Top Skills Employers Want You to Have
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Different types of business analysis call for different skill sets. For example, Agile-focused business analysis professionals need competencies unique to their practice. The same applies to business analysis professionals who specialize in product ownership, cybersecurity, and business data analytics.
The question is what are the top skills employers want their business analysis professionals to possess for each type of practice?
Key skills employers seek in agile analysis professionals
In IIBA’s Global State of Business Analysis Report over seventy-five percent of business analysis professionals practice agile approaches. Agile analysis competencies that employers seek include focus on value, communication, collaboration, engagement, and stakeholders. Employers want agile analysis professionals to know how to:
- Stimulate collaboration and continuous improvement
- Think as a customer
- Analyze to determine what is valuable
- Understand what is doable
- Avoid waste
- See the whole
- Get real using examples
Boost your skills: IIBA’s Agile Analysis Certification will recognize your agile expertise and help showcase the agile mindset. The certification focuses on applying an agile perspective within a business analysis framework. It can help professionals become more credentialed, skilled, and valuable.
Top skills employers want in product owners or those in related roles
More and more business analysis professionals are integrating business analysis and product ownership. Employees expect these professionals to be able to:
- Advance organizational strategy
- Deliver enough value to allow for feedback
- Cultivate customer intimacy
- Adapt to feedback
- Nurture creativity, innovation, and team collaboration
Source: IIBA 2021 Global State of Business Analysis Report
Boost your skills: IIBA’s Product Ownership Analysis Certification Program provides the opportunity for those who practice analysis to acquire essential competencies that enable successful product development. The program recognizes the integration of business analysis and product ownership with an agile mindset to maximize value.
Important skills cybersecurity business professionals should have under their belt
Business analysis professionals that practice cybersecurity analysis need specific skills to succeed in their role. Wondering what skills employers want you as a business analysis professionals working in cybersecurity? Here are a few:
- Risk management
- Compliance knowledge
- Disaster recovery
- Security tool implementation
- Business cases and budgeting
Source: IIBA 2021 Global State of Business Analysis Report
Boost your skills: Cybersecurity analysts can optimize skills like these by earning IIBA’s and IEEE Computer Society Certificate in Cybersecurity Analysis. The learning program provides the credibility of a joint certification and the opportunity to learn key cybersecurity concepts and tools business analysis professionals need to demonstrate core competencies.
Essential skills for professionals in business data analytics
What about business analysis professionals who practice business data analytics? These individuals are expected by employers to be skilled in the following areas:
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Creative thinking
- Facilitation
- Organizational knowledge
- Leadership and influencing
Source: IIBA 2021 Global State of Business Analysis Report
Prove your skills: Skilled business data analysts can prove their skills to employers by pursuing IIBA’s Certification in Business Data Analytics. Earning this certification informs employers of your passion for and competencies performing business analysis on analytics initiatives.
Skills employers want in professionals who drive digital transformation
Most business analysis professionals are knowledgeable about digital transformation, but some specialize in the facilitation and support of digital transformation within an organization. Employers expect these professionals to possess:
- Strong analytical abilities
- Technical expertise
- Leadership skills
- Communication skills
- Capability-building skills
What are the top skills employers want from you? What skills do you need to attain to become in-demand as a business analysis professional in your specific field? As a business analysis professional, you can help organizations transform the digital world. Dig deeper into digital transformation more in this article.
To expand your skill set and optimize your business analysis job opportunities, consider earning a professional certification. IIBA offers an array of professional certifications to help you stand out to employers.
About The Author:
Suzanne Bertschi is the Director, Global Certifications and Programs at IIBA. Suzanne brings 15+ years of experience in the financial services industry and IT in business analysis, process improvement, training, and coaching. In her role at IIBA, she drives the operations and ensures the integrity of IIBA’s global core and specialized certification programs. As a committed and passionate professional, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the role, along with 10+ years of experience in the not-for-profit sector. She’s committed to building the recognition of the business analysis profession.
