Career Planning: 4 Quick Tips for Business Analysis Professionals
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Career planning should be a priority for Business Analysis professionals in 2021. This practice will undoubtedly help you advance your career, whatever that looks like for you. Career planning can also help you understand both your strengths and weaknesses, assisting you in pinpointing the skills you need to develop to move up the corporate ladder and find greater purpose in your role, according to Everwise, a corporate training provider.
For the Business Analysis professional, career planning is essential. This is because an analyst’s path is not always clear-cut, the profession is always evolving, and the rate of digital transformation is adding new tasks to the role of a Business Analysis professional daily. A career plan will help an analyst further their career as quickly as they desire and remain relevant in their industry.
4 Career Planning Tips for Business Analysis Professionals
Even if you have been in Business Analysis for ten or more years, it’s never too late to start career planning. “You can...start the career planning process at any point in your career,” stated The Balance Careers. A contributor wrote that career planning is especially helpful to seasoned professionals who aren’t experiencing the progress they desire in their field.
Here are a few career-planning tips you won’t want to miss out on:
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Find Someone to Help You Set Goals
In a field such as Business Analysis, it is expedient to enlist the help of a mentor, boss, fellow analyst, or someone in a governing body in the industry before creating a career plan. This individual’s purpose should be to help you set goals and strategically place them in your career plan. An example goal could be “Move up into a...senior position, such as IT Business Analyst, Senior/Lead Business Analyst, or Product Manager,” as stated in the blog article The Best Business Analyst Career Paths, and the Pitfalls to Avoid Along the Way, or “Develop soft skills that will make me more adaptable as an analyst and better able to facilitate change.” -
Discover Opportunities for Growth at Your Current Job
If you are currently working in the Business Analysis field, it’s vital that you find out what career advancement opportunities your current employer offers. There may be training opportunities you could take advantage of that you are unaware of. Or your employer might agree to pay for a Business Analysis certification for you. The only way to know is to ask!
There may also be opportunities to fill “gaps” in your company and fulfill arising needs to deliver the best business outcomes for your organization. The evolution of Business Analysis professionals into expanding roles requires a combination of digital skills, business acumen, and targeted knowledge in specialized areas of Business Analysis such as cybersecurity, data analytics and more. These opportunities could also be added to your career plan. -
Join a Professional Association
One of the best ways to see that your career goals get met this year is by joining a Business Analysis professional association. For example, by becoming an IIBA Member, you will join thousands of Business Analysis professionals worldwide. Those who choose an individual membership take control of their careers by ensuring they get the community, network, resources, and information they need to advance themselves professionally. Being part of a membership organization will also help you stay updated about new developments and trends in the Business Analysis industry. -
Include Certifications in Your Career Plan This Year
For Business Analysis professionals, a critical aspect of a career plan is often professional certification. IIBA provides industry-standard Business Analysis certifications, from entry-level, mid-to-senior level, to specialized Business Analysis certifications.
ECBA is a Great Place to Start
The Entry Certificate in Business Analysis™ (ECBA™) covers the foundational knowledge on how to approach Business Analysis according to the BABOK® Guide® and it’s the perfect place to start when crafting your career plan. The ECBA can increase your marketability by showcasing your achievement and knowledge of the tools, techniques, and best practices of the Business Analysis industry to potential employers.
Related Reading: 5 Reasons Why You Need an ECBA Certificate
Find out more about IIBA’s Entry Certificate in Business Analysis and take advantage of a very limited time exam rebate offer on ECBA. 
Exam Rebate Offer
IIBA is pleased to offer a special 50% exam rebate on ECBA when you write the exam between March 1 to March 31, 2021*. No special codes are required, just write the exam during the promotional period and the rebate will be applied!
*ECBA Rebate Terms & Conditions:
The 50% exam rebate offer is applicable when you write the ECBA exam between March 1 to March 31, 2021, and is applicable to exam and exam rewrite fees. This offer excludes application fees. The rebate will be applied to the original payment method after the exam is completed (regardless of the exam result) and may take up to April 30, 2021, to be processed. Note: The exam cannot be taken the same day as the exam fee purchase.
About The Author:
Isabel Feher-Watters is the Certification Programs Manager at IIBA® and has 20+ years' experience building talent and leadership in the workplace through learning, certification, and credentialing programs and practices. She holds a professional certification as a Certified Association Executive (CAE®), Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP)™, and a Change Management Registered Practitioner (CMRP®). Isabel is passionate about learning and professional development in the business analysis community.