If you’re looking to get into business analysis, you must understand what a business analyst does. Today we’ll look at how Salesforce.com hires its business analysts, what skills they need, and more.
Business Analyst
Business analysts at Salesforce.com are at the forefront of helping companies bring their products and services to market. They work on various projects across Salesforce’s product portfolio, focusing on user needs, business requirements, and technical challenges.
In this role, you’ll use your problem-solving and communication skills daily as you work with our customers to define requirements for new features, enhancements, or solutions that enhance the customer experience in Salesforce1 (the world’s #1 CRM platform).
You’ll also collaborate with engineering teams to ensure that these requirements are met in a way that is technically sound and easy for users to adopt.
In addition to working directly with customers, you may also interact regularly with other departments within Salesforce, such as product management or executive leadership teams, such as our Chief Product Officer Mark Hawkins.
How can I become a Business Analyst?
If you want to become a business analyst, here are the steps:
- Find out what roles are available in the company you’re interested in working for. Business analysts work in many different industries and have a variety of job titles, such as information technology analyst or data architect. You can search for these positions on websites like Glassdoor or LinkedIn or talk to someone who works at the company to see what opportunities might be available.
- Research key qualifications and requirements for each role you’re interested in applying for—these will vary depending on the industry and position type, so make sure to research thoroughly.
- Develop an action plan that maps out how long it will take you to complete each stage of your career journey (e.g., graduate school), and then put that plan into action.
What are the basic skills?
If you’re interested in becoming a business analyst at Salesforce, you’ll need to have the following skills.
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Analytical skills.
You must be able to gather and analyze data while thinking critically about the information at hand.
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Problem-solving skills.
As a business analyst, your job is to find problems that affect the company and help fix them—sometimes, those problems don’t have easy solutions! So you must be able to brainstorm ideas and evaluate their feasibility, viability, and cost efficiency.
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Communication skills.
You’ll work closely with other departments across your organization on projects aimed at improving processes or products; therefore, it’s important that you can communicate your findings back up through the ranks so that everyone understands what needs improving—and how best to go about doing so!
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Organizational skills
Working as part of a team means knowing how to organize yourself around deadlines (or lack thereof). Business analysts often face tight deadlines on their projects; if not managed properly, this could result in stress levels reaching unhealthy heights for everyone involved.
Education Requirements
The education requirements for this position include a bachelor’s degree in computer science, business management, or information systems.
Graduates must also have two years of experience using software applications for data analysis and reporting, such as Microsoft Excel or PowerPoint.
In addition to the above qualifications, applicants must pass an online assessment test before being hired.
Roles and Responsibilities
A business analyst is a person who works with clients to understand their goals and objectives. They then create a strategy based on those goals and data to support them.
The role of a business analyst can be quite varied depending on the company, but certain things remain constant:
- Business analysts must have excellent communication skills and be able to work independently.
- They must take the initiative to gather the information needed for projects, make decisions based on it (this can include negotiating contracts), and keep up-to-date with current events to provide relevant solutions for client’s problems or questions.
Why pursue it as a career?
- You will earn money.
- It is a good way to help people.
- It is a good way to be part of a team.
- You can learn new things and have fun at the same time.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, here are some things to consider:
- Do I have time to commit each week?
- Will I be able to meet the physical requirements for the job?
- Are there training opportunities available near my home?
- Am I willing to help others?
Areas for Opportunity
As a business analyst at Salesforce.com, you will be working in an industry with great job prospects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment for business analysts will grow by 14% through 2024, which is much faster than the average for other occupations. You can also expect to see some flexibility in location and company size.
You don’t have to work only for Salesforce; plenty of other companies offer similar opportunities, as well as countless startups and smaller firms where you could start your career. And while the tech industry is constantly changing, there’s no doubt that analyzing data will always be needed, and it’s just a matter of where you’ll find it.
Types of Jobs
You might wonder what types of jobs are available at Salesforce.com and how they compare. Well, there are three main types that you’ll find:
- Business Analyst
- Business Consultant
- Business Analyst Consultant
Demand in the job market
The demand for business analysts within Salesforce.com has been increasing over the past few years, and that trend is expected to continue. The job growth rate stands at 35%, with a median salary of $79K per year.
As you can see, there are many opportunities for people who want to become business analysts at Salesforce.com. Due to the high demand for these positions, companies are looking for individuals with strong analytical skills and experience working in different departments of an organization (such as marketing or finance).
Levels of Business Analyst
In a nutshell, the difference lies in your level of responsibility and autonomy as a business analyst.
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Business Analyst Level 1 (BA1):
This entry-level position provides opportunities to learn and develop the skills required to succeed in this role.
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Business Analyst Level 2 (BA2):
This role requires proficiency with specific tools and technologies and experience with multiple aspects of the data model. When you’re ready for your first business analyst role, we encourage you to apply for this position until your skills match those required by BA2s on our team.
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Business Analyst Level 3 (BA3):
As a BA3, you are expected to have mastered not only all technical aspects related to B.A. work but also knowledge regarding strategic initiatives supported by Salesforce products or services across all segments within an organization, including customer success strategies.
What is the hiring process?
The hiring process is long, but don’t worry: it’s completely worth it. Here’s what you can expect to go through during the interview process:
- An initial phone interview with a recruiter
- A technical interview with a software engineer
- A case study where you’ll be asked to analyze a fictitious set of data and make recommendations on how best to proceed from there
- Group activities with other candidates in which you’ll have to come up with solutions for problems (such as identifying how many units of each product were sold for several months) using Salesforce tools.
Salary Packages
Business analysts at Salesforce.com, who have been with the company for more than a year, earn an average salary of $113K per year.
The range of salaries varies depending on your role and experience level. For example, entry-level business analysts make around $58K per year, while senior business analysts earn up to $190K per year.
These salary figures are based on data from Paysa, which only shows salaries from companies that pay their employees through them (about 50% of all companies).
You can use these charts to estimate what you might expect to earn at Salesforce.com if your job title is similar to “business analyst.” If you’d like a detailed breakdown of your specific role and location within the U.S., contact Paysa directly by emailing [email protected].
Top Companies
Many great companies offer excellent opportunities for business analysts. It’s worth looking at the following top companies if you’re interested in working as a business analyst:
Salesforce.com
Amazon.com/Amazon Web Services
Apple, Inc. (working on new cloud services)
Work Environment
Everyone enjoys working at Salesforce, and it’s easy to see why. The work environment is relaxed and fun. There are plenty of opportunities to socialize with your colleagues, and the company offers many benefits. The culture is strong, and there are many opportunities for growth at Salesforce and your skillsets as an employee and a professional.
The company has some of the best benefits in the industry, including health care and 401k matching. They also provide on-site amenities for employees, such as gyms, showers, and laundry rooms. The office is always clean and well-kept.
Other Salesforce Certification
There are a variety of other Salesforce certifications you can earn, including:
- Salesforce Certified Administrator (ADM 201)
- Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder (ADM 202)
- Salesforce Certified Force.com Advanced Developer (DEV 401)
Conclusion
This might be a perfect position if you’re looking to join a company that will help you grow and advance your career. Salesforce.com offers a great work environment with opportunities for advancement at every level of the organization. They also offer competitive salaries and benefits packages, including 401k plans and health insurance options.