Business Analyst Consulting Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What is a competitive salary for a Financial Analyst in the Midwest (business consulting)? Ideally I'm looking for individuals who are currently in this role! Additionally, I have 3 years work experience, 1 of those in analysis.

Answer: Have you researched at http://www.salary.com Check them out to get a ballpark figure.

Question: How beneficial is a psychology degree for a career in business consulting? I am currently in my first year of university doing a business and arts conjoint degree. For my business degree, I am double majoring in management and economics. For my arts I am majoring in classical studies. I intend to work as a business consultant/analyst, particularly in the strategy and human capital department. I know classical studies doesn't relate to my career path, and I'm doing it purely out of interest. I was wondering how beneficial switching to a psychology degree for my arts would be (I am also interested in it). Is this a major sought after by business consulting firms?

Answer: Psychology would be a great addition to your studies for this. Remember that Psychology focuses on understanding human behavior, and there's a whole section of Psychology that focuses on businesses (Organizational and Industrial Psychology) in which people study what makes businesses work well, how to motivate people and engage them in companies and organizations, and how to manage change. Given what you've said, this would be a great addition for you. I'm a Psychology Professor and an Executive Coach, so I understand the the role Psychology plays in business development, change, and management very well. You'd be well served by this switch. Mary

Question: Looking for a qualified business certification online that could improve chance to find a job? Hi, Is there any online service which offer certification for business subjects like business analyst, consulting, strategy, branding, business development, six sigma, etc that is acceptable by multinational company. Example, in IT area, there are CompTIA, Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, etc, certifications. Regards, Erwin.

Answer: try http://www.greenbelt6sigma.com I have used them and it was an affordable and good experience, I would recommend them.

Question: Which is better SAP ABAP, Oracle, QA or Business Analyst for a recent grad with engineering degree 2 get into? I am thinking of getting into consulting and have been doing some research. I was interested in doin SAP FICO but one of my friend suggested that i start of with ABAP. He said it would be easier to get a job as a Business analyst or a QA tester. I need some good opinion and advice. Please help Thank You

Answer: A good business analyst is always in demand and can make the most money. Being able to translate what the user wants into techie talk is valuable. IT for 30 years. QA tester no way

Question: How do you solve a interview case study question? I have an job interview with a business consulting firm for a Business Analyst position. The interview requires an individual to solve a case study on the spot such as how many baseballs are sold in the US annually. What is the best way to solve a case study such as this?

Answer: In these cases, they are looking for "how" you would solve this, and not for the exact answer. In this case, you might describe the nature of the information you would gather, where you could get it, and how you would go about getting it. Then you could "suppose" the data (make it up) "as if " you had received it from your sources, and then do "analysis" on it. Play along, and show them you know how to do the job.

Question: Is it better to be an IT analyst consultant or a IT project manager? I'm currently an IT business analyst with about 3-4 years experience and now I have the opportunity to choose between moving towards IT strategy consulting or project management. What do think is the better path to take in terms of opportunities, money, lifestyle.....etc etc. ?

Answer: I think you should do some introspection into what drives you and what you like to do. I say this because, in my experience as a career counselor, if you do what really interests you then you'll be more successful (money), enjoy your life more (lifestyle) and be recognized as an expert (opportunities). I've worked with many clients in the IT world, and these two career paths involve intersecting and diverging skill sets. Both involve knowledge of industry trends and best practices, both require skill in analyzing situations and driving solutions. The difference I see is in the level at which you'll be working. A project manager requires great attention to detail and a focus on what is while a strategy consultant is more 'big picture' with a focus on what 'could be'. Where do you find the greatest enjoyment? No one can give you an answer to this. What they can give you is a snapshot into the world of each of these career paths. The answer is something you have to come to yourself. Best of luck to you, don't settle for an answer from someone, let them tell you the merits as they see it and then apply it to what you know about yourself.

Question: Back to IT career. What do you recommend on education / certification? Hello, I used to work in IT. I was a software developer for 2 years, then moved to IT infrastructure (NT,UNIX,WAN, LAN, Voice) for a few years and moved to mid level manager (low hands on). I was out of IT for 5 years now working in Supply Chain. Now I got a PMP and I am looking to build my credentials to get a Project Management or Business Analyst consulting position. Do you have recommendations on certifications / education / approach to help me with the move? Thanks a lot!!!

Answer: It depends what you want to do - projectg management within IT? I think you have had experience, so it's not as difficult as you think. What you should perhaps do is figure out what kind of projects you want to work on... like network infrastrucure, web application roll out, SAP installation, etc. Then get the appropriate certification in that area. Good luck!

Question: What sort of salary should one expect for a 6 month consulting position versus a full-time position? The position is in the financial services industry and it is as a business analyst. I'm not sure if I should ask for half of what I would expect to get in a full-time years salary or should it be more or less?? How does this typically work? It was a third party consultant recruiting agency that contacted me about the position.

Answer: I would expect a 6 month consulting position to pay more than half of a full time year's salary. I think you should do a bit of research on this so you don't get short-changed. Try http://www.payscale.com to see the salary rates for jobs in your area. You can also use http://www.monster.com to see current short term Business Analyst jobs in your area. It will give you a rough idea of the amount you should be asking for. Good luck.

Question: Do I need a degree in fashion in addition to an MBA to become a fashion buyer? Hello Everyone. I have done my bachelors in engineering(Electronics) followed by an MBA (marketing and communication) from a tier 1 college. I have been working for around two years as a business analyst in an IT consulting firm. But i am really passionate about the fashion retail industry and want to build a career as a fashion buyer in the women's category. Do i need to go for an additional degree in fashion buying? If yes, would a short term course suffice?

Answer: nope

Question: Does anyone know of a good IT recruiter in Manhattan? I am a Business Analyst currently for a consulting company on contract for the US Navy in NH and I want to find a job in Manhattan this year. My lease ends in August so that is my deadline. I have about 8 months experience currently. I called one recruiter from Robert Half technology and he hardly gave me the time of day. I have applied to some positions on Craigslist and have had no luck. Any advice/ideas to get the ball rolling?

Answer: Have you tried dice.com >> here is the outcome for keyword search on 'business analyst' in NewYork: http://seeker.dice.com/jobsearch/servlet…