If you are toying with the idea of building your career as a Business Analyst, now is the time to get down to business (pun intended!) The pandemic unpredictability, technological evolution, and intense competition seem to have worked in favor of Business Analysts (BA) worldwide.
In a scenario where businesses are trying to keep their heads above water, having a good business analyst on their side is a priceless commodity. Companies are, therefore, offering business analyst contract jobs for skilled candidates. This is the ideal time to establish yourself as a business analyst and carve a terrific career path. Interested in exploring what this career holds for you? Read on.
What Does A Business Analyst Do?
What do business analysts do? For starters, this is a multifaceted role that entails more than half a dozen responsibilities which include:
- Analyzing the processes, workflow, procedures, data, and strategies.
- Devising strategies that align with the business objectives.
- Serving as a vital link between departments.
- Resolving business issues and devising technical solutions.
- Aiding in the design of new IT systems or modification of the existing business system.
- Interacting with business stakeholders and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to identify their needs.
- Collaborating with technical teams and developers to ensure the health of the systems.
The best thing about being a business analyst is that you are not restricted to any particular industry or domain. For you, the world’s your oyster! Your expertise is valuable for giant corporates, non-profits, finance-related businesses, market agencies, and government agencies alike. Fresh recruits with IT jobs in South Carolina kick off their career with entry-level positions related to their undergraduate degree. From there, they take on various opportunities and roles to scale their career. Here’s a sneak peek into how you will evolve with various roles in this career.
6 Roles That Define A Business Analyst’s Career
- Business Analyst Manager
You’ll need a bachelor’s in finance or business administration – plus experience as a general business analyst to qualify for this position. This is a role with a plethora of responsibilities. You will be:
- Recruiting members of the BA team
- Overseeing their training
- Aiding the decision-making process with your research
- Ensuring consistent improvement
- Implementing organizational goals
- Mentoring entry-level BAs
You will also be responsible for maintaining open communication within the team and ensure steady improvement in their performance.
2. IT Business Analyst
This is a job that is apt for BAs who are exceptionally good with numbers. This role requires you to:
- Work on multiple operating systems and projects
- Develop stronger roles in the business process
- Find technological solutions for business requirements
- Improve the quality of IT products and services
IT Business Analysts act as a communicating link between the IT and administrative departments.
3. Information Security Analyst
Otherwise known as Cybersecurity professionals, these analysts are currently in great demand. The entire responsibility of protecting the organization from hackers and cybercriminals is up to the professional who takes on this role. Some of the main responsibilities of this job are:
- Interpreting security data
- Monitoring IT networks
- Upgrading security measures to protect data
- Thwarting hacking attempts
- Identifying and eliminating weaknesses in the system
4. Quants Analyst
Also known as a quantitative analyst, this is a highly challenging role fit for those with a Ph.D. or masters in economics, mathematics, or computational engineering. Quants specialists devise and implement mathematical models that support the financial decisions of an organization. Currently, there is a big demand for quants analysts to fill up four types of positions:
- Financial engineer
- Quantitative developer
- Quantitative trader
- Quantitative researcher
5. Data Business Analyst
These analysts work with large data sets to find answers that aid business decisions. This job is for you if you are adept with statistics and programming and possess good research skills. The responsibilities include:
- Identifying trends
- Creating visual presentations
- Creating graphs
6. Data Analysis Scientist
Candidates who have experience in this role are hard to find, given the unique skill sets and data science education requirements. What do data analysis scientists do? They derive meaning from data, interpret it, and create actionable insights.
Despite a colorful career path, a Business Analyst’s job doesn’t come without challenges. We reveal four major pitfalls to avoid while you are forging ahead in this career.
4 Pitfalls To Sidestep In Your BA Career
- Restricting yourself to technical skills
Big mistake. Your skillset should be a mixed bag of technology, communication, analysis, problem-solving, and business acumen skills.
2. Lack of expertise in a specific business analyst role
You cannot settle for broad, generalist skills. You need the expertise and experience to handle the challenges of diverse and specialized projects.
3. Avoiding opportunities to collaborate
Like all other jobs, you need to collaborate with other teams to share and implement your ideas. Lack of collaboration will stagnate your career in the long run.
4. Not involving senior management
Without the involvement of senior management, there will be no one to support and mentor you. If you want to take on more significant projects and improve your skills, you need to share your ideas with your senior management.
Conclusion
Every business needs the support of a talented BA to deliver optimal performance and stay ahead of the competitive curve. Therefore, know what it takes to make your role unique to ensure you stand in a league of your own.
