Reply to: Business Analyst Foundation Courses

[transformingninja]

Buy the Business Analysis Third Edition book by the BCS. The book on its own is the syllabus for the BCS Business Analysis Foundation Certificate which is probably the easiest of the exams (being foundation level). The book also forms part of he syllabus for later exams and is a must own for most BAs anyway.

When I did this I was a permie self funding so I just bought the book and sat the exam (multiple choice) at one of the local exam centres. It was the cheapest way to get started but it depends on whether you think you're disciplined enough to be able to self study.

Either way I echo what everyone else has said, qualifications without experience won't get you any contracting jobs but if you have one or two certificates of your own back it may prove to a permie employer that your committed enough for them to give you a trainee role.

[LondonManc]

I guess as a contractor I will have to make a sacrifice to start a role of fresh and my salary to be majorly reduced.
What would be the best entry level courses I should be taking as a BA with only qualifications but no actual experience?

I am going to have to invest all my money in the training course so I am hoping this will be an incentive to potential employers that I have self studied and have to drive to work my way up.

If I'm hiring a BA, I'll want a minimum of five years track record. If not, I may as well get a perm BA so that knowledge can be retained. Keep your warchest and get a permco to train you.

[chris101]

But who'll take a contractor on with only a BA certificate and no BA experience, especially at a rate that the OP will be happy with?



Correct. Free training is one of the perks of permiedom; most companies offer decent enough training courses both internal and external in some cases. I went on various training courses when I was a perm; the more I could get on, the better as it's partly a networking opportunity when it's a public course too.

I guess as a contractor I will have to make a sacrifice to start a new perm role fresh and my salary to be majorly reduced.
What would be the best entry level courses I should be taking as a BA with only qualifications but no actual experience?

I am going to have to invest all my money in the training course so I am hoping this will be an incentive to potential employers that I have self studied and have to drive to work my way up.

[MrMarkyMark]

I was a bit surprised when I found that out, I shouldn't have been if I had done my SWOT analysis properly

(BA who understands technology here)

True, unfortunately, in my experience.

I have also come across technical BA's who are completely the opposite, however.

A couple of examples spring to mind, the BA that didn't know the difference between rows and columns...
And a BA who thought you didn't have to ID / name the columns in a reporting BRD.

[Pherlopolus]

Agree you may have to go perm first.

However BA's who actually, really, understand technology can be rare, so there is a market there for it.

I was a bit surprised when I found that out, I shouldn't have been if I had done my SWOT analysis properly

(BA who understands technology here)

[MrMarkyMark]

Agree you may have to go perm first.

However BA's who actually, really, understand technology can be rare, so there is a market there for it.

[LondonManc]

If you're a member, bear in mind that QA is one of the suppliers that you can get a discount with through IPSE Academy.
https://www.ipse.co.uk/academy

But who'll take a contractor on with only a BA certificate and no BA experience, especially at a rate that the OP will be happy with?

If you are going to go perm they will handle your career profile which will include courses I guess. I would say yes, a contractor site isn't the best place for perm career advice but I am sure there are many guys here that are BA's can help you with how they got in to it.

Correct. Free training is one of the perks of permiedom; most companies offer decent enough training courses both internal and external in some cases. I went on various training courses when I was a perm; the more I could get on, the better as it's partly a networking opportunity when it's a public course too.

[Pherlopolus]

I went from Support/Infrastructure Engineer to SA/BA by entering the permiedom sausage machine for 11 years, if I hadn't I would still be putting tin on desks or fixing it.

I don't think the courses will do anything if you don't have the right mindset, no different to doing the Prince/PMI courses to become a project manager, or being able to manage your time by going on a time management course.

[Felix22]

I believe as long as the course is well delivered in a way I could understand, I will be able to deliver in a real-world pressurised environment as I have been doing so as an IT Contractor.
I have also seen a few inexperienced BA's manage to secure roles and run a few projects that I implemented from the technical side and I know, I could of done things better and at times I did do exactly that.

I am seriously bored of my current role and have found progression to be limited. I am no longer enjoying support and after speaking and dealing with a few BA's directly I feel this would be a good option for me.

Sounds like a new challenge is just what you need!
Maybe do a course, see how you find it then make the decision and take action to move on. The courses are short, so there's not much to lose - aside from the fee!

[mudskipper]

If so, I was thinking of the Knowledgeacademy or QA as training providers...

If you're a member, bear in mind that QA is one of the suppliers that you can get a discount with through IPSE Academy.
https://www.ipse.co.uk/academy

[chris101]

Firstly if you are unsure about your aptitude it would be definitely be best to use a realtime training provider as opposed to an online course.
I have used Knowledge Academy for Prince2 and the course was well delivered by an experienced trainer who was able to relate to 'real' project issues and offer the benefit of experience also.

Couple of queries about your post:
If you are seriously worried you can't hack the basic training, how do you expect to fare in a real-world pressured BA contract?
Why do you want to change career direction - is it because you think you'll earn more as a BA or because you have a passionate interest in the role?

I believe as long as the course is well delivered in a way I could understand, I will be able to deliver in a real-world pressurised environment as I have been doing so as an IT Contractor.
I have also seen a few inexperienced BA's manage to secure roles and run a few projects that I implemented from the technical side and I know, I could of done things better and at times I did do exactly that.

I am seriously bored of my current role and have found progression to be limited. I am no longer enjoying support and after speaking and dealing with a few BA's directly I feel this would be a good option for me.

[northernladuk]

Thanks for your response.

I guess I do need to go perm from being an IT Support Contractor.
In terms of the courses and how to get exposure, would any of you be able to advise or do I need to find a more premie suited forum?

Thanks

If you are going to go perm they will handle your career profile which will include courses I guess. I would say yes, a contractor site isn't the best place for perm career advice but I am sure there are many guys here that are BA's can help you with how they got in to it.

[Felix22]

If so, I was thinking of the Knowledgeacademy or QA as training providers but my worry is the training that is provided is too complexed/complicated and I won't be able to to keep up.

Firstly if you are unsure about your aptitude it would be definitely be best to use a realtime training provider as opposed to an online course.
I have used Knowledge Academy for Prince2 and the course was well delivered by an experienced trainer who was able to relate to 'real' project issues and offer the benefit of experience also.

Couple of queries about your post:
If you are seriously worried you can't hack the basic training, how do you expect to fare in a real-world pressured BA contract?
Why do you want to change career direction - is it because you think you'll earn more as a BA or because you have a passionate interest in the role?

[chris101]

I assume you are a contractor so Just a certification isn't going to help you. You need to show demonstrable experience to the client before he's going to part with any money. There will be plenty of experienced BAs on the bench going for the same gig's.

Not so sure about the being able to keep up comment. How can you go and do BA work as a contractor if you are nervous about the course being too complicated?

Have you considered going permie for awhile to get the experience you are missing?

Thanks for your response.

I guess I do need to go perm from being an IT Support Contractor.
In terms of the courses and how to get exposure, would any of you be able to advise or do I need to find a more premie suited forum?

Thanks

[northernladuk]

I assume you are a contractor so Just a certification isn't going to help you. You need to show demonstrable experience to the client before he's going to part with any money. There will be plenty of experienced BAs on the bench going for the same gig's.

Not so sure about the being able to keep up comment. How can you go and do BA work as a contractor if you are nervous about the course being too complicated?

Have you considered going permie for awhile to get the experience you are missing?