Planning to Pursue Your Career as Business Analyst?

How does it feel to start off with a new career path that looks very promising and at the same time you are unsure how to take the plunge? What exact skills you need to succeed in the given job? What experience you need to have or can you start afresh with no experience? Now let's ask similar questions when it comes to career as business analyst? Indeed it has a seemingly lucrative career path with good perks, good position in an organization, exciting growth paths? Maybe with a tinge of some glamor? Plus needless to say, a recognition. Of course, as seen from the outside.

I have received numerous such questions and requests for guidance, mentoring sessions, or for formal trainings from aspiring business analysts. It has always been an exciting and intriguing journey for me as a BA trainer/mentor. Every time it is a new opportunity to impart the 'skills and techniques' that a business analyst needs, and also to share real life experiences (as seen from inside).

Let's look at the top 3 concerns, questions or confusions one may have while thinking of starting a career as business analyst.

1. Zero experience in IT and as business analyst. Have some domain experience. What to do?

Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect. - Vince Lombardi

I remember one of my first BA training batches. It comprised of 8 participants from the U.S.. Many of them had some domain experience, but no IT experience, or BA experience. My first slide of the training did mention of the pre-requisites- as None. It was of course in line with the expectations of my trainer partner in the U.S. It was way back in 2013 or so. I myself was slightly concerned about how it would go. I had covered various BA techniques right from strategy analysis to detailed documentation to testing plus some of the SDLC and IT/BA bridging aspects. The participants had qualities of an aspirant BA, a curious mind, analytical and logical thinking, problem solving skills and a great attitude to learn new things. Domain or any business experience is always helpful.

In a nutshell, no IT experience, was not a huge hindrance to the learning. Participants learned through theory, mock exercises and group discussions altogether. It helped them as a 'toolkit' during their BA career to follow later. This is not to boast of my skills but to convey that people can learn job specific BA techniques and skills through training and continually work on improving those later once on the job.

2. I want to get a job first. I am not that interested in certifications right now

I'll be truthful. The weekly paycheck is the most important thing to me.- Bela Lugosi

Now this one is yet another crucial question. Everyone has bills to pay. Some of people who approached me for 1-1 coaching or mentoring of BA skills, their key concern was not whether or not they would get PDUs or whether they want to a professional certification.

They wanted to get the first job, first break or a first meaningful break. Alternatively they wanted to change the job. So the main thing or the priority was to succeed in the job interview first. How to prepare for the job interview. When they are asked of some techniques or some real life scenarios on how-to's in an interview, what is the right answer? When they are asked how they came up to choosing a certain BA technique, how to answer? When to choose use cases over user stories? How to write a user story? How to write those requirements clearly? Etc.

The key is while starting a new career as BA, the priority often is the real experience and know what industry needs. Certification can be taken later.

3. How to succeed in the job as Business Analyst?

Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.- Winston S. Churchill

Well to promise BA job 'success' after completion of a few days' BA training is humanly difficult. Success is personal. Success is earned and having succeeded doesn't mean there wont be any failures either. What I as trainer can say for sure is that I that each of the relevant business analysis technique needs to be covered through a combination of theory, group discussions, assignments and activities, questions/answers and direct review/feedback of the same.

Some people learn well in groups some learn in 1-1 mode. The on job success is comprised of many variables. At the same time, a consistent approach to continually learn and improve is a necessity. For success as business analyst, many global organizations such as IIBA, IREB PMI have their own tools and techniques and traits listed of a BA's KPIs, how a business analyst's performance can be monitored.

There are plenty of business analysis techniques to master, some are very standard (such as use case modeling, use cases, BPMN models, business or product requirements doc), some are used on need basis (story map, mind map, interface requirement doc).

While all of these may initially seem overwhelming for an aspirant BA. However each of these can be excelled at over the time with attention and practice.

ON AN ENDING NOTE

In this article I have listed top 3 concerns or questions an aspirant BA may have while starting a new career in this role. The points I have listed in no way undermine the importance of having rock solid educational background, or the importance of professional development through certifications. It only sheds a light on genuine concerns I have seen my participants or mentees had. I have also seen them excel over time through bridging-the-gap or job specific training, plus with their own hard work of course.

Thoughts?

AUTHOR INFO

Swati Pitre, CPRE?, CBAP?, is Sr. Business Analyst, Consultant and Trainer with 25+ years of industry experience across various domains and geographies. Her specialties include Process Improvement, BPM, Predictive Analytics, Product Development, Quality, and Governance. She undertakes various training courses such as CPRE?/CBAP?/CCBA?/ECBA? Prep Courses, Comprehensive BA Job oriented Course, BPMN, Agile BA Course, and several other customized courses. She is also a public speaker and has completed the Effective Coaching Pathway at Toastmasters International.

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