Becoming a Business/Systems Analyst

[Wayne62682]

I have several years under my belt in IT currently, specifically doing "jack of all trades" IT work in smaller companies (i.e. I'm the sysadmin, dba, programmer all in one).  My communication skills are very good, especially my written skills (verbal not as good as I can be a little shy and not aggressive).  Although I've done some development work, I don't really enjoy doing it.  I've found that I'm much more at home with the high-level nuances of software development rather than the low-level.. in other words, I like approaching problems from the business' perspective and figure out the WHY, not the HOW.  I like solving problems from the standpoint of investgating the problem and the steps needed to solve the problem, as opposed to actually doing the solving myself.

My last two positions were more closely aligned to an analyst than a developer or "IT Guy" although I filled both those roles as well.  First I spent two years at an online retail company where the majority of my day was spent in a combination of SQL Server, Access and Excel to query data for management and to help determine future goals.  Then, I transitioned to a company founded by my then-boss, which was a web-based software company.  I did develop the initial version of their application on my own, but later they brought in an offshore team of developers and I switched to being more of a Systems Analyst/Project Manager; I spent a lot of time discussing with the end users what the application should do in given scenarios, creating the high-level abstractions of what the software should do, and collaborating with the offshore team at night to make sure that they were following the plan and we were staying on track.

All of these things appeal to me; much more than learning the latest .NET 4.0 features, or managing users in Active Directory, or troubleshooting users with slow computers.  I would much rather be thinking at the high level about why such-and-such feature of the software is needed, how it will help our business, how it will improve our employees.  I don't want to be the one writing the implementation classes or the data access classes, I want to be the person determining what the software needs to accomplish, and letting more knowledgeable programmers handle the implementation.

The big blow to my ambitions, however, is that I only have an Associates degree, from 2004.  It seems that every time I plan to go back to school, something gets in my way - typically I'll change jobs, or find a new job that's just far enough from the college/university that I wouldn't be able to regularly get to class because of work and traffic.  I'm currently out of work but I'm loathe to look at going back to school right now, because I know that if I choose a particular school I'm going to end up with a job that's far from it, and since the company won't be flexible in my hours I'll have to drop classes again.  It's been this way since 2005 really, which is why I have yet to even start on the path to my Bachelor's. 

My main curiosity at this point is, given that I want to be an Analyst and/or Project Manager, what type of degree should I pursue when I can finally look at going back to school?  My thoughts at the moment are to get a major in Business Administration, with a dual minor in MIS and Economics (I'm rather fond of economics), or possibly a dual minor in MIS and Management or similar.  I have a technical background; there's no denying that, so I may as well leverage it and look at a career path that isn't stagnated and a dead end like development, but still has ties to IT since that is what I've done professionally for years.  

Any ideas or suggestions?  I really don't know how to begin making this transition.  It's unfortunate for me that there aren't that many "Jr. Analyst" positions that I see.  In fact I think I've seen like 3 over the past 6 months or more.  What should I be looking at to help me get these kinds of jobs?  I'm already familiar with Office, including Access, and writing SQL queries.  Should I pick up some more software such as Project?  Oracle (I know a lot of big companies use Oracle)?  UML? 

[idm]

Since you prefer analysis and problem solving from a business perspective rather than the hardcore technical design and implementation skills you might be well served with a BA/BS in some business specialty. With an associate degree completed you could earn the BA/BS through testing-out (CLEPs, DANTES) by the end of this summer if you are highly motivated. You have the skills and experience, all you need is the bachelor degree at this point. As far as junior business analyst positions are concered by combining all your "IT Guy aka Jack of all trades" experience you are likely at the intermediate level already despite what you perceive as minimal time in analytic roles. After earning the BA/BS you could earn the Certified Business Analyst designation, and then either the CAPM or PMP designation depending on how much project management experience you can document.

[Wayne62682]

I'll take a look at all of that.  Thank you for your helpful advice.  Unfortunately as to the degree.. it wouldn't be that soon as I have an A.S. so I didn't take a lot of the general education classes beyond the basics, and to boot the school wasn't regionally accredited so I might have to start from scratch on that front.

[idm]

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Wayne62682 wrote:

I'll take a look at all of that.  Thank you for your helpful advice.  Unfortunately as to the degree.. it wouldn't be that soon as I have an A.S. so I didn't take a lot of the general education classes beyond the basics, and to boot the school wasn't regionally accredited so I might have to start from scratch on that front.

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If the AS was earned at a nationally accredited (DETC) school there are regionally accredited schools which will accept those credit hours provided they can be slotted into the BA/BS degree requirements. That aside, check to determine whether the CBA, CAPM, and PMP require a regionally accredited degree.

[Wayne62682]

Will do.  I'm not sure of any schools that will slot my existing degree in because it's an IT-focused degree so nothing would transfer towards a Business degree, but I'll give it a look see and see what I can come up with.  I know the CAPM only requires a HS Diploma but you need either documented PM hours or a PM course to qualify for being able to take it.

My biggest issue is, honestly, finding the right school.  Like I said before whenever I try, and I enroll in College A, I'll get Job B that's roughly an hour or so drive.  Since Job B won't be flexible in my hours, I can't take certain classes at College A because they aren't offered when I can take them (e.g. a class that's only offered in the morning, or that's only a 5:30PM class).  If I go to College B, which is closer to me, I'll get Job C that's even further from it, so the same thing will happen.  That's partly why I've had to put off going back to school for nearly 5 years now; my work situation has never allowed me the flexibility to go to school AND work at the same time, but when it comes down to it work takes precedence because of my bills.

[idm]

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Wayne62682 wrote:

Will do.  I'm not sure of any schools that will slot my existing degree in because it's an IT-focused degree so nothing would transfer towards a Business degree, but I'll give it a look see and see what I can come up with.  I know the CAPM only requires a HS Diploma but you need either documented PM hours or a PM course to qualify for being able to take it.

My biggest issue is, honestly, finding the right school.  Like I said before whenever I try, and I enroll in College A, I'll get Job B that's roughly an hour or so drive.  Since Job B won't be flexible in my hours, I can't take certain classes at College A because they aren't offered when I can take them (e.g. a class that's only offered in the morning, or that's only a 5:30PM class).  If I go to College B, which is closer to me, I'll get Job C that's even further from it, so the same thing will happen.  That's partly why I've had to put off going back to school for nearly 5 years now; my work situation has never allowed me the flexibility to go to school AND work at the same time, but when it comes down to it work takes precedence because of my bills.

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Your credit hours from the AS degree would likely at least qualify for transfer into the 'free electives' section. I suggest you contact Southwestern College because they have accepted DETC (nationally accredited) credit hours from other students in the past and offers BA/BS in business administration. On the other hand, if you are good at taking standardized tests you might choose Charter Oak State College as they accept DETC (nationally accredited) credit hours, though there are a few hoops to jump through apparently based upon feedback from other students, and with the exception of a 1-credit hour course all the other credit hours can be transferred into the degree from other schools or from standardized tests (CLEPs, DANTES, etc.). Thomas Edison State College and Excelsior College are other schools to consider though they do not accept DETC (nationally accredited) credit hours but allow standardized tests and allow credit hours from any regionally accredited schools in transfer. I know mid-career professionals who have attended both schools and earned their degrees without setting foot on the campus. Those students went on the earn graduate degrees from prestigous US universities. Both Southwestern College and Charter Oak State College are regionally accredited. A great resource for advice and information about distance education is the DegreeInfo forum.

Good luck!

[Wayne62682]

I wonder if I would be better off doing a distance learning thing or trying to go to a school near me? I live rather close to a major university in my state (University of South Florida), it's just the time stuff that puts a roadblock in my way. I know for a fact I learn better attending classes than doing online programs and such...

[nobody]

Be careful about which BA jobs you apply for, though.  I was looking at them seriously last fall/winter in my area.  I found that there is a VERY wide range of skills/tasks.  Some BA jobs are simply administrative assistants with a fancier name.  Others are more technical, almost a programmer.  Others are like junior project managers. 

[cadman]

Yes, Nobody has got it right. The job title of BA is very often a catchall job title, and not aligned with the definition of a BA per the IIBA. As a practicing BA, I see very few BA opportunities that truly need the skills of an IT/Business liaison to manage requirements, and all of the related contributions needed for conceptualization through operational support.

[Wayne62682]

I'll be careful. I just... well like I've said before, I don't want to stay in IT but IT is the only career path I've had. A BA role would let me at least utilize my IT skills and the fact I've mainly worked doing everything under the sun for small mom-and-pop shops (so I've done more than just programming/dba stuff, I mean), and provide more advancement like maybe towards a PM role or something, so I can get out of IT entirely.