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Jobs After A Master of Science in Business Analytics: 10 Steps to 100% Clarity
- Lovish Rawal
- April 22, 2023
- 1:57 am
- No Comments
You have just completed your Master’s in Business Analytics.
Job well done. You can expect a career that not only offers a fair salary but also opportunities for growth.
In this article, we’ll explore the current job market trends for MSBA graduates like you. We shall provide insights into the exciting career paths that lie ahead.
Get ready to learn how your MSBA degree can enable you to make an impact in the field of business analytics.
Overview of the Job Market
Master’s in Business Analytics graduates in the USA have excellent job prospects in various sectors.
Almost every large business has embraced data science wholeheartedly.
Companies require business analytics graduates to develop products and services based on the vast amount of data they collect.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, research analyst jobs are expected to grow 23% between 2019 and 2029.
The four sectors that are currently hiring a vast number of MSBA graduates are technology (including e-commerce), healthcare, BFSI, and consultancy.
Some of the top businesses that recruit MSBA are:
- JP Morgan Chase
- Deloitte
- Accenture
- Cognizant
- Amazon
- Wells Fargo
and many more.
The most common job titles for those who have completed a Master of Science in Business Analytics include:
- Data Analyst
- Business Analyst
- Data Scientist
- Business Intelligence Analyst
- Market Research Analyst
Note that these are entry-level jobs and lead to a lead or managerial position later on.
Master the Job Search: 10 Tips to Land a Job After Your MSBA Degree
With 10 practical tips and strategies, this guide aims to assist you from being a fresher graduate in Master of Science in Business Analytics from US to a valuable employee. The tips are on the whole arranged sequentially but of course variations might happen.
1. Visit job boards
Apply for jobs that match your skill set. Use online job boards, company websites, referrals, and other sources to find job opportunities after completing a Master of Science in Business Analytics course.
The best are:
- Indeed
- Glassdoor
and of course, the one maintained by your university. Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s website has an excellent section on careers.
2. Network with peers and professionals
Attend networking events, and conferences to meet potential employers.
Connect with alumni from your program on LinkedIn. Reach out to them for information or to learn about job openings. Building a strong professional network can increase your chances of hearing about job opportunities, and getting referrals.
The University of Maryland, College Park for example has an excellent alumni directory.
3. Join platforms
LinkedIn, Kaggle, Github, and even Reddit.
Not for jobs alone but to know the trends. A Master of Science in Business Analytics gets you a toehold but you need to know the trends as well.
Social media is a powerful tool for job seekers to stay informed about current job trends and requirements.
For example, right now companies are looking for individuals who can access GPT API from OpenAI and build custom AI applications using Python.
Understanding micro or short-term trends can help you upskill in a couple of weeks and get better jobs.
4. Gain relevant work experience
Gather practical work experience that is relevant to your career goals in the US. Internships, and co-op programs, while studying can help you gain valuable experience in your field.
It also helps build your professional network. Many companies offer internships to students and recent graduates, which leads to full-time jobs after graduation.
Brandeis International Business School has a top-notch infrastructure to arrange internships.
5. Improve your resume and cover letter
Your resume will most likely be read first by a machine. HR departments are increasingly adopting an applicant tracking system (ATS) that scans a resume for keywords.
- Start with a clear and professional header that includes your name, contact details, and a link to your online portfolio or LinkedIn profile.
- Write a resume that highlights your key skills, achievements, and career goals.
- If you have worked on Python and R projects include your GitHub.
- Use keywords that match the job description and showcase your value proposition.
- Under no circumstances pad your resume. You will be interviewed by your line manager. He/she has complete domain knowledge and will be easily able to understand whether you have padded your resume.
- Last but definitely not least, proofread and edit your resume to ensure it is error-free and appealing.
6. Do background research
You need to know your employer.
What are their mission, vision, and values? What type of technology or tech stack do they use? What is their relationship with technology?
Next, research the role you are applying for by reviewing the job description and researching similar roles.
Reach out to your professors for advice. Doug Lehmann, a tenured professor at Miami Herbert Business School helps his students gain insights into the skills required for a particular job.
7. Transition to a job mindset
As a student, you may have spent thousands of hours studying, attending classes, and completing assignments, but the real challenge begins when you enter the workforce. On average, a person spends around 80,000 hours working in their career, which is much more than the time spent on education. The transition from a student mindset to a job mindset can be daunting, but it’s essential to be successful in your career.
In a professional setting, your employer expects you to deliver results and perform to the best of your ability always. Data analysis is complex and requires a range of skills, both professional and otherwise. Therefore, it’s crucial to develop the right mindset and skills to succeed in your job.
Books such as Atomic Habits by James Clear and Iacocca: An Autobiography by Lee Iacocca, a legendary executive at Ford and later Chrysler, would help you gain actionable insights.
Every university that cares for its students, like Baruch College (City University of New York), offers counselling sessions to help students succeed.
8. Practice, Practice, Practice
An interview for your first job is never easy no matter how well you have done in school.
A degree in Master of Science in Business Analytics from USA is about academic knowledge. A job is about working on deliverables for which a client somewhere in the world is paying.
Therefore your employer wants to know if you are stable. There is no polite way to put it.
General questions may be about background, motivation, interest, and understanding of the role and its value to the company. For example, “Tell me about yourself”.
Technical questions test your technical skills and knowledge of data analysis tools and methods. Such as “How do you create a dashboard in Tableau?”
Behavioural questions assess your problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills.
Practice your answers out loud or with a friend. Record yourself and pay attention to your tone, pace, clarity, and confidence.
Avoid saying Dude, Awesome, Totally, uhh, gee, you know, and similar casual language.
9. Get a job visa
You are most probably on an F-1 student visa. But you now need a work visa. [##]
Here are some of the visa options you can consider:
- F-1 OPT visa: This is an extension of your F-1 student visa. You will be allowed to work in the USA for up to 12 months after completing your MSBA program. You can work in any industry area that is related to your field of study, including self-employment.
- H-1B visa: This visa allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require technical expertise for three years. Remember you will be hired on OPT and usually your employer will help convert it to H-1B.
- Form I-20: This is a certificate of eligibility for nonimmigrant student status that your school issues to you after you enroll in a program of study.
- You also need Form I-94 (available online), and I-765 (USCIS filing for availing OPT status). Big universities such as the College of Staten Island (City University of New York) have an excellent track record of processing requests from USCIS and employers.
10. Consider additional certifications
You may want to consider additional certifications that can enhance your skills and credentials. A Master of Science in Business Analytics from USA is a useful degree but you can never get overqualified in a knowledge economy.
- SnowPro Certifications: Certification for expertise in implementing and migrating to Snowflake.
- AWS Certifications: Credentials that prove your proficiency in using AWS cloud services and solutions, including Amazon Redshift.
- Tableau Certified Associate: Demonstrates your ability to use Tableau software to create and share interactive data visualizations.
In conclusion
Transitioning from a student to an employee can be exciting and empowering! With a focus on building skills, and networking, you can set yourself up for success in your career.
It’s important to remember that the journey from a student to an employee is a process that takes time and effort, but the rewards of a fulfilling job are worth it. So, stay positive, stay motivated, and keep pushing towards your career goals!