Quick Summary
Pursuing a career as a business analyst is a wise decision in the data-oriented world of 2025. Business analysts are the intermediary between business and technology; they use what they have learned with data, analytics, and research to make recommendations for strategy and improvement in a process. The general pathway to a business analyst role is to undertake an undergraduate credential in business, information technology, or a related study area, then focus on developing analytical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. Adding to your degree, you might consider professional recognition such as CBAP or PMI-PBA for valuable credibility, along with acquiring hands-on experience with data and project management tools.
There are business analyst roles in every industry: finance, healthcare, and IT – all of which are considered highly desirable career paths. As organizations increasingly rely on data to drive growth, the demand for business analysts continues to increase. If you are excited and ready for new opportunities, let’s embark on the journey to explore what you need to become a successful business analyst in 2025.
As the name suggests, how to become a business analyst is by analyzing data and creating solutions to improve a company’s processes, products, services, and even software.
A Business Analyst’s main job is to help the company identify flaws in operations and products and improve them by providing effective solutions.
Here’s how he does it:
A career in business analysis allows you to contribute to an organization’s success by providing data-driven insights. It’s a dynamic role with new challenges every day, offering opportunities to solve problems, ask questions, and work independently. If you enjoy analyzing data, improving processes, and helping teams make better decisions, this could be your right career path.
A typical day in the life of a Business Analyst involves assessing data, communicating insights with stakeholders, and developing a strategy. A business analyst’s everyday responsibilities may include the following:
The good thing about how to become a Business Analyst is that there are no special educational or background requirements to enter and no fixed criteria. You just need to be a graduate with good MS Excel and soft skills.
What skills are we talking about? You must have:
Relevant experience in project management, IT, sales, business operations, or accounting will also be helpful. It’ll give you a head start, as you’ll already know how things work.
But what if you don’t have the relevant experience or any experience at all? Will it be the end of the road for you? Definitely not! The following section will show you how to enter the business analyst role without experience. We’ll explore how to become a business analyst without prior experience.
Before you even wonder, yes, becoming a business analyst with no experience is possible. However, your path might be slightly longer and full of hard work. Here’s how to become a business analyst.
Getting certified can enhance your skills and job prospects. Consider:
At this point, you should be looking for internships and online freelance jobs to get some hands-on experience. Contribute to as many projects as you can. Build a portfolio to showcase your work. Apply for entry-level jobs: At last, when you’re done with certifications, internships, and your portfolio, start applying for entry-level jobs. Also, consider how to become a business analyst consultant if you know how to advise companies on improving their processes.
How to Become a Business Analyst Successfully? You see, after you get an entry-level job, you’ll need to get to work and gain experience. It’ll be an ongoing journey. Here are some things you can do to get ahead of your game:
Showcasing your skills through a portfolio can help you stand out to potential employers. Uploading your projects, reports, or code to platforms like GitHub or similar portals demonstrates your expertise and problem-solving abilities. A well-executed project can highlight your skills and impress hiring managers.
Your portfolio can showcase your expertise and make you a strong candidate for business analyst roles by showcasing real-world impact, well-documented analysis, and practical solutions.
The role of a business analyst isn’t one-size-fits-all. You can pursue specialized paths, each focusing on different areas of expertise.
An IT Business Analyst focuses on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of IT systems. Making it a key area for those wondering how to become a business analyst. They work closely with IT teams to identify technology needs, design solutions, and implement new systems or upgrades. Suppose you’re curious about how to become a business analyst in a technical field. Proficiency in technical tools and understanding software development life cycles are crucial.
A Process Analyst examines business processes and identifies opportunities for improvement, making it an excellent path for those wondering how to become a business analyst. They focus on streamlining operations, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency. Familiarity with process modelling tools and methodologies like Six Sigma is beneficial.
A Financial Analyst specializes in evaluating a company’s financial data, making it a compelling avenue for those curious about how to become business analysts. Strong skills in financial modelling, accounting, and Excel are key for this role.
A Systems Analyst works on integrating and managing a company’s computer systems. They ensure that IT systems meet the needs of the business. This role requires an understanding of system architecture, database management, and network security. Also, if you’re from a QA background, you might be interested in how to become a business analyst from a tester.
If you are a recent MBA graduate looking to work as a business analyst, you will find plenty of chances if you have the necessary skills and certification.
Nowadays, many organizations prefer to hire recent MBA graduates as business analysts, although the competition is frequently fierce. As a result, students take certification courses to increase their chances of obtaining a business analyst position.
Every software engineer/developer and IT analyst/tester is well-versed in programming languages, which increases competition and makes it challenging to acquire decent promotions. Professionals with business analysis skills can pursue a career as a business analyst and earn higher salaries. Career advancement in the business analysis profile is also possible if professionals can learn the necessary tools and skills.
Certified data analysts can easily transition to a business analyst position because the average compensation is higher, and the work is more flexible.
Sales personnel desire to transition to a business analyst role because it offers opportunities for advancement and a break from the pressures of sales metrics and targets.
Is starting from scratch the only way how to become a business analyst professionally? Definitely not! You can always easily transition from other professions. A lot of people are doing the same to get higher paychecks, and here’s how you can do the same:
If you’re an engineer and wondering how to become a business analyst, you’ll need to get your basics straight. You enroll yourself in online courses like ECBA and other courses we’ve talked about in previous sections.
You can carry forward your analytical and problem-solving skills as an engineer to this new profession as you explore how to become a business analyst. Once you’ve completed your basic training, you can apply for entry-level business analyst jobs. Similarly, there are specific paths if you’re considering how to become a business analyst or how to become a business analyst in Salesforce.
Can you only transition to a business analyst role after engineering? Of course not. You can transition from any career in sales, accounting, IT, marketing, or business administration. The process for becoming a business analyst will be more or less the same, regardless of your background, whether you are a developer or not.
You must focus on continuous growth and innovation to excel as a business analyst. Here’s how to become a business analyst and advance your career:
Going through this guide on how to become a business analyst, you must have noticed that you’ll need to put in a lot of work to become a business analyst successfully. Be it landing your first job without any experience, becoming a good business analyst, or advancing your career. There’s no alternative to hard work. If you do everything, we’ve talked about in this guide honestly, there’s a fat chance you’ll be working in top companies like Accenture, KMPG, PWC, etc. in the future.
The role of a business analyst is pivotal in driving business success. By identifying areas for improvement and proposing effective solutions, you can make a significant impact on your organization. If you’re wondering how to become a business analyst, Embrace the journey, stay curious, and keep pushing the boundaries of your knowledge and expertise. With these steps, you’ll be well on your way to a successful and fulfilling career as a business analyst.
The business analyst profession has unlimited possibilities for growth and impact in the current and changing marketplace. After developing the skills to analyze data, communicate effectively, and possess business knowledge, you will be prepared to provide organizations with solutions to problems and methods to seize opportunities. Engaging in continuing education and real-world experiences will help you stay updated with skills while improving the quality of your professional practice.
In 2025 and onward, companies will seek business analysts who can connect obscure data into informative output that can be executed and connect multiple departments seamlessly to approach the business issue. For someone entering college, the landscape will feel familiar – build a foundation, establish a professional education trajectory, and keep tabs on the pulse of industry changes and growth. Learning, evolving, developing, and being outcome-focused and analytic will help talented individuals thrive in their careers. Begin to take your first step toward a sustainable and fulfilling profession where you will create value by contributing to the business’s success.
Generally, a business analyst requires a bachelor’s degree in business, IT, or a similar field and communication, analysis, and problem-solving skills.
For instance, many BAs have certifications like CBAP to enhance their credibility.
Advice: Instead of concentrating on technical knowledge, try to develop soft skills in teamwork to stand out in the space.
Business Analyst salaries in India can vary significantly from ₹2.1L to ₹28L (or more) depending on experience and skills.
For example, a mid-level BA, with around 3-5 years of experience, could expect to earn about ₹10-18L.
Suggestion: Increase your earning potential by expanding your field of knowledge to include data analytics and professional development certifications like CBAP.
Commence your career as a Business Analyst by developing relevant abilities and obtaining entry-level experience.
Example: Complete online courses and gain experience as an intern at a business.
Recommendation: Develop your communication and problem-solving skills.
Yes! After a BBA, for instance, you can become a Business Analyst by learning relevant skills like data analysis and getting some practical experience through internships or projects.
Tip: Consider certifications like CBAP to boost your chances.
Business analysts don’t have to use Python, but it can be a significant value-add for data analysis and automating repetitive reporting tasks.
Example: Cleaning data or generating reports with Python can significantly impact your efficiency, making reports more accurate.
Tip: If you want to do something special and work with complex datasets, I encourage you to learn basic Python.
Typically, business analyst qualifications involve a business or IT degree, good problem-solving skills, and certification like CBAP.
For instance, many successful BAs begin with a commerce or computer science degree and later obtain professional certificates.
Tip: Make an effort to improve both technical knowledge and communication skills to thrive as a business analyst!
The responsibilities of a Business Analyst include gathering functional and non-functional requirements, analyzing processes, collaborating with stakeholders, and assisting in finding, obtaining, or carrying out recommendations or solutions to processes.
For example, a BA can facilitate meetings with users to gather information about their needs and then work with a developer on a feature design for a software product.
Tip: You can familiarize yourself with these responsibilities and tips by practicing your listening and documentation skills.
Authored by, Gagandeep Khokhar
Career Guidance Expert
Gagandeep is a content writer and strategist focused on creating high-performing, SEO-driven content that bridges the gap between learners and institutions. He crafts compelling narratives across blogs, landing pages, and email campaigns to drive engagement and build trust.
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Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.
