What does a Business Analyst actually do?

The short version

Business analysts translate between people who know what they want and people who build what they're told — workshops, process maps, requirements docs, and an unreasonable amount of diplomacy. It's the tech-adjacent career for people who don't want to code.

The pitch: a genuinely low entry bar (no degree required, sideways moves welcome), a strong contract market for experienced BAs, and a skill set that travels across every industry running change. The catch: the documentation half of the job — requirements drafts, process maps, user stories — is exactly what AI accelerates, so the junior "scribe" version of the role is thinning while senior room-running BAs hold their value.

Entry routes that actually work

• Sideways move — testers, project coordinators and ops staff drift into BA work; it's the most common route.
• Junior BA roles — direct entry at large organisations; a degree helps but isn't required.
• Apprenticeship — Level 4 and Level 6 degree apprenticeships are a paid door in.
• Certification — BCS/IIBA credentials open doors but don't replace project time.