Being a business analyst can be a difficult job. Do you have the analytical and data skills to start your career? In this article, we give you the rundown on what you will be doing, the qualifications you may need and the work experience that can help you develop your skills. Read on to learn more about the salary and benefits that you’ll receive as a business analyst.
What do Business Analysts do?
In short, business analysts investigate situations and problems to find improvements for businesses. You have direct communication with managers and can learn what is needed for the business. Noting how the business works and what they do are crucial to analysing a business's data.
Data, which you are presented with from the business, requires you to analyse your findings—suggesting effective changes and improvements for the business to implement into their relations. With the changes, you will need to explain the possible effects that the changes can have on the business, including costs, benefits and risks.
Seeing the suggestion you give through to completion is crucial, as you must create tests and quality checks to support your solutions and show the success rate. Whilst analysing and implementing suggestions, your support of the staff through these changes is essential for success.
Qualifications for a Business Analyst
Education
As a business analyst, you must enrol in a university degree. These courses will develop your knowledge and teach crucial analytical skills that will be useful for this role. Gaining experience Some employers want a degree or postgraduate qualification in
- Business Information Systems
- Business Management
- Computing and Systems Development
- Computer Science
To enrol in these university courses, you will need 2 to 3 A-levels. Whilst post-graduate degrees need a degree from a relevant subject. When completing your degree, there are plenty of opportunities for experience in an internship, placement or year in the industry.
Work Experience
In the UK, there are apprenticeships available for both higher and degree certificates. You can choose between a Business Analyst apprenticeship or Project management in either higher or degree apprenticeships. Both these options will need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 and A-levels which are relevant. With this experience, your career path could be working as a consultant, project manager, or in different industries.
Skills needed to be a Business Analyst
Analytical Thinking Skills
As a business analyst, your analytical skills are what help you complete your day-to-day tasks. The ability to tackle complicated issues by evaluating the data gathered can influence your performance as an analyst. Detecting issues with sets of data and applying practical solutions is a skill employer look for.
Communication Skills
Communication isn’t just speaking, you must hold the ability to listen effectively, observe others and empathise with troubled people. Understanding people face-to-face, via phone calls and email or social media communication. Business analysts need to hold this skill to communicate the issues and problems that data shows as an analyst.
Customer Service Skills
Business analysts must encourage feedback and understand what your customer wants; sometimes they are also unsure. Knowing references towards data can be difficult for customers to understand, so speaking in a customer’s language is vital in your communication with customers.
Salaries of Business Analysts in the UK
In the UK, business analysts' average salary for mid-level positions is £40,000 per year. This is a highly paid career, as entry-level salaries offer an estimated £34,500. The highest salary for a business analyst in the UK is £87,000 per year. This graph shows you the pay by experience level.
Overview of a Business Analyst
| Profession Group | Information Technology |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18 years old |
| Education Requirements | Bachelor's Degree |
| Salary Indication | £40,000 |
| Related Jobs | Data Analyst or Project Manager |
FAQs about Business Analysts
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What are the three main roles of a business analyst?
- Creating a detailed business analysis
- Outlining problems
- Opportunities and Solutions for a business
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Is being a business analyst an IT job?
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What are the career paths for business analysts?
The main roles of any business analyst are:
A business analyst needs to have knowledge of both business and information technology. You're liaising between IT and executive persons in the business.
After 8 to 10 years in a business analyst position, you could advance to a chief technology officer, a chief operating officer or work as a consultant or freelance.