Gaining hands-on experience is important for success in business analytics. Students can participate in internships, attend conferences, or look for entry-level work to gain competitive experience. Networking with professionals and volunteering can also provide valuable opportunities.
While it’s possible to gain business analyst experience in the classroom, some of the best hands-on learning happens in the field. Students participating in internships; attend business analysis conferences and regional meetings; or look for entry-level work, either part-time in school or immediately after graduation, often have the most competitive business analyst experience. Experience is often as important to getting a job as it is to advancing within an organization.
The level of interest in the often scarce positions of business analysts can make it difficult to obtain paying jobs. However, the experience is not always paid for and does not always take place in an office setting. Innovative students can find a variety of ways to gain valuable business analyst experience, from volunteering in emerging organizations to shadowing professional leaders during school holidays.
Business analytics is a discipline that combines data collection and statistical projections with a tangible understanding of how companies work, grow and prosper. There are several different business analysis jobs, but experience is important for success in each. In most cases, this starts with education. Analysts usually have at least a bachelor’s degree, with many coming out of business school programs. The more graduates there are, the more important experience becomes as a means of differentiating similar candidates.
One of the best ways for aspiring analysts to gain relevant experience is to participate in an internship. Business analyst internships usually take place during the summer months, sandwiched between academic semesters. Interns usually work with a corporate analysis team, usually under the supervision of a senior officer. The pay of a business analyst intern mainly depends on the size and operating budget of the company.
Many companies also hire students as part-time business analysts, particularly at undergraduate level. A student who works during the year is usually able to build rapport and demonstrate tangible skills directly. This type of business analyst experience usually leads to employment with the company upon graduation and is a valuable indicator of promise, motivation and skills, in any case.
Finding business analyst jobs isn’t always easy, however, and competition in the market is often steep. Students looking to break into the field may have to start by offering unpaid internships or volunteering with small businesses or start-ups. Working without pay can be a tough financial decision in the short term, but it will often pay off in the long run. Whether a job was paid has little bearing on skills developed or learned.
It is also often possible to gain business analyst experience by networking with established professionals in your field. Many associations hold business analyst conferences, where new trends and developments are discussed in some depth. Conferences also often have job fairs and networking opportunities.
Getting to know as many people as possible in the field will help open doors to experience opportunities. A company may not have a paying job to offer, but a senior analyst might let you join them for the day or sit with you over lunch to answer your questions. This can lead to many different opportunities and ways to develop your professional acumen.
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