A business analyst is one of those strange careers in which there are no formal qualifications needed until you start applying for positions, and each company then has its own criteria. This could be because you find business analysts in every industry, from travel to IT, and it is impossible to be qualified in everything. Those who want to pursue top business analyst jobs should also remember that the skills go way beyond qualification certificates.
Solid Educational Background
A solid educational background is key to most jobs, and business analysis is no exception. GCSEs in all the core subjects, English, Maths, et, should be backed up with IT as a computer will be the main tool of your trade. A-levels are also a must, as the competition is fierce in this field and you need to have the best academic background you can. Again, core subjects and IT are desirable, especially to get into the best universities.
All employers advertising business analyst jobs will expect an education to degree level, and many will be looking for those who possess an MA or MSc. A subject relevant to the area you want to work in is a possibility here, as is a technical degree or a more generic one, such as economics. The educational path to becoming a business analyst is pretty straightforward up until this point, then it becomes slightly more complicated, as this isn’t a profession that you enter straight from Uni.
Additional Qualifications
Business analysts tend to evolve from other professions once they have built up both experience and gained additional qualifications. The way you think and approach problems is are key factor in becoming a business analyst, and being able to demonstrate how you do this is as important as all your qualifications. Working in finance, engineering, or computer programming is all desirable as your job will call upon you to be techno-savvy and be called upon to problem solve.
As this job will involve spending many hours in front of a computer with tasks taking anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of years, demonstrating patience and diligence is also key. You could have the best qualifications in the world, but if your CV is full of jobs that only last for a few months each, this doesn’t bode well, as it implies you get bored easily and want to move on. In this case, too much experience is a bad thing.
There is help and advice readily available online for those who want to venture into the world of business analysis. The hours are long and it can be very lonely work,k bt if you have all of the necessary attributes, it is also extremely self-satisfying well paid, and an excellent career path to follow.