Business Analyst Community & Resources | Modern Analyst

Career Forums

Modern Analyst Forums Careers Career Advice &... Need advice on getting to entry level positions and possible further education.

8/7/2014 5:16 PM

	Cooraan
1 posts

Need advice on getting to entry level positions and possible further education.

Hey all,

I recently graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration. In my last semester I became interested BA roles, and I have since applied for a few positions. Understandably, I did not get any call backs due to a lack of experience/education. A lot of the entry level positions I've looked at, still require 1-2 years experience, or at least some experience in the industry.

My two main questions are:

1. How do you start a career as BA out of school? What type of jobs would get me the experience, without having experience requirements?

2. I'm considering getting an Associates in MIS from the local community college. Would this help at all in my job search, or is it a waste of time without getting a Bachelors in MIS? My current plans involve going for an MBA with focus in Economics/Finance. Truthfully, I don't know how interested I am in the IT side of BA; but the analyst position is the only one to really pique my interest so far.

Thanks for any replies.

8/8/2014 8:19 AM

	Brandon
5 posts

Re: Need advice on getting to entry level positions and possible further education.

I can only speak for myself here, but I got into the industry by working my way up on the user side. I showed a willingness to learn the technical side of our major systems and took extra time out of my day (with permission from my supervisor) to sit with the technical staff. I worked my way up to being a power user (someone with a lot of security rights) in the system, and eventually when a position came open I applied and was accepted because I knew the team, knew the system, and I feel I ended up being a great BA because I could relate with the users of the systems. I could ask the right questions during requirements gathering.

I would be hesitant to go back to school, especially for an Associates if you already have a Bachelors. School is great, but I don't think the money you'd pay for that Associates would really help you. Get a job, ANY job. Get some experience, and leverage that to start moving up in the industry. I don't know your financial situation, but I would assume school would have to come out of pocket since you won't qualify for most federal aid with a Bachelors degree already in hand. Just start working and with hard work you can maneuver your way up the chain.