Also called:
Business Intelligence Analyst, Competitive Intelligence Analyst, Market Intelligence Consultant, Strategic Business and Technology Intelligence Consultant
Business intelligence analysts use data to develop financial and market information for their employers and clients, and help organizations make better decisions. They mine a company's computer data, look at its competitors’ data and at industry trends to develop a picture of how the company is performing, how it can improve, and where it could reduce costs. They also advise clients on markets for future product development or to improve sales of current products. Business intelligence analysts often develop their own methods to identify data patterns and trends. They design databases and spreadsheets to store their data and communicate information, and may keep a library of past work to use as a model for future projects. Business intelligence analysts need strong critical thinking skills, persistence, and flexibility when circumstances and resources change. They work closely with a wide variety of people, so communication and collaboration skills are also important. Most business intelligence analysts work longer than 40 hours per week, spending most of their time in the office. Most positions require a bachelor’s degree, although many in the field have a master’s degree as well.
What they do:
Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.
On the job, you would:
Generate standard or custom reports summarizing business, financial, or economic data for review by executives, managers, clients, and other stakeholders.
Synthesize current business intelligence or trend data to support recommendations for action.
Maintain library of model documents, templates, or other reusable knowledge assets.
Arts and Humanities
English language
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Business
management
Engineering and Technology
computers and electronics
Basic Skills
reading work related information
thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Verbal
communicate by writing
read and understand what is written
Ideas and Logic
make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
use rules to solve problems
Math
choose the right type of math to solve a problem
add, subtract, multiply, or divide
People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
Analytical Thinking
Attention to Detail
Dependability
Initiative
Integrity
Persistence
You might use software like this on the job:
Development environment software
Eclipse IDE
Microsoft Visual Basic
Web platform development software
AJAX
JavaScript
Data base user interface and query software
Microsoft Access
Transact-SQL
bachelor's degree or master's degree usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
$94,280
$52,720
$158,060
You might like a career in one of these industries:
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