Those charts showing all that upward growth? That’s definitely the career outlook for business analysts.
In 2018, Canadian organizations employed 216,000 information systems business analysts, according to the Government of Canada’s Job Bank. By 2029, the number could be as high as 329,000. This healthy demand for new analysts is coupled with equally healthy salaries and the opportunity to work in a wide variety of organizations.
The demand for business analysts makes sense with our increasingly technology-connected and complex world of business. But you may be asking yourself, what does a business analyst do? And what do I need to do if I want to access the opportunities that are available?
What is a business analyst?
The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®) defines its area of focus as the practice of enabling change in an organizational context, by defining needs and recommending solutions that deliver value to stakeholders.
To make it a bit simpler than that, it’s about problem solving. It’s about finding ways, usually through the use of technology, to make your team or organization function better with improved processes, products and services.
Business analysts are often found in IT departments or working in business units as a liaison with central IT teams.
What are the requirements to become a business analyst?
The Job Bank notes a good starting point is a bachelor’s degree in a discipline such as computer science, computer systems engineering, software engineering, business administration or a related field. Experience as a computer programmer and certification or training with specific software you might help deploy is an added advantage.
One of the ways to jumpstart your entry into this hot field is through our Business Analysis Essentials certificate program and, subsequently, certification through the IIBA to increase your earning potential.
Algonquin College Corporate Training is an IIBA Endorsed Education Provider™. This means our courses qualify for Professional Development hours and Continuing Development Units required to apply (and later recertify) for the IIBA Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®) certification.
Or, if you’re already working in the field, you might consider taking one of our business analysis courses to brush up on a specific topic, such as Use Case Modelling or Validating and Testing Requirements. As long as you’ve completed the introductory Fundamentals of Business Analysis, you can also take other courses in any order to complete a full certificate program.
To get started or for more information, visit one of the course pages linked to above. You can also reach us at training@algonquincollege.com or 613-727-7729.