How Do I Become an Application Analyst?

Application analyst careers involve assisting businesses in operating at optimal efficiency by creating and modifying computer application systems. The educational requirement for you to become an application analyst is a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems or related field, although some employers may mandate a master’s in business administration, with a specialty in information technology management. An advantage for prospective job candidates is to have previous information technology experience, which you may acquire through internships or work-study programs during your college years. In addition to the degree requirements, a spectrum of knowledge, skills, and abilities are needed for this profession.

Those who want to become an application analyst must have an in-depth knowledge of computers as well as a proficiency in other disciplines as well. Fundamentals of knowledge in computers and electronics encompass areas such as circuit boards, processors, and chips, in addition to computer hardware and software programming. Application analyst training also imparts knowledge in areas of mathematics, such as algebra, calculus, and statistics, and provides a mastery of language structure, including spelling, grammar, and composition rules. Another area of expertise required is engineering and technology, which involves the application of principles and methods in designing products and services. Knowledge in customer and personal service is also required, which includes evaluating and assessing consumer satisfaction.

If you want to become an application analyst, various skills are needed to optimally utilize the knowledge that has been acquired. Intricate and complex problem solving skills are necessary in order to identify trouble areas and devise solutions. A professional in this field must be able to write computer programs for various purposes, as well as analyze systems, which involves determining how alterations in procedures and environmental conditions can influence outcomes. You must also be able to evaluate systems with the intent of pinpointing the best course of action needed to maximize performance. You will also need to have good judgment and decision-making abilities so that you can weight the cost and benefits of different options and make the most appropriate choices.

Those who want to become an application analyst must have certain intellectual abilities to be able to function proficiently in this field. One area needed is problem sensitivity, which is the ability to detect malfunctioning or foresee when there is a likelihood of something going amiss. Both inductive and deductive reasoning are required, which involves not only applying general rules to specific problems, but also being able to detect cause-effect relationships among seemingly unrelated factors. Other abilities needed include information ordering, which is the ability to arrange actions in a pattern according to specific rules, and category flexibility, which is the capacity to generate different rules for categorizing items in various ways.