So, I've landed a business analyst gig.
The thing is, I have no background in business and only a certificate from a no-name state school in IT.
I'm going to give it a year to learn the job. But for my longer term career, should I be thinking about picking up a master's in something like Management Information Systems? Or should I just sit tight?
I see places hiring non-degreed people if they have the skill set they need.
Many job ads also show that experience in years can replace that degree.
Update: I Found These Out There As Examples ...
"Bachelor's degree in related field OR equivalent work experience"
"Bachelors' Degree or seven years of related responsibility"
"BS/BA or Masters Degree in Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent education/experience"
I think you must go for the masters degree because it will add value to your resume. It will also help you in your career growth.
I think you are putting the cart ahead of the horse. Do you think that you want to get a Master's because it will help your career? Because you want to get into upper management?
Most Master's programs require at least 4-5 years of working experience before you can apply. In addition to that, most companies don't seem to care as much these days about a Masters, unless it is for a job in upper management.
I've worked with many Business Analysts. Some have Master's Degrees, some don't. Both make the same money (based on how much working experience they have). So it's really up to you what you intend for the future.
If you are just starting out, I would first give it a good couple years at your current role, then look around for a new position elsewhere to diversify your resume and project experience. Once you have 3- 4 years of real BA experience and have met other people who are were once where you were, you will be able to make a more informed decision.
Once you know what you want to do, then you can make the call.
Do the master's if you want to do it or if it is a requirement for the job you are looking for. For most jobs, a few years of work experience always outweigh any kind of masters degree. You can confirm it if you contact any professional job recruiters. Other than for some top level jobs, most companies need graduation. Things will be different if you are looking at non-company jobs like teaching where post graduation and PhD becomes much more important.
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