![[Featured image] A business analyst stands in an office hallway holding a laptop computer as they prepare for a meeting.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/2Ryrw0DOjSsU1LdasXCkil/032bec22303d79aaaf51bf6eda3dd44f/GettyImages-1217242446-used-Google.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
Status: Featured
What Is a Business Analyst? 2024 Career Guide
Business analysts help maximize a business's effectiveness through data-driven decisions. Learn about what business analysts do and what it takes to become one.
February 19, 2021
Article
Start Your Business Analyst Career
Business analysts use data to identify ways that businesses can improve efficiency, reduce costs, or strengthen processes. Learn how to get started in this growing career path.
![[Featured Image] Woman in interview](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/2snDrbmQOLCKyAW30BHEU9/7417c2ba1038995b67323b70b8a3c288/GettyImages-1273390394.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Two analysts discuss charts on a whiteboard.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/22eAeanNyvUXeam0Vp1hU9/8b78610a72f20a9be215ff0a8cf941dd/GettyImages-551986071.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Two coworkers look at a desktop computer display.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/2YPaIR6UQz4wUZUwRHe8sY/f2f4a489d995b9c4db0095b75c2b66c0/Stocksy_txpe0666ad4RLr200_Large_2772942.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: IT Business Analyst, working at a desktop computer, evaluating the company's current technology.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1iR3izwqxhutloa99XeX8C/641d59ca0dc9de9d6229a398022a5f70/GettyImages-980654204_IT_project_management__8_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: Team of financial analysts analyzing the organization's financial processes to help improve its profitability.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/3IZkWRRM9Lb2yFRo4brbF1/9830ee79bc90e0fc0a31a7f0f792f263/GettyImages-598255892.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
Grow key business analysis skills
University of Pennsylvania
Skills you'll gain: Data Analysis, Business Analysis, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Leadership and Management, Strategy and Operations, Basic Descriptive Statistics, Exploratory Data Analysis, Financial Analysis, Forecasting, Data Model, Mathematics, Performance Management, Strategy, Accounting, Customer Analysis, Human Resources, Human Resources Operations, Market Analysis, Market Research, Marketing, Mathematical Theory & Analysis, Operations Management, Operations Research, Organizational Development, People Analysis, People Management, Spreadsheet Software, Talent Management, Financial Accounting, Collaboration, Finance, Regulations and Compliance
Status: Free
Johns Hopkins University
Skills you'll gain: Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Spreadsheet Software, Data Model, Decision Making, Microsoft Excel, Process Analysis, Statistical Visualization
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet Software, Data Visualization, Plot (Graphics), Statistical Visualization, Business Analysis, Communication, Data Analysis, Data Science, Data Visualization Software, Interactive Data Visualization, Project Management, Risk Management
![[Featured Image] A person in a dark blue shirt sits facing a trio of computer monitors in a large open-office space.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1rScxfq9zBJZoWBpq0gk8Z/c1d9330cacbb4a488d6d574b35a47a59/Coursera_Wesley_Megan_Miller_0262.jpeg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A supply chain analyst holding a device records and discusses information with a warehouse worker while they stand in the warehouse.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6aLU4Aq81z1We9egQzELlt/736cc1aa7903c94990da10278ef283ab/GettyImages-1470939666.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Feature Image] A business systems analyst reviews recommendations with a business leader as they discuss ongoing strategies for process improvements.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/RPLIpglkrd3GFUgIlxE1z/0d514edd6b1298956f232e5e4a444a64/GettyImages-1345630279.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A male, wearing a gray sports jacket and white shirt, is working on his laptop and conferring with a co-worker in his office.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4k1t2RglVg9hZcSuhHdRIM/661420e2136f5e3227eb2ca5c0191018/GettyImages-1358280227.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A man wearing a blue sweater, and glasses collecting and analyzing data sitting in front of his computer.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1JfczNH7EqprEjPf6YbvMX/505258b5283c38e4fa8ae18b04181d2c/GettyImages-1354692508.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A team of business data analysts meet and discuss visualizations as they prepare to share their findings with key stakeholders.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1NHIOGo2q5hOkbYqIfgade/0bc24bd561089fedec9088532c00ddfb/Business-professionals-discussing-over-a-graph-1127726411_8477x5651.jpeg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A female business analyst interviews a female employee. Both have their laptops in front of them.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5vfQELyaDvsspcLpsigHEy/ec1810ecd32ac851a47d952a4f5d1e5d/dat_analyst_vs_business_analyst.png?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
A business analyst uses data to discover new business insights for a company. They typically focus on improving efficiency and effectiveness, and may work across all areas of business, including IT processes, organizational structure, or supply chain management.
At the entry-level, a business analyst may participate in team efforts to identify and prioritize an organization’s functional and technical needs, use SQL and spreadsheet software to conduct data analysis, and create data visualizations and financial models in order to address crucial business questions.
Similar and adjacent roles include IT business analysts, data analysts, business data analysts, supply chain analysts, and business intelligence analysts.
Learn more about entry-level careers in business analysis:
