What Does a Business Analyst Do?

What Skills Do You Need to Be a Business Analyst?

Just having a degree isn’t enough. You need some set of skills to effectively do your job as a business analyst. We have listed some of the technical skills here:

• Database management: managing and querying databases to extract relevant information for analysis.
• Data visualization: creating clear and impactful visual representations of data to communicate insights effectively.
• Business statistics: understanding statistical concepts and their application in business decision-making.
• Predictive modeling: knowledge of predictive modeling techniques to forecast future trends and outcomes.
• Data science: familiarity with data science principles and tools for extracting valuable insights from data.
• Machine learning: basic understanding of machine learning algorithms and their applications in business analysis.

You will also need soft skills like communication and negotiation to communicate your findings and deal with clients and stakeholders. Next, problem-solving and analytical thinking skills are also necessary for handling complex business problems better.

So, if you can learn the above skills, you will become a valuable asset for an organization.

What Software Do Business Analysts Use?

You understood what a business analyst does and what skills they need. Now, it’s the tools and software that help them perform their job. Although there is no specific standard tool, here are some of the common ones:

• Advanced Excel: You already know this. Business analysts use it to organize and analyze data, create charts and graphs, and build models to make predictions.
• Python: It’s one of the best programming languages for working with data. Business analysts can use it to automate tasks, clean and prepare data, and build more complex models.
• SQL: SQL is a language used to talk to databases. Business analysts use SQL to pull specific data they need for their analysis.
• Tableau: Tableau is a powerful tool for visualizing data. Business analysts use it to create interactive dashboards and reports that help them tell the story behind the data.
• R: This is another programming language that’s popular for data analysis and statistics. Business analysts who need to do more advanced statistical analysis often turn to R.

The specific software you will use mostly depends on your company and the type of work you do. However, the above tools are the most popular ones, so being familiar with them can help you get a head start in a business analyst career.

What Courses Should a Business Analyst Take?

You will find many certification courses for business analysts on the internet. If you want to master the in-demand skills and land high-paying jobs, you can join Ivy Professional School’s Business Analyst Certification course. 

This is a live online program, so you can learn industry-relevant skills and clear your doubts by interacting with instructors from your home. The course will teach you data analytics, visualization, predictive modeling, machine learning, etc, using tools like Excel, SQL, Python, R, and Tableau.

You will also work on industry projects to gain hands-on experience and build your portfolio. This will help you showcase your expertise to employers. Besides, Ivy Pro provides you with placement support like resume building and interview preparation to help you land your dream job.

Summing Up

Now you know what business analysts do, how much they earn, and what skills they must have. Business analysts are basically problem solvers who first evaluate how an organization works and then find ways to make it better. If you like to play with numbers and solve business problems, a career in business analysis might be a great choice for you. If that’s the case, join a comprehensive course, learn the skills, gain experience, get certified, and start your journey.