What is an analyst?

One type of job that students who study business may choose to pursue is called an analyst. The simplest description of what an analyst does is to gather and evaluate information to solve a problem. Analysts work in many different industries. Here is an excerpt from a job posting from the Boston Consulting Group for a management analyst, someone who would specifically work on problems related to how a business is organized and operates.^[1] The employer has highlighted the attributes that they want to see.

YOU’RE GOOD AT:

• Solving client problems through formulating and presenting relevant research and/or analytical approaches in change management, culture, or business transformation
• Managing and successfully delivering many initiatives with multiple milestones in a client setting
• Building client-ready deliverables In Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word
• Communicating with senior stakeholders, in a credible and confident way
• Collecting, synthesizing, and analyzing case team learnings and outputs to develop new proprietary knowledge assets
• Working collaboratively and effectively in a group dynamic often virtual, proficient in agile ways of working
• Flexibility and bringing a curious and creative mindset, open to new things and able to propose innovative ideas
• Ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity, independently managing work products to meet agreed upon deadlines and expectations