A Business Analyst job requires the candidate to play a crucial role in the area of system development life cycle as he/she is the key person of liaison between the staff involved in the development of the system and the end users. The Business Analyst is required to look into the system requirement from a much broader prospective keeping both the business and the technical aspects in mind. A Business Analyst job requires the candidate to understand and analyse the business, operational and financial requirements of the systems owners as well as the end users and propose the amicable solution best suited for the business entity. Basically the Business Analyst is required to create an efficient project communication system between the system developers and system owners by simplified interpretation of the business requirements of the end users.
Candidates looking for the Business Analyst jobs are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or in any business related field like MIS (management information system). But most of the big companies prefer the candidates holding MBA degree with specialization in information system for these kinds of jobs. Normally for these kinds of jobs the level and type of educational qualification and specialization varies based on the complexity of projects and technologies used.
To pursue a career in this sector the candidates need to keep themselves updated on the latest advancements/changes in the business and technological world. Attending professional courses, further specialization, or studies in the required field is highly recommended to remain competitive for the best employment opportunities. Apart from the educational qualifications the candidates are also required have strong analytical skills to identify the loopholes and recommend enhancements or replacements in the business process. A candidate needs to be a good team player with problem solving skills. The candidate must possess good documentation skills in the areas like business proposals, requirement specifications, system model creation and functional specifications etc. This job also demands the candidate to possess good interpersonal skills to communicate efficiently with the system developers and the end users. Also, the candidate needs to have the ability to plan and prioritize the work.
Based on the salary survey conducted in the year 2007, the income earned by the Business Analysts reported was in between $64,000 to $87,000 a year, though it varies to a great extend depending on the company size, location, the nature of project and technology used. Career development path in this sector is very good. Depending on the experience along with expertise the Business Analysts has a good prospect to be promoted as senior business analyst, manager for information systems or even CTO. Nowadays it is a common trend among the Business Analysts with good expertise and experience to find lucrative job opportunities for working as independent consultants.
According to the job projections by analysts in this sector, approximately 146,000 new jobs are expected to come up in the coming years. Job opportunities in this sector has good prospect since the business entities continue to adopt and integrate new and sophisticated technologies.
