging presentation based on their findings. This presentation is typically given to those in management so that they can gain insights into how business operations can be streamlined and made more efficient. Operations Research Analysts rely on information technology when analyzing data and suggesting viable solutions. Often, an Operations Research Analyst will present the information they collect to various stakeholders by creating and sharing a detailed report.

Analytics Manager

Analytics Managers are directly involved with different teams within an organization. It’s their job to establish standard strategies that can be used across the organization to collect data. They also monitor performance metrics and risk potential, perform statistical analysis on datasets, extract insights from the data, and create end-user reports that can be shared with managers to convey their findings.

Data Analysis Scientist

Those who are good at sorting through collected data in order to find actionable insights that can be used as part of a larger big data puzzle are well-suited for a career as a Data Analysis Scientist. They often use machine learning and statistical analysis to interpret data findings. Data Analysis Scientists must have strong verbal and visual communication skills. They also tend to be skilled at problem-solving and working with large datasets. 

IT Business Analyst

More data is being created than ever before, and the technology used to interpret this data is also evolving. The job responsibilities of an IT Business Analyst are changing as well. It’s now common for IT Business Analysts to have a background in IT, software, and business operations. For this reason, IT Business Analysts tend to be skilled multitaskers. They often must work on multiple operating systems and projects while at the same time developing various business process roles. They also are involved in developing stronger roles within the business process. In order to be a successful IT Business Analyst, an individual must have number-crunching skills.

Analytics Director

An Analytics Director oversees different teams comprised of Business Analysts. They provide process guidance, compile their data-driven findings, and transform them into actionable strategies aimed at business partners. Analytics Directors also rely on market research to enhance their data findings.

Learn Business Analytics by Enrolling in Hands-on Classes

For those who want to start a career as a Business Analyst, various 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, an excellent resource for finding business analytics classes close to home is Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. It can be used 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.