Comments on: So, you want to be a BA?

By: Lubhit

Lubhit — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:09:54 +0000

Hi All,

This is a very webpage.

I am working as Business Analyst for last 4 yrs and have worked in various different industry verticals likes Construction, High tech, Healthcare, Telecom etc.

I have keen interest to move & become a business coach. But my difficulty is that i don’t have all my BA experience in a single industry.

Here are 3 questions I have for you all:

1. Having experience in multiple industry i.e. 2 yrs in each industry, will this be a hurdle or a benefit for me if i wish to move into buisness coaching role ? if hurdle, please guide me in terms how can i mitigate this issue?

2. I am working currently in IT Software Service industry, based in India. Can you suggest which will be a suitable industry to place yourself if you want to move from BA to Business coaching roles and later moving into core industries like Manufacturing, Retail chains etc.

3. I am specialized in Supply chain, so do you think I can position myself as a Business Analyst in Supply chain rather than being stated as a BA with experienced in multiple industry verticals?

Please help address these queries, response much appreciated.

Thanks
LS

By: Angie

Angie — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:28:51 +0000

Hi Sam, I say that if the passion and drive are there, it is never to late to change career paths. I am sure you have acquired some good problem-solving and analytical skills in your current job. I would suggest you first do some serious soul searching about what type of work you would like to do. I often tell people to make a list of all the things you really enjoy and think about how you can translate the skills, and strong characteristics that you already have-into paid work. Think about who could use your skills? If your personal goal is the career of business analysis you will need education and work experience. Please consider our training classes, especially Essential Skills for Business Analysis really lays out the role of a BA.

One thing you might consider if you really want to gain entry into a new career is something I heard on Good Morning America. Think about being an “extern” for a company that needs a business analyst but cannot afford to hire one. . ‘ An internship or externship (the words are often used interchangeably) focuses on giving your time and talent in a business environment to benefit your career. An intern is usually still in college and works (with or without pay) to gain real-world experience. An externship is the same thing but for someone who’s no longer in school.” If you can afford to do this, you could gain real work experience as a business analyst to add to your resume and further your career. Check it out.

The article includes a template for creating a proposal to prospective employers. Think about the skills you already have that you can barter with a prospective employer and think about what experience they could provide you in breaking into the role of a business analyst.. The article is: ” How an Externship Could Lead to Your Next Job”, http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/JobClub/story?id=8186305&page=1

Best of luck to you in whatever new career path you choose!

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:34:44 +0000

I finished my Bachelor degree in Business IT back in 2001. I have been working at a school for many years in Admin role which is not related to my studies. The years have passed and I now I am fed up with my current Job.

I am wondering is it too ambitious to consider becoming a Business Analyst. If it is possible where to start?.

By: Kupe

Kupe — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:53:09 +0000

Hi Micha,

3rd line support or not, you have the right attitude. Trying to understand why the users need something leads to the right solution.

Based on your comment about yoiur manager you may need to do somethings on your own time to prove to him that the functional designs or other techniques will add value.

It appears you want to look at things from a higher perspective than just the bug fix in front of you. Can you start to group some of these fixes and raise the issue that a larger enhancement needs to be put in place to avoid all of the fixes?

Good luck and keep pushing to understand why!

By: Michiel

Michiel — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:05:27 +0000

I am a software developer, working in 3rd line support at the proverbial cubicle with pizza-cola, in the role of bugfixing / “extinuishing fires”.

I had a brief 1,5 years experience as Junior Business Analyst and gained experience leading requirements workshops, user training, writing small business cases and creating plannings. The methodology used was RUP, UML, use Cases and PRINCE2. My management was very happy with me acting as references.
But, because projects sized down i was forced to revert back to the pizza-cola environment. I am now stuck so far away from users that i wonder if my work ever comes to “end users”?

Whats my motivation for wanting to being a BA? I want to know WHY the users needs functionality.

I have informed my manager about my desire to make Functional Designs but he reminded me my job is exlusively restricted to 3rd line support.
What concrete obious immediate actions would you recommend for me?

groetjes,
Micha.

By: NewbieBA

NewbieBA — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:24:42 +0000

Hi everyone,
I am from Melbourne and am interested in furthering my career in Business Analysis. I am looking for opportunities where I can build my skills and further my career as a BA. I am currently a BA (although I have not gained much from my current role) and have worked in application support roles (the link between the business users and the senior BA’S and IT techs). I am not a technical person and hence it is hard as many employers want experienced and technical BA’S. Any advise would be much appreciated.
Regards,
Newbie BA

By: Kupe

Kupe — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 21:00:33 +0000

Hey there breakthru,

I would love to talk to you about being your BA mentor. Shoot me an email at Kupe@b2ttraining.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

-Kupe

By: breakthru

breakthru — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 05:11:53 +0000

Thanks for the advice, Kupe. That was very useful… just the kind of info I need right now…
Ok, so here is the deal….I have a bachelors degree in MIS so I have the theoritical knowledge of what a BA does and I’m pretty sure that’s what I wanna do.However, in my bid to gain some practical experience,I’ve worked on projects dubbed as a BA only to realise it’s totally different from what a typical BA does.I was wondering if one of you seasoned veterans out there will be willing to act as a BA mentor to me.If so, please let me know how to get in touch.Thanks!

By: jfreak5

jfreak5 — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:31:03 +0000

I actually did implementations for years and was recruited by a former colleague to be a BA at another company because he knew I didn’t want to travel anymore… It has been a hard transition though, going from the implementation side to the development side because I always want to just take the ‘customers’ requirements and make them happen, rather than really analyze them to see if they are feasible/reasonable… I guess I need some BA training of sorts even though I have been a BA for 2.5 years!! Just to get the formal perspective on the process.

By: bizvalu.blogspot.com

bizvalu.blogspot.com — Fri, 11 May 2007 20:00:28 +0000

I have to agree that the best way to be a BA is to find opportunites within the same company as you currently are. That way, you’ll have a lot more factors to help you, which in newer environments can come back to bite you and frustrate you.

And, it is very important to understand what you want to do more than just wanting to be a BA. That’s because I have come across many requirements for BAs that, if you read the deatails of, are not what ideally a BA should be doing.