Becoming a Business Analyst Contractor

[LondonManc]

I'd suggest that any significant career change necessitates going perm for a significant amount of time in order to become the specialised and experienced person that a contractor should be. This applies to BA as much as anything else.

[northernladuk]

But you don't strictly need to be an experienced person. You just need to be able to convince someone else that you're experienced.

Not the same thing, as Frank will testify.

This is true but that type of person would have done it and not had to ask a question like this?

[billybiro]

You can do a course but it doesn't make you an experienced person in that role.

But you don't strictly need to be an experienced person. You just need to be able to convince someone else that you're experienced.

Not the same thing, as Frank will testify.

[SueEllen]

You make that sound very black and white and it isn't at all. There's plenty of people who are contractor "BAs" who are just an SME with a BA title. Their domain knowledge is one thing but their skills in analysis are often (from my experiences) poor.

Let's try it this way, would you rather the village witch doctor check you over or would you rather go to the hospital where you may meet a doctor fresh out of medical school.

It's all perspectives but for me I would value those who took their career serious enough to realise they need to invest in not just experience but also themselves.


The original post asked is training worth while. Yes it is, and do it as early in your career as possible before you pick up bad habits from others. 10 years of trained experience is going to be more useful to you than pretending you know what analysis is until you realise people want qualified analysts.

What I'm saying is experience trumps a piece of paper.

If the OP has both he would be picked up like a shot.

To get both due to the role he is currently doing, he is likely to need to go permie.

Also comparing a witch doctor to a doctor is like comparing apples and oranges as it depends on what your illness/condition is. The NHS for years has been telling people to try and treat themselves first or go to another medical professional before going to a doctor. Personally with my own experience plus knowing medical professionals including doctors there are illness/conditions I wouldn't see a doctor first with at all as I know they are very likely to know SFA about them.

[munkee]

You make that sound very black and white and it isn't at all. There's plenty of people who are contractor "BAs" who are just an SME with a BA title. Their domain knowledge is one thing but their skills in analysis are often (from my experiences) poor.

Let's try it this way, would you rather the village witch doctor check you over or would you rather go to the hospital where you may meet a doctor fresh out of medical school.

It's all perspectives but for me I would value those who took their career serious enough to realise they need to invest in not just experience but also themselves.


The original post asked is training worth while. Yes it is, and do it as early in your career as possible before you pick up bad habits from others. 10 years of trained experience is going to be more useful to you than pretending you know what analysis is until you realise people want qualified analysts.

[SueEllen]

Experienced in what though? Being clueless as to whether what they have experienced is actually right/wrong/useful?

Broadening your knowledge of the subject is key. Application of theory against real life scenarios gives experience. Bumbling through pretending you know without at basis of understanding sounds more like a disastrous career path.

You can learn theory but how do you know which bits to apply and which bits should stay theory? You don't without someone to guide you or you having tried it out, which is why the others are saying go permie as you can more easily get that knowledge.

Put it this way there are loads of people who say they are BAs out there. Now as a company if you have a choice of someone with a certificate but no practical experience and whose previous roles had nothing to do with BA work, and someone who has practical BA experience in a few contracts even though this isn't their main role, which person are you going to choose? You would choose the latter.

[munkee]

You can do a course but it doesn't make you an experienced person in that role.

Experienced in what though? Being clueless as to whether what they have experienced is actually right/wrong/useful?

Broadening your knowledge of the subject is key. Application of theory against real life scenarios gives experience. Bumbling through pretending you know without at basis of understanding sounds more like a disastrous career path.

[SueEllen]

BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis | Business analysis | Certifications | BCS Certifications
Certification Levels - IIBA | International Institute of Business Analysis

You can do a course but it doesn't make you an experienced person in that role.

[munkee]

There aren't any courses I'm aware of. The very few good BAs I've met are either PMs or techies doing the job the BA should have done in the first place.

/justsaying

BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis | Business analysis | Certifications | BCS Certifications
Certification Levels - IIBA | International Institute of Business Analysis

Jobs here: http://www.businessanalystjobs.co.uk

[northernladuk]

Does make me wonder. If people think themselves as good contractors and understand how it all works why do they need to be told the basics again?

Just need a post from someone that managed to do it as a contractor to highlight in very extreme situations it can be done and we've just about mirrored every thread for this type of question.

[sal]

How to become a <insert job title/role here> Contractor?

1. Work in <insert job title/role here> capacity for about 5 years.
2. Apply for <insert job title/role here> Contract roles.
3. Pass the interview(s)
4. Sign the contract

[Lance]

Im currently working as an IT contractor in Clinical Training, and want to move into Business Analytic work.

Would doing a course in BA be worthwhile? Any idea how i can move into this area of work.

Requirements are key. If you cannot understand and interpret requirements into a practical reality, then you're going to struggle.
The fact that you don't know what the requirements are to become a BA are probably the first warning sign that it might not be right for you.

There aren't any courses I'm aware of. The very few good BAs I've met are either PMs or techies doing the job the BA should have done in the first place.

/justsaying

[northernladuk]

You could try a search. This exact question comes up time and time again.

In a nutshell you sell specialist skills to your client. A certification does not make you a specialist. With no solid experience behind you you will be at the back of a very long queue.

[JohnRoman]

Im currently working as an IT contractor in Clinical Training, and want to move into Business Analytic work.

Would doing a course in BA be worthwhile? Any idea how i can move into this area of work.