A business analyst uses data analytics to help improve business services, products, and software. A lot of the work they do contributes to boosting a company’s efficiency and profitability, making them an exceptional asset!
However, it’s not as simple as it sounds. A business analyst requires a broad range of skills in order to succeed at their job. If this is something you’re considering for your career, here are some non-negotiable skills to work on.
Technical Knowledge
First and foremost, you need to make sure your knowledge of the technical side of things is up to scratch. You’ll need to be familiar with a vast array of different software programs, modeling tools, and IT systems. This extends far beyond your average Microsoft Office Suite! A solid understanding of databases and programming languages like SQL can massively improve your analytical capabilities and help you perform better.
Research
To be a successful business analyst, you also need to be a keen researcher. In this role, you’ll need to be able to identify problems, research them in-depth, and come up with innovative solutions to offer to the company. You’ll run into issues you won’t necessarily understand off the top of your head, and you’ll need to buckle down and make yourself understand them before you provide any answers.
Critical Thinking
Doing research and presenting your findings is one thing. However, being able to critically analyze the situation and determine the best possible way forward requires some more thinking. Before stepping into this role, make sure you sharpen your critical thinking so you’re able to really consider the data analytics in front of you and consider the pros and cons of all viable options.
Communication
Unlike other types of researchers, you won’t be holed up in your office taking notes and typing away at your laptop all day. Instead, you’ll be in constant communication with clients, business leaders, and developers. You’ll need to be good at expressing yourself and communicating your ideas with others. You’ll even need to be a little persuasive as you pitch your suggestions to management and apply keen listening skills to be able to better understand your clients and the company’s needs.
Documentation
While there will be a lot of round-table discussions and boardroom meetings in this role, it can’t all happen verbally. A large portion of your role will involve writing and preparing documents that present the information you’re working on within a clear and well-formatted structure. Specification documents and the other types of material you’ll be working with can take practice to get just right.
Time Management
There’s a good chance that, as a business analyst, you’ll have multiple projects and deadlines on your plate at once. This is why time management is essential! You need to learn how to multitask without getting things mixed up and prioritize the most time-sensitive tasks each day and week. You’ll be working with other people and relying on them to provide you with information, so you’ll also need to match your schedule with this and prepare yourself for how you’ll handle setbacks and delays.
