Before getting into the topic, let us first make sure we all understand what business analysis is and what a business analyst does.
Business analysts help in identifying and bringing about changes within an organization. They do this by defining the needs of an organization and providing suitable solutions to all business-related problems.
So, what does a business analyst do? They study the historical business data and information and evaluate the current strategy to make informed decisions about next steps for the business to develop and grow.
Anybody can be a business analyst, however those with relevant educational qualifications in business studies, programming, and computer science will find the transition to become a business analyst a lot smoother. But if you are a working professional and a subject matter expert, you can switch to this career should you wish.
And why you might wish to is what we are here to discuss. Let’s look at some of the main reasons as to why you would want to become a business analyst.
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You Like to Work With Others (Enhanced interpersonal skill)
Business analysts don’t just work with one team. Their role requires them to work with different teams such as developers, programmers, testers, senior managers, end users and client representatives to analyze the problem within their areas and provide options or solutions that meet their needs.
In order to do that, they must communicate with others on a regular basis, and listen to opinions and suggestions from other teams.
Sometimes you may even have to travel to different countries and meet different clients from various backgrounds and areas of expertise.
These constant interactions with different people improve your interpersonal skill, makes you a team player, and lead you to enhance the company’s growth.
So if you like meeting new people and love to work with others then a BA role might be for you
Constant learning
There is never a dull moment when you become a business analyst. Unlike other jobs where you might work on the same process/product for years, a business analyst would have to work on different projects on a weekly or monthly basis expanding their knowledge about different subject matters.
Many business analysts stick to providing technical solutions, some stick to providing business solutions, and some use the combination of both i.e., business and technology to strategize and take the goal of the company forward. Regardless of which they always need to be learning about new and better methods to improve the end user’s experience
No matter which domain you work with, you will come across diverse experiences which can improve your learning curve. The mistakes that you make will help you inspect all the possibilities of a project thereby making you wiser as you progress in this career.
You Can Directly Impact Business Performance (Improving business)
The sole aim of a business analyst is to improve the business. If you are someone with a great analytical mind that has a knack for solving problems enabling you to identify areas that have been hindering the company’s growth, you will certainly enjoy recommending solutions that improve the business.
Once the solution is provided, your next step is to evaluate the result of the solution and see if it works just the way you expected it to work. This role may be a bit challenging at times, but it is worth it when you see your work impact people and business.
So, if you are someone who likes to see the outcome of their ideas or who likes to know that what they are doing has made a difference, working as a business analyst might be right for you. With this role you will drive change and be able to see that change be deployed and the results come in – all in real time.
Varied job roles and responsibilities
Unlike other jobs, business analysts do not have a well-defined set of responsibilities. The nature of the job gives them different responsibilities for different projects as they work across teams. This will also change project by project and organization by organization.
All those responsibilities would keep them attentive and engaged. The responsibilities that come with this job would never keep the business analyst always on the move. There is no monotonous routine associated with this job.
So, if you are a working professional who wants to switch careers and take up something that lets you work across multiple workflows and where there is never a dull moment then this might be for you.
Better salary
On an average business analysts are paid $70,000 per year. People who serve as a business analyst for reputable companies can earn close to $150,000 per year or even more depending on their skill sets and the salary threshold of the company.
There are many factors that come into play when we calculate the salary for a business analyst like experience, skill sets, company’s reputation and many more.
But, still compared to many other job positions in different sectors, business analysts have a good scope in earning higher pay as they gain experience in their field of working.
Flexibility
No employee likes when he or she is constantly looked over the shoulder and micro-managed. If you want to become a business analyst, you can be assured that you will not be micromanaged.
This is a highly flexible job where you can work independently without much supervision.
Since you have to work with different teams and understand the problems in a broader sense, nobody can meddle with your role. Others can offer their suggestions and opinions but the entire responsibility of finishing the job efficiently lies with you.
Highly In-demand job
A study says that the job market for the business analysts may bloom much higher than anticipated by 2026.
It is predicted that there would be over 800,000 job openings for business analysts in the near future. The reason for this demand is that businesses are growing everywhere and no business is there, without any risk or problems.
So, companies are constantly looking for business analysts to navigate the company’s way for better growth. They need someone who can provide long-term sustainable solutions for short-term problems, and modify the solutions when needed.
Way to other careers
If you become an experienced business analyst and want to switch your career (many don’t want to, but just in case if you want to try your hands at something new) you can land a new career pretty easily.
Here’s why. Since you have worked with different teams across different departments, you have hands-on experience on various projects, and the knowledge you have gained out of it would be paramount.
So, if you are applying for higher positions, the chances of you getting that role is very bright.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, being a business analyst would be most rewarding in two aspects. One is you can make a good living with good scope for career growth.
Second and most importantly, as a business analyst you would never cease to learn. It becomes a lifelong growth that enhances you both personally and professionally. You would be able to work on different levels of projects within an organization and your work experience would be highly valued.