Business Analyst Path
Requirements, data, process improvement. Bridge between business and technology.
Your Path
Notion + Google Docs
FreeBusiness requirements documents, user stories, acceptance criteria, stakeholder meeting notes. Notion for structured requirements and project wikis. Google Docs for collaborative writing with stakeholders. Clear documentation is the BA's #1 deliverable.
Google Sheets + SQL
FreeSQL is the single most important technical skill for a BA. Query databases, pull reports, validate data. Google Sheets for pivot tables, data analysis, and stakeholder-friendly dashboards. If you can write SQL, you're immediately more valuable than 70% of BA candidates.
Miro / Lucidchart
Free tiersVisualise business processes, map user journeys, create flowcharts and swimlane diagrams. Miro for collaborative workshops and brainstorming. Lucidchart for formal process documentation. A picture explains what 10 pages of text can't.
Figma
FreeYou don't need to be a designer, but you need to communicate solutions visually. Low-fidelity wireframes help stakeholders see what you mean. Figma is industry standard, learn basic frames, shapes, and prototyping. It bridges the gap between requirements and design.
Jira / Linear
Free tiersBAs work with dev teams daily. Jira is the standard for backlog management, writing user stories, managing sprints, tracking progress. Linear is the modern alternative. Know how to write stories with clear acceptance criteria that developers actually understand.
Canva + Google Slides
FreeYou'll present to executives, run workshops, and write business cases. Canva for professional decks that don't look like everyone else's. Google Slides for quick collaborative presentations. The ability to present complex information simply is what makes senior BAs invaluable.
Claude
Free tierDraft requirements documents, analyse data patterns, generate user stories from meeting notes, create process descriptions. Claude handles the writing grunt work so you can focus on stakeholder relationships and strategic thinking. Use it to review your own documents for gaps and inconsistencies.
Your Complete Stack
Notion
Requirements & wiki. Free
Google Docs
Collaboration. Free
Google Sheets
Data analysis. Free
Miro / Lucidchart
Diagrams. Free tier
Figma
Wireframes. Free
Jira / Linear
Backlog. Free tier
Canva
Presentations. Free tier
Google Slides
Stakeholder decks. Free
Claude
AI assistant. Free tier
What Hiring Managers Actually Look For
BCS / IIBA certification helps
BCS Business Analysis certification is the UK standard. IIBA's ECBA/CCBA is recognised globally. Neither is mandatory for junior roles, but they prove you know the frameworks, use cases, BPMN, MoSCoW prioritisation, and take your CV to the top of the pile.
Translate between business and tech
The BA's superpower is translation. Business stakeholders speak outcomes, developers speak logic. Your job is to be fluent in both. Practice explaining technical concepts simply and turning vague business needs into precise requirements.
SQL is the #1 technical skill
Every BA job listing mentions SQL or "data skills." Learn SELECT, JOIN, WHERE, GROUP BY, and subqueries. Practice on free platforms like SQLBolt or Mode Analytics. Being able to pull your own data instead of waiting for analysts makes you 10x more effective.
Portfolio of sample documents
Create sample deliverables, a requirements document, process map, user stories, wireframes. Even if they're for fictional projects, they show you know how to produce BA artefacts. Host them in a Notion portfolio or Google Drive. Tangible work beats talking about skills.
Average Salary Range
£30-55K UK / $60-100K US
Mid-level business analyst roles. Senior BAs, Lead BAs, and those in financial services or consulting earn significantly more. Contracting rates can be £350-550/day in the UK.
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