Business Analysis is one of the hottest disciplines in the market, commanding high salaries and niche expertise. If you have your eye on a career change, here’s a quick guide to becoming a business analyst (BA) without any role experience.

​Why become a business analyst?

Business analysis is one of those unicorn opportunities to hit all the right career sweet spots: attractive salary, endless career pathways, and diverse, stimulating, and meaningful work. 

Quality BAs are in demand across industries. They’ve been in demand for years, and will remain so, as all organisations adjust to meet the ever-changing technological landscape. So, if you’re seeking a role with ongoing career development and advancement, security, and increased earning capacity –it could be a great career choice for you.

Related: Market Overview of BA Careers in Australia

What does a BA do?

Business analysts review and analyse business processes and functions to create efficiencies for projects and business-as-usual. They work with business areas to understand their current state and problems, and their desired future state. BAs are required to collaborate with both the business area and the tech team building the solution that allows their idea to become a reality (acting as a technical translator, of sorts). 

There’s a lot of stakeholder management, communication, reporting, data and cost analysis, and problem solving involved in day-to-day BA work. Make sure you learn the fundamentals to ensure it’s the right career fit.

Transferrable skills to change careers into a BA role

Many business analysts will have completed a business or IT related qualification at university or TAFE prior to landing their first role. While formal training and certifications help to make you a more competitive candidate, there are also several sought-after transferrable skills, traits and experiences that can get your foot in the door.

A BA tends to fall into either a functional (business facing) or technical (technological facing) role, so required skills may vary across roles.

But generally speaking, business analysts need:

• a growth mindset – you’re nimble and responsive to change
• strong stakeholder management and interpersonal skills
• an analytical mind – you’re a curious, collaborative problem solver
• experience with agile, scrum and/or waterfall frameworks
• strong written and verbal communication skills, to present, persuade, influence, and translate complex technical information to non-technical business areas.

Depending on your current professional level and the depth of your transferrable skills, one approach might be to gain work experience in a junior BA role that exposes you to data and analytics.

Alternatively, the following transitional roles could be considered:

• project analyst or coordinator
• technology specialist
• software developer
• operations, systems, sales, or reporting analyst
• customer support specialist.

Getting your first BA job

Becoming a business analyst in Australia generally requires some education and work experience. If you’re a recent university graduate, you might pursue graduate program pathways that guide your introduction into the BA world. 

If you’re transitioning into a BA career with relevant professional experiences and transferrable skills, get in touch to explore our current opportunities.

Talk to AJ Walters about BA roles.