How to Start Your Career as a Business Analyst

Wondering if a business analyst is a good career choice for you or not? Let’s help you find out. 

If you are into data analysis, math, and making sense of raw information then becoming a business analyst is for you.  It requires the ability to understand complex business problems and develop effective solutions. But is it a good career choice for a business school degree holder? Perhaps the burning question here is what it take to pursue a business analyst career. A business analyst career can bring you plentiful job opportunities, lucrative salaries, an excellent work-life balance, and a higher job satisfaction rate when compared to other business professions. So, if you are thinking about making a career change or are looking for a suitable career path, becoming a business analyst can pave the way to endless possibilities. All aspects of business team operations in every possible industry require a business analyst, and that can be you. 

Let’s delve deeper into this domain and uncover where to start and what it takes to become one. This guide focuses on business analyst qualifications, salary, career goals, and objectives, all of which can lead you on the way to a lucrative career choice. 

What Is A Business Analyst?

Business Analysts are professionals who analyze the data and processes of a business to identify areas for improvement. They use their expertise to develop strategies and solutions that can increase business efficiency, strengthen customer relationships, and improve specific areas based on data. 

Business Analysts help with key aspects, such as:

• • Helping organizations understand their operations;

• • Identifying problems; and

• • Developing strategies for improvement. 

They also help organizations create plans for new initiatives or products by gathering information from stakeholders and analyzing data, which inevitably leads to the organization’s operations running smoothly and efficiently. For someone in the field, Sabin Jafri, who is an expert in business intelligence and business process improvements, describes her role as, “My main role is to understand business needs and help translate them into clear, actionable requirements…development of solutions. This often involves working closely with stakeholders from different departments to gather and document requirements, analyzing current business processes, identifying areas for improvement, and ensuring that the solutions we implement align with the organization’s goals.”

Ultimately, the main goal of a business analyst is to “deliver value” and executable solutions based on process mapping, stakeholder interviews, support testing, and implement them to achieve optimal results. In a real-life example, Jafri describes in an article in Treasury & Risk, how they overcame the challenges of cash operations efficiency at a bank. By using Microsoft tools, they created dashboards for monitoring bank statements, connected them with the ERP system, and allowed users to access data faster. Their efforts resulted in operational efficiency, functional process design, and improved accessibility. Their work has been recognized internationally, winning award from other competing companies. 

3 Reasons to Becoming a Business Analyst

Now that intricacies are out of the way let’s talk about 3 reasons to becoming a business analyst. For those looking to practical aspects of this career, the following could help you make the final decision. . 

1. Potential Growth And Job Outlook

First, the job outlook for business analysts is strong and growing with each passing year. As businesses become more reliant on data-driven decisions, they increasingly turn to experienced professionals. Particularly people with an understanding of data analytics and its implications on their bottom line.

This ensures steady and continuous growth in the job market for data analysts. Now, there are plenty of job titles for business analysts. Here are these common job titles and their job outlook next to them:

• • Operation Research Analysts – 23% from 2021-2031 

• • Market Research Analysts – 19% 2021-2031 

• • Management Analysts – 11% 2021-2031 

• • Budget Analysts – 3% 2021-2031 

These key positions and job titles will give you an idea of what lies ahead. There is no doubt the market is wide open, with high-paying jobs, and the roles are diversifying every day as demand increases..

2. Grow In Your Current Industry/Niche 

As you enter the business analytics field you’ll find that there are various industries today that require business analysts to provide well-tabulated information, visualizations, and insights of data to make informed decisions in business operations, consultancy, investment and so on. As you grow in your business analyst career, you will often offer invaluable advice, analysis, and recommendations to help the company you work with succeed. Whether you are in the finance investment, manufacturing, computer science, or e-commerce niche, the scope and niche of a business analyst career is limitless.

If you have doubts about entering this industry and whether it is worth the effort, then Jafri breaks it down and tells us why business analysts are in high demand across “fast-growing industries”. 

• The IT and software sector leads, driven by digital transformation and Agile practices.
• Finance and banking, especially FinTech, rely on BAs for risk management, compliance, and product innovation.
• Healthcare is growing rapidly, with BAs improving systems like EHRs and telemedicine.
• Retail and e-commerce use BAs to optimize customer experience and supply chains.
• Consulting firms value BAs for digital strategy and transformation projects.
• Manufacturing and energy sectors need BAs for automation and efficiency.
• Government agencies also hire BAs to modernize public services and policy analysis.

So even if you decide to switch industries, you will still find your experience and skills are applicable in the new industry that you switch to. This is especially true for senior and consulting roles as you grow in your career. 

3. An Ever-Growing Job And Career

Considering that business analytics is growing field at a high rate, it is safe to say that the possibilities are limitless. In other words, you’ll never be out of work or lack of opportunities to grow professionally. Here are some tips to grow your career in the right direction. 

• • Pick job titles that have the potential to grow quickly such as marketing, budget, research analyst, etc.

• • Find more opportunities when you learn new skills, adopt new technologies, etc. 

• • Select the industries that the highest growth rates such as data science, manufacturing, finance, etc. 

These factors make it a very lucrative and growing field to work in. 

 

Steps to Becoming a Business Analyst?

To become a business analyst you need a straightforward process. So, you need either academic prowess or relevant training. Whichever path you take, you will need continuous learning in order to thrive in this job category. 

Steps 1. Earning a Business Analyst Degree

Jafri guides students to, “To enter the field of business analysis, most professionals start with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Business Administration, Accounting Information Systems, Finance, Computer Science, Economics, or Engineering. While a master’s degree is not required, it can be advantageous for senior roles—common options include an MBA or a master’s in Business Analytics or Information Systems.” 

A successful business analyst is all about the right education and training. That’s when a degree or course from an accredited business management school can provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in this field– so you need to look for two key things, such as:

• • A business analyst program with good courses, i.e., Bachelor or Master’s Degree in Data Analytics or Business Analytics. 

• • An accredited college with a high acceptance rate. Enroll in courses that leads to a degree in the same niche. 

Additionally, good business college or university degree is paramount in helping you stand out from other candidates when you are applying for a business analyst position. These degrees and their courses teaches students how to develop, “requirements gathering, process mapping, data analysis, communication, stakeholder management, and familiarity with methodologies like Agile or Waterfall, six sigma methodology.” 

Step 2. Gain Core Technical and Soft Skills 

Business analysts use employ SQL, Excel, Python and specific business intelligence tools to carry out their tasks. Additionally, Jafri, who is an expert in this area emphasizes, “Proficiency in tools such as Excel, SQL, and data visualization platforms like Power BI or Tableau is useful for analyzing and interpreting data, while familiarity with project management and documentation tools like JIRA, Confluence, and Microsoft Visio can enhance workflow and communication.” 

Business analysts are usually at the heart of the organization working with various departments, stakeholders, and management. For this reason, “Effective communication and interpersonal skills are equally important, as business analysts work closely with stakeholders to gather requirements, clarify needs, and present findings in a clear and concise manner,” says Jafri. She also advises developing “strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a mindset geared toward problem-solving and continuous improvement are crucial to thrive in the role.”

Step 3 Internship or Training

One of the most important parts of qualifying to become a BA is gaining experience. For fresh graduates or already graduated professionals, perhaps a good option is to pursue internships or training. Jafri advises graduates to, “Start with internships—even if they’re not BA roles—by focusing on transferable tasks like data analysis, report writing, or stakeholder communication. Volunteering for nonprofits or student clubs is another great way to support real projects, such as improving processes or documenting workflows.” This way, they won’t have to retake an educational path but start working towards an understanding of how the businesses work, learning new techniques and strategies, and developing relationships with key stakeholders. You can be an invaluable asset to any organization. 

Step 4 Entering the Industry  

Starting with a junior position or, “Participating in hackathons, student competitions, or Agile project teams allows you to practice working in cross-functional settings. Freelancing for startups or small businesses on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr is another way to gain hands-on experience. Even unpaid projects help build your portfolio and confidence,” advises our expert. 

 

 

 

Business Analyst Career Roadmap 

For graduates and career changers wishing to pursue the business analytics path, the following progressions will motivate and help them find direction for their professional growth. 

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1. Senior Business Analyst Career Path 

Goals and Objectives

Senior business analysts are responsible for analyzing and monitoring large-scale business processes to chalk out strategies that enhance efficiency. These professionals also evaluate the technical aspects of any business problem that may crop up, and devise suitable business solutions intuitively. 

Qualifications and Courses

These professionals have strict qualification requirements, which include a bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, IT, or a relevant field, business process modeling training along with certification (preferable), suitable Access and Microsoft Visio skills, proficiency in M.S. Office, exceptional communication skills, multitasking ability, leadership skills, analytical ability, and problem-solving skills. 

Top Universities for Business Analyst Degrees

Several universities offer degrees that can help build up to a career as a senior business analyst, with the top institutes being the following: 

• Stanford University 
• University of Pennsylvania
• Northwestern University

Salaries and Growth

According to Indeed.com, a senior business analyst makes an average of $99,224 a year. 

2. Business Systems Analyst Career Path 

Goals and Objectives

A business systems analyst helps an organization determine the best ways to use existing technology and integrate new ones into existing systems. A business analyst’s career goals may revolve around accomplishing the following tasks: 

• Implementing and testing technology solutions 
• Conducting an in-depth analysis of customer needs and relevant data 
• Identifying areas for improvement 
• Conducting research 
• Collecting stakeholder requirements 
• Jotting down technical requirements and designing solutions 
• Offering support and training to users 
• Recommending the best possible I.T. practices 

Qualifications and Courses

Building a career as a business systems analyst requires a relevant bachelor’s and master’s degree, generally in a field related to business administration, computer science, information technology, finance, economics, or management information systems. 

Top Universities for Business Systems Analyst Degree

Following are the three top universities that offer a master’s degree in fields that can help you climb the ladder to a lucrative business system analyst position. 

• The Heriot-Watt University’s School of Social Sciences offers an MSc in Social and Behavioral Research Methods.
• The University of Greenwich’s School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences offers an MSc in Computing and Information Systems.
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University offers an Online Master of Information Technology.

Salaries and Growth

According to Glassdoor, a business analyst’s salary in the United States is around $97,065. But a bachelor’s degree alone cannot make you touch the highest salary strata, which is why a master’s degree is critical in this field. 

3. Business Intelligence Analyst Career Path 

Goals and Objectives

A business intelligence analyst is responsible for collaborating with clients to identify their concerns and needs and perform a variety of other tasks, such as the following: 

• Extracting and gathering warehouse data through querying techniques for reporting
• Conducting information-gathering interviews to attain feedback from customers and clients 
• Employing software applications to analyze current data 
• Supervise the accurate implementation of technological initiatives 
• Forward recommendations to senior management regarding ways to elevate efficiency 
• Compose summary reports concerning a company’s current standing 

Qualifications, Courses, Growth

A business intelligence analyst undertakes several different business analyst courses quite similar to other business analyst streams, but their national average salary stands at a median point of $91,074 per year, with the highest and lowest points being $182,000 and $31,000 per year, respectively. 

Top Universities for Business Intelligence Analyst Degree

Some of the top universities that offer degree programs relevant to this career path include the following: 

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management amalgamates its expertise with support from the MIT Operations Research Center to offer a Master of Business Intelligence.

• Carnegie Mellon University’s Master of Information Systems Management: Business Intelligence and Data Analytics is a blended program standing on the intersection of management, data analytics, strategy, and I.T. 

• The University of Texas at Austin offers a Master of Science in Business Intelligence built on consumer behavior, statistics, mathematics, risk management, and decision theory. 

4. Business Process Analyst Career Path 

 Goals and Objectives

Business process analysts enjoy a high demand to combat the augmentation of digital transformation. These professionals specialize in designing, analyzing, and applying business strategies to kickstart change, especially when introducing new procedures and policies. Their job description typically covers the following responsibilities:

• Documenting business process modeling activities 
• Analyzing internal workflows, employee needs, and business processes 
• Analyzing and interpreting business metrics for relevant stakeholders 
• Processing reengineering projects by supervising in-depth business analysis 

Qualifications and Courses

A business process analyst career path generally requires a bachelor’s degree in business management or a relevant program, along with the ability to demonstrate distinguished knowledge, experience, and skill in professional contexts. But a bachelor’s degree can only get you through an entry-level position while a master’s degree in a relevant field, along with necessary certifications, can lead you to new heights of success. 

Top Universities for Business Process Analyst Degree

The best universities to research in this field of study include the following: 

• Northwestern University
• University of Pennsylvania
• New York University

Salaries and Growth

Job positions for business process analysts are expected to grow by 11% between 2019 and 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), statistics which are quite faster than the average across all occupations. Business process analysts earned a median annual wage of $87,660 in May 2020, with the top 10% making about $156,840. 

 

 

 

 

5. Business Data Analyst Career Path

Goals and Objectives

A business data analyst plays a major role in business analytics projects and processes to offer data-driven insights into business performance. These professionals are also responsible for the following: 

• Developing strategies for future business initiatives and operational improvements 
• Applying analytical methodologies, statistical methods, data analysis, and modeling to support and inform decision making 
• Developing an understanding of business objectives, business models, challenges, and issues 
• Collaborating and interacting with stakeholders and users 

Qualifications and Courses

Business data analysts generally require a bachelor’s degree in statistics, finance, or any other quantitative field, along with 2-4 years of relevant experience.

Top Universities for Business Data Analyst Degree

Our top university choices for a Business Data Analyst degree that you should consider when applying are as follows:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
2. Carnegie Mellon University 
3. University of Pennsylvania 

Salaries and Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), business process analysts are in high demand, with their job positions expected to grow by 11% between 2019 and 2029, significantly faster than all other occupations. As of May 2020, business process analysts earned an average annual salary of $87,660, with the highest 10% earning more than $156,840 every year. 

6. Amazon Business Analyst Career Path 

Goals and Objectives

Some of the Amazon Business Analyst career goals and objectives include finding the right data to forecast the project path and required deliverables. 

An Amazon business analyst’s job objectives typically revolve around the following responsibilities:

• Chalk out and maintain Operational Metrics forecasts 
• Develop analysis reports on Project, New Initiatives, and Strategic Decisions 
• Track project issues, acceptance criteria, concerns, and deliverables 
• Undertake data-mining and analysis by employing tools such as MySQL, SQL, OBIEE, MS Excel, Oracle BI, and Cognos 
• Participate in professional and industry networks to ensure information and awareness of industry trends, standards, and best practices

Qualifications and Courses

These professionals must also hold business metrics formulation skills for data visualization, apt knowledge of SQL and Microsoft Excel, exceptional communication and problem-solving skills, and outstanding organizational skills. 

Top Universities for Amazon Business Analyst Degree

Becoming an Amazon business analyst comes with particular educational requirements, including a bachelor’s degree in finance, business, statistics, and other relevant fields, along with more than three years of experience. But a master’s degree in a relevant field is a compulsion to climb up the corporate ladder in this field, and the following universities stand as the best options: 

• MIT ranks first for its Master of Business Analytics, which amalgamates modern scientific data with a quest to uncover solutions for critical business challenges. 

• Austin McCombs School of Business offers a Master of Science in Business Analytics, which includes courses that can build a solid foundation for this career path.

• USC Marshall School of Business offers a Master of Science in Business Analytics with relevant courses in this field. 

Salaries and Growth

According to Glassdoor, an Amazon business analyst’s salary ranges between $123,000 – $187,000 per year, with the median annual salary standing at $150,345 per year. Their estimated additional pay, which may include commission, bonus, stock, profit sharing, or tips, is around $39,252 per year.

Although BLS does not explicitly mention the growth potential of Amazon business analysts, it estimates a 9% increase in the job outlook for financial analysts between 2021 and 2031. 

7. Business Development Analyst Career Path 

Goals and Objectives

A business development analyst delivers solutions that enable organizational change and maximize stakeholder value. These professionals bridge the gap between business teams and I.T. professionals to root out requirements, evaluate processes, and generate reports for stakeholders and executives. Their job responsibilities include the following: 

• Collecting business requirements from stakeholders and clients 
• Identifying a business’s objectives and coming up with logical solutions for potential problems 
• Providing feedback on software application layouts 
• Interact with the development team to come up with solutions for particular problems 
• Conduct meetings with clients and stakeholders to discuss solutions to joint problems 

Qualifications and Courses

A career as a business development analyst comes with strict education and professional requirements, including a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business development, or other relevant fields, along with a Master of business administration degree (MBA). These professionals also require prior experience as a business development analyst and established skills in CRM software, such as SalesForce and ProWorkflow, and business management. They must also hold specialized knowledge of business development and sales strategies and be able to identify potential clients and profitable business opportunities. 

Top Universities for Business Development Analyst Degree

The best universities that can help you pursue a career as a business development analyst include the following:

• Northwestern University
• University of Pennsylvania
• New York University

Salaries and Growth

Job positions for business development analysts are expected to grow by 11% between 2019 and 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), statistics which are quite faster than the average across all occupations. Business development analysts earned a median annual wage of $87,660 in May 2020, with the top 10% making about $156,840.

8. Technical Business Analyst Career Path

Goals and Objectives

Technical business analysts are professionals responsible for collecting acceptance criteria and requirements for new projects, documenting technical requirements, undertaking systems testing, and documenting technical requirements. 

Qualifications, Growth, Salaries

So if you are looking to pursue this career path, it is necessary to opt for a bachelor’s degree in commerce, information technology, or computer science and ensure proficiency in the basics of computer programming languages, such as Python and Structured Query Language. Their salary range is the same as that of business development analysts and related professionals which range a median annual wage of $87,660 in May 2020, with the top 10% making about $156,840.

Top Universities for Technical Business Analyst Degree

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management amalgamates its expertise with support from the MIT Operations Research Center to offer a Master of Business Intelligence.
• Georgia Institute of Technology ranks 3rd in Business Analytics and 26th in Best Business School, with the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Institute of Technology offering courses highly beneficial path. 
• Carnegie Mellon University’s Master of Information Systems Management: Business Intelligence and Data Analytics is a blended program standing on the intersection of management, data analytics, strategy, and I.T. 

Is a career in business analytics worth it?

Becoming a business analyst does not come with a linear career path, but there are a few benchmarks you need to achieve. Even though we’ve mentioned the steps earlier here is brief outline of what it takes to climb the ladder to success and the reasons why this career is satisfying for business analyst aspirants. 

Get a Business Analytics Degree 

Go for a degree that can offer you a solid foundation as a business analyst and helps you get into senior and consultancy roles later on. This may include a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration, accounting, and finance. But that does not mean you cannot pursue a career as a business analyst if you hold a degree in a different field.  

Gain Computer Programming Knowledge 

It is pivotal for a business analyst to hold a basic understanding of computer programming that can help with data analysis. You can easily attain these skills through I.T. training and certification, both of which are even available online. BA aspirants need to understand that in the age of artificial intelligence, more is expected out of their roles. Jafri tells us, “Collaboration with data scientists and AI teams is becoming more common, especially on projects involving machine learning and automation. BAs now help define inputs, outcomes, and ethical considerations for AI solutions. Their involvement in identifying processes for automation, like RPA, is also growing. There’s a rising demand for hybrid roles that blend business analysis with data or product skills. Modern BAs need to be tech-savvy while still excelling in communication and stakeholder management. Understanding AI ethics, data privacy, and bias has become part of the role. Ultimately, today’s BAs are not just adapting to change—they are driving it.”

Get Relevant Work Experience 

First, junior or senior business analytics professionals need to understand their main roles and goals. Think like stakeholders and business owners: “Return on investment is critical in every project, if you are spending funds and resources, you want to ensure … it to its full capacity and get more beneficial. If an ROI is not substantial then rethink on the approach on how to increase it and be more efficient in delivering goal. Metrics or Objective key result (OKR) is also another measurement that team universally to capture the benefit of the project before executing on it to ensure all stakeholders are aligned and have the same vision.”  Moreover, you need to use your skills to, “Steer co committee to engage all stakeholders across the organization such as business, engineering, security, compliance, PM, Finance, Accounting and others ground the team and keep them updated on regular progress to keep everyone in the loop. Team alignment is important along with open communication,” explains Jafri.

So, you cannot embark on the path to becoming a successful business analyst without relevant work experience. You can do so by doing an internship with a small company, gradually building up to an entry-level position in a company where you can take on real-world responsibilities and assist with a professional business analyst’s tasks. 

Go Business Analyst Certification 

A business analyst certification is one of the most practical ways of kickstarting your career as an expert. Apart from a degree, certifications like CBAP, CCBA and Agile can help in developing advanced skills required to enter the industry. Such certification can help you gain all the necessary advanced skills in business data analytics, project management, database analytics, predictive analytics, and operations research. Not only can they augment your professional standing as a potential employee, but they can also help you step up the game and advance to a position better than your current one. 

Final Thoughts

Becoming a business analyst is undoubtedly a good career choice if you are a business, finance, and economics enthusiast. With generous salaries prospects, job security, and a supportive marketplace, this career path offers it all. 

If you enjoy problem-solving, work with technologies, and people then this is the right career for you. Sabin Jafri likes to, “interact with stakeholders, uncover their real needs, and then work with developers or IT teams to design the best possible solutions. I love the challenge of turning complex requirements into clear, actionable insights that make a real impact. Also, I enjoy working cross-functionally, and being a business analyst puts me right at the center of collaboration, communication, and continuous improvement.” It may sound overwhelming, but with the right concoction of hard work and determination, there is nothing stopping you from landing a lucrative business analyst career. 

 

Expert Contributor

This article has been reviewed and contributed by: 

Sabin Jafri is an experienced 15+ finance and business management professional with a strong background in implementing process improvements and enhancing operational efficiency with project management skills. With extensive experience at Microsoft, she has managed various roles involving finance, treasury, and business program manager. She has been featured in Treasury & Risk for outstanding role in real-life challenges and how she overcame them. She holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Karachi, along with a Business Intelligence Implementation Certificate from Cascadia Community College. Connect via LinkedIn

 

 

 

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