FAQs

Everything You Need To Know About Jobs in Business Intelligence

Today, the business world is data-driven. Turning the deluge of information that is available into something that has commercial value is crucial.

This being the need of the hour, business intelligence jobs are on the rise. So much so, that in 2013, Forbes listed BI Analyst in its list of top ten STEM jobs for recent graduates.

That’s where you come in. If organization and interpretation of data in order to improve business strategies appeals to you, then read on. Here, we’re giving you all the information you need before looking out for BI jobs.

What does Business Intelligence Work Involve?

Business intelligence is a fairly research intensive position.

No matter what your role might be, you will be sifting through a significant amount of information on a day-to-day basis. You’ll be using a number of applications and programs to collect and analyse raw data. In fact, you might even be involved in the development of methods that will refine this process.

You’ll be expected to identify snags in the decision making process of businesses, and come up with solutions, thereby improving the company’s overall efficiency.

The business intelligence job description requires that you have a holistic understanding of the business— to be thorough with the ins and the outs.

You’d have to have a keen eye on the strategies employed by business rivals, and use that information to give your company an edge.

To be an effective business intelligence analyst, you should be detail-oriented, think creatively about the needs of the business, and have strong communication skills.

What Companies Look For in a Business Intelligence Expert?

Business intelligence jobs generally require applicants to be qualified educationally and have some degree of professional experience.

Essential Qualifications

Generally, employers look for at least a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Business, or other related subjects in the financial and business fields.

Professional experience is usually a must, and companies may expect anything between 1-5 years from potential candidates.

Additional Skills

Along with the basic educational and professional experience, BI jobs generally require applicants to know SQL or Focus, which are the programming languages used for data manipulation.

Familiarity with data analysis applications such as Oracle, Tableau, Business Objects, TM1 and Siebel Analytics is necessary. An understanding of business intelligence architecture also crops up in the list of requirements.

Moreover, candidates are expected to be familiar with Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Access. They are also expected to be able to provide support for ETL (extract,transform and load) or OLAP jobs, and be able to build and maintain databases of information.

The Scope Of Business Intelligence

Careers in business intelligence and data warehousing are demanding, but just as rewarding.

Although various analytic tools are being developed rapidly, the pressing need for human intelligence is only becoming clearer.

With jobs on the rise, business intelligence firms are on a hiring spree. Job openings are usually for business intelligence analysts, developers, managers, and architects.

An average business intelligence specialist earns about $78,050 per year, which can go up to $112,300 as you build on your skills and experience in the field.

Business Intelligence Career – The Road Ahead

People who can analyse raw data and streamline their processes will always hold a crucial position in all businesses.

Business intelligence careers have a lot of potential, and offer opportunities for further growth and advancement. Moreover, the need for business intelligence ranges across a number of industries like healthcare, software, banking and insurance and so on.

If your interests and skills lie in research, analysis and improving business processes, business intelligence is the right field for you.

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