Hi GC,

Sorry, but I only get a chance to reply now - I am doing some travelling at the moment and keeping quiet busy, so apologies if I am not as quick to reply. 

From my experience it is difficult to say what a Junior Analyst does, because I started originally working in sales, moved then to finance and was a financial controller for about 3 years. After that I moved to become Manager IT & financial Systems, in which I was responsible for an SAP system setup as well as the data and all interfaces. The role developed throught time and I took on more and more projects becoming effectivly a Business Project Manager. During this time I did my Bachlor in IS and economics via evening studies. After that I was asked to join a startup company in which I did Sales & Project Management, building both sides and departments for a small web solutions IT company. Then I became a Project Manager / Systems Analyst for a Professional Services division in an well established company, being first a member of the group, then leading a team of Analysts, Project Managers and Implementation & Development people. And now I am a Senior Analyst, working as a Systems Analyst and as a Business Analyst, as well as an IS Advisor to the Board.

As you see, the way that I took is def. not a classic way from Junior BA to BA to Senior BA. From my experience and the experience of other people I heard from, it is always a good idea to start not as a BA straight away. Try to get some experience in either IT/IS or on the business side. Pick an industry you like and work in an IS department there, for example. You will get to know processes and people. And this is everything you will need as a SA or BA.

The problem you will face faking experience is, even when you will get passed an interview and will be offered a job, you never can be confident. This will give your employer a bad experience and will leave you unhappy as well. This is not the way you should start your carrier.

There is no better training then practical experience. Find a job in which processes and people are permanent effected by change. Use this and get into it. A changing enviornment will teach you all about BA. I know it is hard, but this is what I would suggest. I will think about areas you can study as well and get back on this.

Thanks and regards,

Björn