How to Become a Business Analyst: My Top 5 Tips
Curious about becoming a Business Analyst? Discover how to land your dream role with our essential tips on gaining experience, certifications, networking, and more. Read below to transform your career
People often ask me, "How did I become a Business Analyst?" or "How did I crack my first interview?" Many are curious about the pay and the job's straightforward nature. If you're interested in this career, here are my top 5 tips to help you become a Business Analyst.
1. Experience Matters
Experience is crucial for a Business Analyst. While some roles might not require it, most do, especially in specific domains or technologies. As a Business Analyst, you need to understand the company's business landscape, which varies from small businesses to large enterprises.
For recent graduates, this might be challenging because business concepts are not always thoroughly covered in school. However, many business and engineering programs now teach entrepreneurship early on, helping you think from a Business Analyst perspective.
Companies expect Business Analysts to understand their audience, the roles involved, and how to meet their needs with solutions. In some startups and data-driven companies, analytical skills and the ability to derive insights from data are highly valued.
2. Certify & Gain Expertise
Certifications can be valuable, especially if you lack experience or specific knowledge. While certification alone won't guarantee a job, it can significantly boost your credentials. For some domains, like finance, insurance, or healthcare, certifications are essential. For example, the Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CAHIMS) is required for those pursuing a career in the US healthcare domain.
3. Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open
If you’re someone who is working in a project and see other business analysts or product managers in your team, then it is a good to keep your eyes & ears open and observe what they are doing. If you want to be like them someday, then you have to proactively think like them. Wherever possible, notice what kind of responsibilities they are playing in your team/project. You might not be able to notice 100% of what they are doing but atleast a few. That would potentially give you an idea whether that role would suit your skillset or not.
4. Network
Networking is crucial in both small and large organisations. Building a professional network can help you climb the career ladder, find opportunities, and develop social skills. Even if you're an introvert, learning to communicate effectively is essential for a Business Analyst.
Engage in networking within your organisation through events, coffee breaks, seminars, or tech fests. Also, participate in meetups, events, and workshops outside your organisation to learn from Business Analysts in other industries and gain valuable insights.
5. Build Your Resume & Apply for Interviews
Once you've followed the above steps, it's time to build your resume and start applying for interviews. If you’re not getting calls, try strategies to enhance your resume's appeal.
Never lie on your resume. Instead, ensure it aligns with the job responsibilities you're applying for. If you lack some skills, observe how others perform those tasks and confidently reflect that understanding in your resume. For example, if a job requires handling stakeholders and gaining consensus, describe how you’ve seen it done and how you would approach it based on best practices.
By following these tips, you'll be well-prepared to embark on a successful career as a Business Analyst.
Learn with me if you’re interested in journeys of becoming a Business Analyst OR even a product manager as I deep dive into each of these topics in my upcoming posts.
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Hi ! Its me Aditya ! I began my career as a Quality Analyst, progressed from Business Analyst to Senior Business Analyst, and now a Technical Product Manager. I enjoy what I do and through this medium, I share my experience, learnings, and pitfalls to help you on your journey.