How do I become a business analyst?

The question

How do I become a business analyst?

I am 24, have a BSc in business IT and at present provide support for electronic navigational charts for a specialist company. I am interested in business analyst roles, but do not know where to start. I know this is a career change, but I have an IT background (not just my studies).

I have been applying for junior analyst roles with no success. I know Imust do some supplementary studying but do not know which direction to take. I have been looking at Prince2.


The solution

Make sure your CV shows you are able

Prince2 is a well-recognised structured methodology used mainly in the government sector, but its use has declined and ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) is more widely used. Both these methodologies, and there are few others, are used predominantly by project managers rather than business analysts.

Have you structured your CV to show that even though you may not have done the role in question, you have the prerequisite skills? If not, you would need to use examples to illustrate you have acted as an interface between IT and business. Or think of examples where you have acted as the intermediary.

I would also suggest you look into joining the British Computer Society, which would be able to supply you with support and advice. It often runs in-depth courses that may be of interest.

Have you applied for the junior analyst roles via agencies? Agencies' hands are tied as clients dictate the minimum experience they are prepared to accept. If you approach companies directly, look for larger ones involved in technology integration or consultancy, where large numbers of projects are being managed and the need to bring on new people is high.

l Solution by Tracey Abbott, divisional director, Zarak GroupThe panel: Plan-Net Services, Spring Group, E-Skills UK, British Computer Society, Computer Futures, Hudson, Elan, Reed Technology, Zarak Technology.

E-mail your career questions to: computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk