Systems analyst
A systems analyst designs new IT solutions to improve business efficiency and productivity. The work might be for an external client or an internal client (such as a department within the same organisation).
Working closely with the client, analysts examine existing business models and flows of data, discuss their findings with the client, and design an appropriate improved IT solution.
They produce outline designs and costings of new IT systems, specifying the operations the system will perform, and the way data will be viewed by the user, present their design to the client and, once it is approved, work closely with the client team to implement the solution.
Most systems analysts work with a specific type of IT system, which varies with the type of organisation. Work activities also depend on the size and nature of the organisation, but typically involve:
Job titles in the IT sector are fluid, changing with advances in technology, and also varying between organisations. It is a good idea to look at the job description beneath the job title. For example, analysts may be known as systems or business analysts or, simply, as IT consultants.
The situation is further complicated by the introduction of fourth generation languages (4GL) and object-orientated programming, which are programming languages designed to reduce the time and cost of software development. It also makes it easier for ‘analysts/developers’ to design and modify systems. Traditional boundaries between systems analysis and programming have eroded and many practitioners now regard themselves as analysts/developers. Some overlap with project management is also common.
The most straightforward route into the profession is by obtaining a BTEC, HND/HNC or degree in an IT related subject, and usually, some industry experience as well.
The following degree subjects are IT relate subjects:
E-skills, the Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology, and around 50 industry employers have collaborated and set up the Information Technology Management for Business (ITMB) degree. It has been designed to meet industry shortages and is currently offered at 12 universities.
Most new entrants to larger companies are graduates (usually a 2.1 is preferred). However, entry is possible with an HND, especially if you have prior experience, although a lower starting salary is likely.
Entry without a degree or HND is unlikely, but may be possible for those with well-developed IT skills and good previous experience in computing or business.
For graduates in non IT-related subjects, a relevant postgraduate qualification may be useful. See Prospects Postgraduate Directory for details of courses.
Pre-entry relevant experience is welcomed, although IT-related vacation work or an industrial placement may lead directly to graduate employment.
Candidates will need:
Systems analysts are expected to have a working knowledge of programming as well as analytical skills. Common programs include:
Competition for vacancies is keen, particularly with the more high-profile employers. Start making applications to larger firms in the autumn term of your final year.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Training combines on-the-job training and in-house courses for the development of technical and business skills. It is likely that training will be provided in a variety of programming languages and the principles of systems analysis, plus specific training to cover the technical skills required for particular projects.
Organisations also run courses to develop personal skills in order to enhance interaction with clients. These courses focus on areas such as communication, team leading and presentational abilities. Many large companies run mentoring schemes to ensure that new members of staff are exposed to different working environments and systems, and tailor training opportunities to individual members of staff and the projects on which they are working.
Professional qualifications, such as those provided by the BCS (The Chartered Institute for IT) , provide a framework for professional standards and a platform for the recognition of skills. The BCS also provides information and guidance to assist members to develop their expertise and recognise and plan their learning needs.
e-skills UK - The Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology also provides training. See their website for full details.
Training in project management is included in the BCS Professional Certification range of qualifications, offered by the BCS.
Constant advances in technology mean that new products are continually being introduced. Continuing professional development (CPD) is therefore all-important and the SFIA Foundation (Skills Framework for the Information Age) , supported by key professional bodies, provides a basis for IT professionals to monitor their skills.
As an analyst, your immediate prospects depend on the size and type of the organisation for which you work and, consequently, movement between employers is common. Analysts often develop expertise in a particular business sector and may find it difficult to move unless they have cultivated and maintained other skills.
Career advancement opportunities include:
The size of the organisation you work for is likely to have direct implications, both positive and negative, for the way your career will progress.
In a large organisation, systems analysts may have more opportunity to specialise in a particular client group, and to advance through the corporate structure. There may also be more opportunity to work in multidisciplinary teams, for example, and even in overseas branches of the parent group.
In a small organisation, there may be more opportunity to gain experience in a variety of associated functions across the business, to feel closer to the front line of business activity, and to see the direct commercial impact of your contribution.
There are 100,000 - 120,000 IT businesses in the UK. These include from industry giants like IBM to micro organisations, employing fewer than five people. While there is a vast number of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), more than half the firms employing analysts have more than 50 employees. It is important to note that the working culture and ethos between companies of different sizes may be very different. It is worth exploring which type of organisation might best suit your needs.
Analysts work in almost every kind of organisation within the IT industry, including firms of management consultants, software and systems houses, and large manufacturers of computing equipment who offer consultancy services.
Consultants' client companies are diverse and include: manufacturers, the financial services sector, the public sector, automotive firms, global investment banks, and utility companies. Some IT companies specialise in one area, such as internet solutions, or produce software tailored to a particular market. The analysts that they employ have, or develop, specialist knowledge and experience in that area or about those products and client sectors.
Some end-user organisations with large IT departments may employ their own internal analysts. Particular growth areas are large public sector organisations and the financial and sales sectors, where increasingly sophisticated payment systems are being devised.
Opportunities also occur overseas with UK and foreign companies, or with international organisations.
Search graduate jobs on this site.
You should bear in mind that virtually all companies recruiting for IT vacancies advertise them on the internet.
See the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) for profiles of the wide range of IT recruitment agencies, where you can search by type of vacancy and location.
Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.
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