Career Change is The Best Avenue for Business Analysts | Why Non-Tech Backgrounds Win in IT
- Feb 2
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 17
Be honest, when you hear "Business Analyst" do you picture someone buried in JIRA tickets? Or endlessly documenting requirements? If so you’re probably not alone. But let me tell you, this role is so much more than that...
As an instructor at IT Bootcamp, as well as an Agile Coach, I often get the chance to emphasize the true value this role brings to the table.
What is a Business Analyst?
Think of a Business Analyst as the glue that holds a project together, the bridge between the business, the users, and the development team. We’re the ones asking the tough questions, getting into the details, and making sure the final product actually makes sense for real people... My students always ask: What does a Business Analyst actually do? The short answer is a little bit of everything. Being a Business Analyst is like being a translator at a big group dinner where half the table speaks one language and the other half speaks another. You listen to what each side needs make sure everyone understands each other and keep the conversation flowing so the meal gets ordered correctly and everyone leaves happy. In this case though one group is the business and marketing the other side is IT. Step 1: It's about truly understanding business needs asking all the right questions until it is clear what and why something is needed presenting that in a way that makes sense whether that is through writing visuals or conversations. Step 2: Then it is about taking that information to the engineers working with them to understand capabilities and possibilities what is or is not possible. It's that constant cycle of understanding, simplifying, documenting, presenting, and translating back and forth that ultimately drives things forward through to the finish line.
This includes scheduling meetings, following up with stakeholders, taking notes, creating and updating tickets, identifying project dependencies, drawing user flow diagrams with the business, creating data flow diagrams with the developers, and presenting out the feature or idea to both sides once its clear. It can even include following that request downstream through testing, release, and even customer support. (All things you can learn in the IT Bootcamp btw :p)
The Need for Career Change Business Analysts in IT - a Non-Technical Perspective
In today’s fast-paced IT world the customer perspective gets overlooked way too often. At The IT Bootcamp we're changing that by training a new kind of Business Analyst people from completely different careers who bring fresh perspectives into IT.
One of my favorite things is watching people from all backgrounds nurses bartenders therapists even construction workers step into IT and absolutely thrive. There's something incredible about seeing someone realize their skills actually belong here that they've got real value in this space.
These career changers don't just add value to projects they ARE the customer in many cases. A former nurse knows patient care inside and out which makes them invaluable when building healthcare software. IT's got plenty of technical people but what's missing is the ability to create software people actually want and actually use. Someone without an IT mindset sees things differently and that perspective is what leads to better user experiences and stronger products.
The Shift Towards Agile and User-Centric Development
The wildest thing? Most software doesn’t fail because it’s broken, it fails because nobody wants to use it. And that, my friends, is why we need more BAs who truly understand people.
In Agile environments, a BA from a different career bringing real-world insights can be a game changer. We need more customer perspectives in our teams instead of letting engineers work in isolation. In fact, most engineers want to know more about their customers, the why behind the need. The BA role has evolved and needs to keep evolving to make sure technology solutions are built around real user needs.
Focusing on customer expectations should be a priority in any IT project. A BA should be the one ensuring deliverables align with what users actually need. Pushing back, asking the tough questions, and not being afraid to bring up the issues no one else does.
Skills that Define Modern Business Analysts
The skills expected from a Business Analyst today go far beyond just gathering requirements. When teaching at IT Bootcamp, I stress the importance of building a diverse skill set that makes IT more about people and relationships, such as:
Empathy: Understanding different user perspectives, and those of the business and technical teams.
Communication: Effectively linking technical and non-technical teams.
Problem-Solving: Analyzing challenges and exploring solutions with technical teams.
Analytical Thinking: Using data to guide decisions and identifying areas where tracking may be needed.
Embracing the Future of Business Analysis
The BA role has evolved from just gathering tasks to being the bridge between users and development, and it’s only going to become more critical.
As technology keeps advancing, we need BAs who understand both the technical side and how to truly connect with people with empathy.
At IT Bootcamp, we’re shaping this new kind of BA, and I believe they’ll drive real change in how IT projects are approached.
For anyone thinking about a career shift, stepping into a BA role means using your past experience to make a meaningful impact.
At the end of the day, successful IT projects come down to understanding, communication, and empathy. Most importantly, they need the right people in the right roles. The rise of the new Business Analyst is about putting people first and making sure IT projects actually meet business, customer, and user needs.
If you're considering a transition into IT, the BA path might just be the perfect fit for your unique skills :)
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