Career Guide: Becoming a Business Analyst

To become a business analyst is an exciting opportunity to drive change in organisations using both business and technical expertise. Business analysts are pivotal to an organisation’s strategy in achieving desired changes to processes and products to increase productivity and customer satisfaction. 

This guide reviews the role of business analysts and responsibilities, the skills required, business analyst salary expectations, and the steps to take to start a career in business analysis.

Main Types of Business Analysts

Systems Analysts

• Role: Technical depth; focusing on business solutions; liaising with IT departments to develop software and systems.
• Core Responsibilities: Conducting design at the level of ‘business solution’, turning business requirements into IT requirements, and ensuring that new or replacement systems meet business needs.

Process Analysts

• Role: Specialise Specialise in improving business processes and workflows, often through business process re-engineering (BPR).
• Responsibilities: Map current processes and identify inefficiencies to develop changes for higher production and cost efficiency.

Functional Analysts

• Role: The role of top management is to achieve the best possible results for individual business functions such as finance, human resources, or marketing.
• Primary Responsibilities: Eliciting requirements from users and stakeholders, mapping functional needs to business solutions, and ensuring that functional goals are being met.

Data Analysts

• Role: Work with data to provide insights and support decision-making processes. 
• Main Duties: monitoring, collecting, and analysing data and presenting it through reports and dashboards, looking for trends and opportunities for improvement.

What Does a Business Analyst Do? 

Business analysts analyse business needs and design solutions to allow the organisation to achieve its goals. His or her tasks can include. 

• Requirement Gathering: Working with stakeholders to identify and document business requirements.
• Data Analysis: Analysing data to identify trends, patterns, and insights that inform business decisions.
• Process Improvement: mapping and analysing current processes to identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements.
• Solution Design: designing and proposing solutions that align with business objectives and stakeholder needs. 
• Stakeholder Communication: Serving as a bridge between business units and IT departments to facilitate clear communications and the smooth implementation of projects.
• Testing and Validation: Ensuring that implemented solutions meet business requirements and function as intended.

Average Business Analyst Salary

The salary of a business analyst has quite a huge range, depending on the schedule and experience of a BA. These are some indicative salary ranges.

• Entry-Level Business Analyst: £25,000–£35,000 per year.
• Mid-Career Business Analyst: £35,000–£50,000 per year.
• Experienced Business Analyst: £50,000–£70,000 per year.
• Senior Roles (e.g., Lead Business Analyst): £70,000–£90,000+ per year.

In general, people tend to earn more in big cities than in more rural areas and more in certain types of industries (e.g., finance or technology).

Business Analyst Skills

To become a successful business analyst, you need to bring together technical and soft skills. 

Technical Skills:

• Data Analysis: Skilled at using Excel, SQL, and other software to analyse data, such as Tableau, to visualise it.
• Requirement Analysis: Ability to gather and document business requirements accurately.
• IT Knowledge: Understanding of IT systems and software development processes.

Soft Skills:

• Communication: Strong ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for identifying problems and developing innovative solutions.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to think critically and analytically to interpret data and business needs.
• Interpersonal Skills: Building strong relationships with stakeholders to facilitate collaboration.

Business Analyst Tips

• Stay Updated: Keep yourself informed of developments in the sector, new technologies, and current ‘best practices’. 
• Networking: Look for networking opportunities by joining a professional organisation such as the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). It provides members with professional development resources and archives. 
• Get Certified: Take the CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional) certification to show your expertise and advance your career. 
• Develop Soft Skills: Communication, problem-solving, and people skills are important to have as they will help your career in business analysis.  

Business Analyst Requirements

To become a business analyst, specific educational and professional requirements must be met:

• Education: Typically a bachelor’s degree in business, information technology, or a related field. A master’s degree is sometimes preferred. 
• Certifications: If you want to become a certified professional, then accomplishments such as the CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional) or PMI-PBA (Professional in Business Analysis) certification are recommended. 
• Experience: Business analysts need to acquire ‘on-the-job’ experience through internships and other entry-level positions. Many aspiring analysts begin in junior positions.

How to Become a Business Analyst

You need a bachelor’s degree in business, information technology, or a related area; some universities offer special programmes in business analysis.

• Get Experience: Internships or entry-level positions suited for business analysts can help hone practical skills. It’s always a good idea to get experience in different environments to develop a broad set of skills.
• Get Certified: CBAP (certified business analysis professional) from the IIBA is one of the most widely recognised BA certifications available, or you could consider more information-focused certifications such as PMI-PBA (project management institute-practitioner in business analysis). 
• Keep Learning: The business analysis discipline is rapidly evolving; stay current with trends, tools, and methods through continuing education and professional development. 
• Network: Professional associations can connect you with peers in your field. Industry events provide a chance to network and become better informed of trends and the availability of potential opportunities in the field.

Get Qualified as a Business Analyst

To gain the necessary qualifications, follow these steps:

• Complete Relevant Education: Obtain a degree in business, information technology, or a related field.
• Practice: Begin by taking on entry-level work or internships to build your skills.
• Pursue Professional Certifications: Earn certifications like CBAP or PMI-PBA to enhance your credentials.
• Attend Professional Organisations: Join professional organisations to network with colleagues and learn about developments in the field.

A Detailed Pathway to Becoming a Business Analyst

Complete Relevant Education.

• Step 1: Bachelor’s Degree The first step is to acquire a bachelor’s degree in business, information technology, or some other related field. Some universities also offer business analysis courses as part of their degree programs. The bachelor’s degree gives a solid foundation from which to learn about business processes, systems analysis, data management, and so forth.
• Step 2: Specialised Programs Take specialised programmes in business analysis. Some universities and online courses for business analysis are also available for those who want to improve their fundamental skills before claiming a BA title. 

Gain Practical Experience. 

• Step 3: Internships Get some hands-on experience with an internship. Internships provide exposure to real-world business analysis projects, help you learn practical skills, and can help you build your network. Interns often receive a job offer at the end of their internship term because they have impressed the company with their job performance. 
• Step 4: Entry-Level Jobs Search and apply for entry-level jobs at a business, specifically for the job position of an entry-level business analysis role, such as junior business analyst, business analyst intern, and business systems analyst. This helps to gain foundational skills in the dynamic of business analysis across industries.

Obtain Certifications

• Step 5: CBAP Certification Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) is a certification offered through the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). The process demonstrates that you have experience, education, and a commitment to the profession. You need at least 7,500 hours of business analysis work experience and a minimum of 35 hours of professional development in the last four years.
• Step 6: PMI-PBA Certification Next, consider the Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI), which is tailored to the business analyst within project management. You must have at least 4,500 hours of experience in performing business analysis if you have a bachelor’s degree, or 7,500 hours if you have a high school diploma or associate degree.

Continue Learning 

• Step 7: Continuous development Attend training events and webinars, as well as online and in-person training courses. Make sure to stay up-to-date on the latest in business analysis: concepts, structure, and elements, as well as software and applications.
• Step 8: Advanced Degrees Consider seeking an advanced degree such as a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with a specialisation in business analysis, a Master’s in Information Technology, or another relevant field. You can move to higher positions or specialise in occupations with advanced degrees.

Network

• Step 9: Join professional organisations such as the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) or the Project Management Institute (PMI) for valued professional networking, access to resources, and professional development after you qualify as a specialist.
• Step 10: Industry Events Network with your peers at industry conferences, workshops, and seminars, where you may also be invited to present and offer your expertise. Industry events can lead to employment, mentorships, and collaboration on projects. 

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Challenge 1: Gaining Relevant Experience 

• Solution: Internships, volunteer projects, and entry-level jobs can help you build experience. Use university career services and online job boards to find them. 

Challenge 2: Balancing Work and Study

• Solution: Attend online courses and part-time education courses that offer flexibility. Schedule your work and time to accommodate your study needs.

Challenge 3: Keeping Up with Industry Changes

• Solution: Continue learning through funded professional development courses or webinars, and check for industry-related news or professional publications. Consider joining professional bodies to help keep abreast of trends and best practices.  

Building a Successful Career as a Business Analyst

Maintain your career development by sharpening your abilities and staying up-to-date with industry trends. To become a successful business analyst, you should recognise that continuing your development is vital. To help you expand your career, below are some further tips to help you achieve success.

Pursue Advanced Certifications

• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP): This certification, available through the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), is for experienced business analysts. It requires that you demonstrate at least 7,500 hours of business analysis work experience and 35 hours of professional development in the last four years.
• PMI-PBA (Professional in Business Analysis): From the Project Management Institute (PMI), this is geared towards those involved in business analysis under project management. You need four and a half years of business analysis experience with a bachelor’s degree, or seven and a half years with a high school diploma or associate degree.

Develop Specialised Knowledge

You should also think about becoming a subject matter expert and learning about a specialised industry or field, such as healthcare finance or IT. Having a specialty might make you more valuable to employers and help you find additional career opportunities.

Enhance Your Technical Skills

Keep up-to-date with the tools and technologies used in business analysis. Business analysts can boost their performance by becoming proficient with tools used in data analysis (such as Excel, SQL, and Tableau), as well as project management (such as Microsoft Project or JIRA) and modelling (such as Visio and Lucidchart).

Build Strong Relationships

You will need to use networking skills to build a career. Join professional organisations, attend industry functions, and connect with others in the field, such as fellow business analysts. This may lead to mentoring relationships, job referrals, and collaborations.

Seek Continuous Learning

Because business analysis is a moving target, you should be sure to continually learn by taking additional professional development classes, workshops, and reading industry publications. Learn about new business analysis tools and techniques, innovative methodologies, and best practices. 

Gain Experience in Different Industries

Rotating jobs across diverse companies might broaden your set of tools and give you more insight into how different business models work. Seek cross-industry projects or jobs to diversify experience and improve problem-solving capabilities.

Get Qualified as a Business Analyst 

Business Management Certificate, Business Development

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Becoming a Business Analyst

Why should you be a business analyst? Becoming a business analyst offers a dynamic and rewarding career with numerous opportunities for growth. Business analysts play a crucial role in helping organisations optimise their processes, improve efficiency, and achieve their strategic goals. This profession offers good job security, competitive salaries, and the potential for advancement. Additionally, business analysis skills are highly transferable, allowing for diverse career paths and opportunities across various industries.
Is business analysis a good career choice for you? Business analysis is an excellent career choice if you have strong analytical skills, enjoy problem-solving, and have a passion for improving business processes. It suits individuals who can communicate effectively, think critically, and work collaboratively with stakeholders. If you are interested in bridging the gap between business needs and technological solutions, a career in business analysis can be highly fulfilling.
Business analyst salaries Salaries for business analysts vary based on experience, location, and the size of the company. Entry-level business analysts typically earn between £25,000 and £35,000 per year. Mid-career professionals can expect to earn between £35,000 and £50,000, while experienced business analysts may earn £50,000 to £70,000 annually. Senior roles, such as lead business analysts, can command salaries exceeding £90,000 per year. Salaries tend to be higher in major cities and for those working in specialised industries such as finance or technology.
Which qualifications can help with a career in business analysis? To pursue a career in business analysis, obtaining a relevant degree in business, information technology, or a related field is beneficial. Professional certifications such as CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional) or PMI-PBA (Professional in Business Analysis) are highly valued and often required for advanced positions. These certifications demonstrate expertise and commitment to the profession, enhancing career prospects.
Do I need to be an experienced business analyst to get started? No, you do not need to be an experienced business analyst to get started. Many entry-level positions and internships are available for those new to the field. These roles provide valuable hands-on experience and training. It’s essential to build your skills and gain practical experience while pursuing professional certifications to advance in your career.
Business Analyst Career Outlook The career outlook for business analysts is positive, with strong demand across various industries. As businesses seek to improve efficiency and adapt to changing market conditions, the need for skilled business analysts continues to rise. The increasing reliance on data-driven decision-making and process optimization ensures that business analysts will remain essential, offering stable and rewarding career opportunities.
Business Analyst Hierarchy and Progressing Within the Role The typical career progression for business analysts starts with entry-level positions such as junior business analyst or analyst. With experience and additional certifications, professionals can advance to roles like senior business analyst, lead business analyst, or business analysis manager. Continuous learning and professional development are key to climbing the career ladder in business analysis. Advanced roles may involve leading project teams, managing multiple business analysis projects, or specialising in specific industries or domains.
Business Analyst Exit Options and Opportunities Business analysts have a wide range of exit options and opportunities outside of traditional business analysis roles. Their skills are highly transferable, allowing for careers in project management, consulting, product management, and even entrepreneurship. Experienced business analysts can transition into roles such as project manager, business consultant, or product owner. Additionally, some may choose to start their own consulting firms, leveraging their expertise to offer specialised services.