Overall, if you have a technical background of any kind, possess good people skills, and have a genuine curiosity about how businesses function and make decisions, this is an excellent career choice for you. You will be challenged intellectually, work with some of the brightest minds in business and technology, and have an opportunity to do some really exciting, important work. Your unique perspective will add value to every project, and you can expect steady growth in compensation as you gain expertise and experience. It’s a good time to become a business analyst; the market is wide open for people who are ready to enter. Start by getting familiar with your local job market. Make sure that you’re connecting with employers who need your skills and expertise (doing a few informational interviews will give you great insight into the current hiring landscape). And think very carefully about whether or not you would enjoy this type of work (because it’s hard work). If so, by all means pursue this line of work—you’ll be glad that you did!
Having said that, if you are looking to start a BA career, there are a lot of options available to you, depending on your area of interest. You can find entry level jobs in virtually any industry, as long as there is an eCommerce side to it. Many BAs start their careers working within in-house marketing and IT departments. (Working full-time while going to school can be challenging, but it’s doable if you are serious about this!) To break into the field and land your first position, consider these steps:
