So, the first thing you need to do is to earn your degree if it is something that you do not already have. You will need to attend a four-year college that will end with you walking out with a bachelor's degree. There are many different majors that you can pick from and still find yourself with the job that you want. You could major in computer science, finance, engineering, or business. If you feel a little lost you can always head to the local bookstore and find industry guides that will walk you through what the business analysts of today are expected to walk in with.
You will also need to concentrate on getting your CBAP or your Certified Business Analyst Professional credentials through a high quality accredited institution. There are a wide variety of courses out there that can help you with the preparatory process so that you can begin to get completely prepared to take, complete, and pass the CBAP. Organizations such as the International Institute of Business Analysis can provide you with a lot of information on the courses that you will need to take for this.
While going through all of this, you will want to make sure that you are gaining as much experience in these type of careers as possible. The training that you receive should be hands on so that you really know what it is that you are doing. Work in fields and get training as public relations, business, communications, software engineering, or information technology. You can do this while you are still in school trying to complete your bachelor's degree. Even though it may seem like a lot of stress to take on employment along with studies, it will just get you that much closer to entering these careers you want once you graduate. If you can't find employment, unpaid internships can serve the same purpose.
Once you have completed the CBAP accreditation you might want to look for employment as a junior analyst. You might receive placement assistance through the organization that you received your certification from. It is also a good idea to make sure that you are attending various job fairs that come to the communities throughout the year. You can make a lot of wonderful connections this way and possibly land yourself the job of a lifetime. You just never know!
Remember, just like all careers, you are typically going to have to work your way up. Learn about the procedures, customer needs and policies and you will be well on your way to gaining the job, title, and salary that you want so much. After you have about four years of experience, maybe five, you will find that you have automatically become so much more important and a vital asset to the company you are working for. You can get promoted, ask for a raise, or start looking for better employment elsewhere.
Even though becoming a business analyst is a long road, especially if you have not yet started college, it is a road worth traveling because of the opportunities and the financial security that you will receive from such employment. All you have to do is get the education, the training, and the experience and you are well on your way. Even if later down the road, you decide that this is no longer the job title for you the training that you have received is enough to easily place you in many other types of employment so you do not have to worry about going through all of the steps for nothing.
