The COVID-19 pandemic led to a number of changes in all our lives, both working and at home, and has brought about an uncertainty across the job markets. But this very change could be the perfect opportunity for you to make a successful career move.
Now, more than ever, businesses are having to make improvements across their operations, becoming more efficient, reducing waste and adding value. As such, Business Analysts are being called upon to investigate, analyse and advise in Business Transformation
What is a Business Analyst?
Firstly, what is a Business Analyst, and what do they do? A Business Analyst works within a company to help plan and manage ‘change projects’ in line with the company’s goals. The analyst will learn and understand the problems the business is facing and come up with the best possible solutions for them. They work with a project manager, development team and other internal and external departments to ensure the solution is successfully implemented.
Your Skills Repurposed
So what makes a great Business Analyst? I hear you ask. You may be surprised that many of the personal competencies you already use daily in your current job would make you a perfect candidate:
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Communication and influencing skills: can you inform, advise, and provide feedback, guiding stakeholders or colleagues to a decision? Communication is a core skill for a Business Analyst, whether it is with the stakeholders of the business you are consulting with, the employees you are communicating the change to, or the systems experts who are implementing your solutions.
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Relationship building: no matter your profession, you will have had experience building relationships, whether it was to ensure a sale, or to make sure a customer was happy with their experience. If you can engage and build rapport with people from different backgrounds and roles, then you are well on your way.
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Attention to detail: how is your attention to detail? Do you spot spelling mistakes in leaflets or perhaps you can spot a line of code that is out of place? Ensuring quality and accuracy is a key skill in a Business Analyst role. If you are used to writing reports, emails and letters and pride yourself in ensuring you never make a mistake, then you have mastered a key skill for this role.
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Analytical skills and problem-solving capabilities: if you enjoy breaking a problem down to its core parts, really delving into the nitty-gritty, and creating a range of solutions, you are definitely Business Analyst material!
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Teamwork: working with and leading teams is a fundamental skill used by Business Analysts to really be able to understand how the company works and to be able to successfully implement the new status quo; and best of all, we have all worked collaboratively at some point in our careers!
Where to go from here?
So, you have the personal skills needed, but surely there is more to it than that? How do you acquire the business qualities and professional knowledge you need to pursue your new career?
For many, gaining a Business Analysis qualification is their best chance of success. Amatis Training provides BCS-accredited online and classroom-based courses with an unrivalled pass rate. As Liam, a former student mentions;
“Before I did the course, I had some interest from employers but not a lot. A lot of my feedback was to gain more experience and knowledge of the field. I went on this course, successfully passed it… and had quite a bit more interest. And I have now successfully gained a BA role.”
Not sure that a career as a Business Analyst is for you?
Amatis Training is the only provider that has broken down a selection of essential industry standard BCS courses to give you a taster of what a Business Analyst role looks like. Start with the Foundation in Business Analysis to gain a full understanding of the role, or explore the other courses Amatis has to offer.
All of Amatis’ courses have been authored by qualified and experienced practitioners. You can learn anytime, anywhere in the way that suits you, online, and through the Amatis app, which supports learning for students on the go.
For more information take a look at the Amatis training website at www.amatistraining.com, or fill in the contact form for the chance to discuss the courses further with an expert.