A Brief Guide to a Career in Business Analytics

Business analytics is a field, created by the culmination of data science and commerce. The role of an analyst is mostly a management role armed with responsibilities in the digital playground of business.  A business analyst is responsible for analysing business data and driving the business towards a safer and more efficient future. This is a huge responsibility indeed, and for handling it a BA needs to have a piece of working knowledge in statistics and data science. Markets and consumer mindset is rapidly changing, demanding quick adaptation and action from services and businesses. A business analyst is a key to make quick adaptations and action in accordance with changing times.

Additionally, a business analyst should work for better coordination between different divisions and sectors involved in a business. In order to achieve greater efficiency, robust utilization of data and a whole new level of communication is important. And a business analyst acts as a bridge between not only data science and management but also between different sectors operating in a business. This article will shed light on the ways of becoming a business analyst and enlighten regarding all the aspects of the training, granting the reader with a better opportunity for making the right decision. 

What it takes and what to look for

A business analyst can hold an MBA degree from any reputed university or simply complete a certificate or diploma course. However, at-work training is very important for landing an excellent job. A course with rigorous training and the opportunity of gaining valuable work experience is important. The key is to select a course intended to prepare the students with industry-ready qualifications. Idle time in the career is never a good thing to possess and getting a job just after finishing studies remains a difficult game altogether in our country as well. Hence, institutes offering industry-ready training followed by placement assistance are always preferred for budding professionals. 

Cities to look for the right training.

Obviously, cities with the most businesses and headquarters are the best choice for looking for the right institutes. A city hosting major businesses will not only provide better infrastructure but additional privileges of gaining field experience. The presence of big businesses in the near vicinity will also ensure better faculty and facilities. And getting a job will be easier as an intensive network will automatically form during a student’s tenure as an intern or trainee at businesses.  

Thus, a business analytics course in Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai is the most beneficial for an aspirant in our country. Cities like Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Chennai can also be considered but there is a clear lack of options in terms of courses and institutes in the latter three cities. 

Relocation is sometimes expensive in the national capital region and the financial capital but Bangalore remains in a sweet spot in terms of expenses and opportunities. 

The expected skills and the syllabus

The expected skills of a Business analyst are centered around management, statistics, and data science. Most institutes are seen to be emphasizing languages like python and R for introducing the candidate to data science. These languages are easier to learn and in terms of versatility, they are phenomenal.

The most important among the expected additional skills are statistics. A B.A. is responsible for continuous analysis of business data and making good use of the conclusions in favor of the business. Statistical prowess is the key factor for achieving completeness to the role. 

A holistic view of the businesses also essential for a business analyst. For ensuring better coordination and pragmatic decisions regarding products and services, a bird’s eye view of the infrastructure and processes is important. A skilled manager is a person who should take up the mantel of a business analyst. Hence, training involving honing management skills is inseparable from a B.A.’s arsenal of experiences. 

The first step after completion of training.

If a business analysis course comes packed with industrial training it can be considered complete. If not,  candidates should look for an opportunity to serve for knowledge on their own. Without proper training, it is somewhat risky to hold a position as important as a business analyst. 

Also Read: The Real Impact of Business Analytics on an Enterprise

If the education and training part of the career is taken seriously and done from a city hosting a lot of businesses. A student will automatically have a lot of contacts and will become a part of a huge network. Not just for better jobs, networking is important even before enrolling in a course. As some vital pieces of information can only be shared by seniors and professionals. An extensive network is expensive to maintain in terms of time. But if the right kind of effort is at play, it only requires modesty and willingness to bend the knee for greater knowledge. After finishing the training, it’s important to market yourself correctly, so make sure you keep up with different data jobs hunting platforms where you can upload your CV and get in touch with different recruiters.