How I became a Business Analyst…

It’s my first career anniversary as a Business Analyst (BA). Everything was hard in the beginning and messy in the middle. So does my caliber as a BA. Frankly, there won’t be any cake to cut or a luxurious champagne to pour but I need to celebrate the day. With me. With you.

It’s a victory for me because I know how I was scattered, rejected and afflicted. It took 67 job applications and 8 interviews to embark on my career as a Business Analyst. Therefore, the best celebration I can do is to teach someone who is hopeful to take the route I strolled. So whoever reads this article can ring the correct bell and land on the BA career easier than me.

The story started like this. I did my Bachelors in Computer Science at Informatics Institute. Frankly, I was a good student. I had awesome marks for all the subjects I was enrolled in. But being a Software Engineer wasn’t my choice. I didn’t have any passion towards coding. I was enthralled by the Enterprises, how software projects are done and how the Software Developments companies run.

I never had an idea about business analysis and never knew about that as well. Following the traditional pathway, I did my internship as a Software Engineer at a Startup which was developing a Turbomachine simulation software. The learning from the internship was amazing since I understood how enterprise software development happens. I learned about software development life cycle, version controlling, algorithms and many more vital aspects of Software Engineering.

After the Internship. I was 100% sure that I don’t want to be a Software Engineer. Honestly, I didn’t enjoy the work of a developer. I’m a talkative and an active person. I like new adventures and new people, leading people and I was really excited about the functions of management in the Software Industry. As a matter of fact, I started talking to people in the IT industry and looking for LinkedIn profiles and found there are two job roles which are not code based. The Business Analysis and Project Management. Hence I aspired to become either a Project Manager or a Business Analyst. Didn’t have a specific option in the beginning.

However, after the internship, I Googled a lot about becoming a Business Analyst and a Project Manager. Key points the internet revealed me were,

• In both BA and PM careers, the starting salary is comparatively low but the job growth is massive.
• Experience matters a lot to become either a BA or a PM. Just having some theoretical knowledge doesn’t help much.
• A Business Analyst is a generic role, the BAs in the IT industry can be a Technical Business Analyst who prevails in IT solutions.
• Scrum knowledge is mandatory.
• A degree either in Computer Science or Software Engineering is a good background to be a BA or a PM at a Software Company.
• I’ve to start small.
• BA interview questions are based on the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge.

Exerting my findings, I completed Professional Scrum Master 1 certification during the final year final semester making myself erudite to my own self. I thought my life would be easy and companies would hire me easily as I’m certified.

Not being hindered by my own victory, I started following LinkedIn learning courses related to Business Analysis and Project Management. I did this fiercely and with the spark in my heart. But what really happened was shocking and gave me crinkles.

All the BA job advertisements were demanding at least 2 years of working experience and 3–5 years for PM jobs. I was demotivated and internally devastated. The 7 interviews I faced were not prolific either. Some companies asked me to come for internships and some never called me again. But I was not ready to give up.

Actually the period I was applying for jobs was the Covid-19 first wave period in Sri Lanka. I knew many people lost jobs and many had salary cuts. In such a situation, I knew I can’t demand a higher salary and I had made up my mind to go for a low paying job as long as it gives me some real BA/PM experience.

In the meantime, I had an interview at a startup which is nearly 8 years old. They offered me a package of 45,000 LKR. I was honestly a little nostalgic. Am I worth only 45K? What the hell? Honestly my expectation was at least around 60K LKR. I never thought the IT industry in Sri Lanka was so poor. My Salary was even below 300 USD for one month. I was despaired, mollified and abated but I had a bigger vision. I knew that I needed experience. So I accepted the job offer and my parents resent me. Ironically, my parents were right. They had paid my tuition in Millions and I’m earning little more than a government office clerk (I don’t mean to disrespect any profession). So pathetic. I knew that company could have paid me a little more but they were too greedy.

For the first time I’m revealing, some companies do not treat private university students equally. I had to face this discrimination. I don’t know who I was looking like to the eyes of the company management but honestly I know I worked hard. Finally, the management had to give me an allowance because the 3 of the other BAs who were from a famous State University were not performing as well as me. So the company had to increase my salary to be equal with others but yet it was below my decent expectations.

From day one itself, my ambition was to learn the job. Aspiring my employment, I was able to implement Agile practices in my projects, proper requirement traceability practices and I upheld the teamwork. That was all enough for my first 6 months. I knew I’m potent. I know I’m good enough to be a good BA. I always wanted to improve myself. Therefore I completed Certified Scrum Product Owner Certification within the first 6 months of the job and paid for a BA training held by an Expert BA.

After the 5th month of my employment, I started looking for new opportunities. I always needed a mentor who could guide me in my career. In my opinion, I think it’s important to learn from Seniors and following a well-designed BA process itself is great learning. Winning my goal, I was selected to my current employment after 4 hard interviews and one presentation.

I knew I’m going to make that career leap because I had educated myself to be a good BA. Of course there were grey areas but I was better than the beginning. So I could demand a bit more.

At this point, I realized that recruiters always look for the current salary when deciding the new package for me. So make sure you are satisfied with your first salary. Otherwise you will suffer. (To be honest, living with a salary around 50K doesn’t help you. It’s a struggle. It hurts when you have to cut off the things you love to buy because the job is not paying well and it puts you into a situation where you start comparing yourself with others. We all are human.).

So I made my leap to my current company and started the Entry Level Certificate for Business Analysis training course alongside. I gained knowledge by reading Business Analysis Body of Knowledge and literally I improved my relative worth. So, It’s been one year now and still growing.

The beauty of being a Business Analyst is, I always can try out new things. I’m free to use any technique to tackle a situation. That freedom is priceless. But unfortunately, salaries are not yet high as Developers and Quality Engineers.

I believe that good things happen to those who believe. So I continuously learn and try to improve my BA skills (A BA needs to have 29 Skills).

Let’s see, after 10 years from now, If I’m alive, I will write a milestone post. I’d love to see the gift my tomorrow holds.

Summary

• In Sri Lanka, at this moment, a fresher can demand a salary between 40K to 60K LKR. I think that’s a safe zone but this range may vary based on the scale of the company.
• Reading BABOK and understanding the concepts are mandatory.
• You must do IIBA Exams: ECBA,CCBA,CBAP
• Agile certifications will be high yielding if you are working at an Agile workplace or you are ready to change your job. You can do PSM 1 or CSM and PSPO 1 or CSPO. (Do PSM 1/PSPO 1 if you really need to learn things in depth. Those exams require higher commitment. So the knowledge is sustainable)
• You can do SAFe exams when you proceed with your career.
• Grow your network on LinkedIn. The number of BAs in Sri Lanka is a niche compared with Devs and QAs. So the same set of people rotates in the industry.
• Don’t fall into the trap of “Don’t change your job so often.” This is surely a taboo. We are Gen Z and we are living in the 21st century. We need money for everything. A person’s buying power is important to live and it matters a lot (It costs in lakhs to do certifications even) . So if your company doesn’t pay you well, no worries, change the job. Don’t let a company take you for granted. But make sure you are worthy. Don’t be stagnant.
• Share your knowledge with others and be socially responsible.
• Sri Lanka is not going to be a utopia with this politics. Make sure you learn and master the skill set so that you can work abroad.
• Importantly remember “What got you here, won’t get you there.”.
• Make sure you have a way to prove that you are developed. Certifications matter a lot.
• Read and learn the design thinking process

I’m standing on top of the shoulders of the people who helped me. So am I. Just drop me a message if you need any help or information. I’m always happy to help.

Good Luck !!!