What exactly is an IT analyst?

[FearoftheNight]

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bestjobs/2009/snapshots/17.html

and/or

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bestjobs/2006/snapshots/7.html

Can someone who does this or know someone who does elaborate on this position? Currently I support databases/SQL and am trying to move up to something a bit more technical and higher paying? Any knowledge or advice would be appreciated!

Update: Hi guys. Thanks for all the great responses. Currently I have my bachelors in science in psychology and I have some background in languages Chinese/Spanish if that matters and I've been for the past few months with an IT/Computer Information System company on the support staff working with enterprise payroll/workforce systems. I've learned a bit of SQL and I'd like to do some prep work on the side to move on to a different position like I indicated in the OP. What kind of study or certificate would be most conducive to this goal? thanks!

 

[Bateluer]

Its a position that generally requires no experience or technical expertise whatsoever, but sounds cool on paper and usually has decent prereqs.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Someone who makes more money than I do...

 

[Exterous]

Hopefully my next step from 'Support Analyst'

Judging from the fact that Support Analyst means doing everything but managing people I would expect that IT Analyst would probably mean running an IT department a step down from CIO

Edit: Reading the cnn money description it seems I was was pretty much correct

 

[Wyndru]

There are a lot of different analyst jobs in IT. When I was a programming analyst I basically just gathered info on people's requirements for a piece of software, then created a report that contained the flowchart/algorithm layout for the programmers.

It didn't pay much, and it was boring IMO.

System analysts (similar to the ones you linked) are usually the IT director or the position below the CIO in my experience. They basically oversee the network and hardware infrastructure from the computers on the desks to the printers to the servers and switches. The make decisions on what hardware needs to be purchased for the daily operations to function.

This was the way it was set up in my last job, not sure if it's commonly done this way though. My current job just has a "chief technology specialist" that basically does the same thing.

 

[Malak]

 

[SMOGZINN]

Someone who analyzes IT.
You know, IT.

 

[gevorg]

Just a fancy name for tech support, IT desk, etc (i.e. Sanitation Engineer).

 

[vi edit]

Yep they talk to the goddamn customers so the engineers don't have to.

 

[FearoftheNight]

so how do i get that job in the OP? seems decent pay. I'm like exeterous my current title is "Support Analyst" too

do I need a cert of some sort?

 

[darkxshade]

It seems to me the link the OP is somewhat of a hybrid of half IT and half whatever field it's in. So if you work at say Goldman Sachs you would have some financial background who happens to know the platform that they use intricately. Hence the higher pay.

As opposed to your typical IT guy who resets passwords or installs excel into someones computer.

 

[yllus]

Sounds like they're supposed to be well-rounded people who focus on process improvements and advocate best practices (and the hardware and software to get there).

 

[Exterous]

It seems to me the link the OP is somewhat of a hybrid of half IT and half whatever field it's in. So if you work at say Goldman Sachs you would have some financial background who happens to know the platform that they use intricately. Hence the higher pay.

As opposed to your typical IT guy who resets passwords or installs excel into someones computer.

Time at the company would probably help. I would imagine that people or project management experience would be must

 

[Capt Caveman]

Its a position that generally requires no experience or technical expertise whatsoever, but sounds cool on paper and usually has decent prereqs.

Actually, the complete opposite.

 

[xSauronx]

everyone where i work (it dept is about 220+ people) are system/network analyst or systems programmer (which may not involve programming)

level I and II do technical work regularly, level III/IV does a mix of technical work and team supervision, depending on the team and how long they have been here. after that you get managers, then the IT administrator (who oversees day to day stuff) and then the vp of IT (Whatever the hell he does) and CIO.

they are restructuring, however, in the next few months because so many people ask what the OP did: what the fuck is a systems analyst and what the hell do they do?

 

[OogyWaWa]

OP,

You refer to IT Analyst, but one of the links refers to Business Analyst, so I'll just tell you both.

IT Analyst: General name for entry-level IT job used heavily in the finance industry (Goldman, JP, Morgan Stanley, etc.), but used throughout other industries as well. This is just another way to say IT person. An IT Analyst can be a network engineer, programmer, BA, operations, etc. This person typically has a bachelors and some technical background. Think of this as a name for a pay-grade, not the specific job.

edit: Let me also add that this person is almost never a contract/non-full time employee. Hence they need strong problem solving skills, process improvement skills, etc. As opposed to a contractor who is generally told exactly what to do, manages vendor specific stuff (maint/upgrades, etc)

The next level up would be IT Associate. Someone who is more senior, possibly more education (though not necessarily) and makes more money.

A business analyst is a specific description of an (industry wide) job function. This person usually sits between a development team and the supported business unit. They define projects, requirements, test cases, sometimes project management, all kinds of fun stuff. The actual tasks vary between team/company, but in general they balance the relationship between IT & Business customers and develop requirements for projects. Some people can be a BA on top of other roles. Example: BA/Project Manager. BA/Programmer, etc.

hope that helps

 

[BoberFett]

It seems to me that, generally speaking, the "Analyst" portion of any job title has to do with gathering and meeting the requirements dealing with the other part of the title. Whether it's an IT Analyst, Programmer Analyst, Security Analyst, etc. they analyze existing or new systems and are also part of implementation, rather than simply being a part of implementation/operation.

 

[OogyWaWa]

so how do i get that job in the OP? seems decent pay. I'm like exeterous my current title is "Support Analyst" too

do I need a cert of some sort?

go to college, get a CS/CE/MIS/IS degree. Or have any bachelors and a strong technical background. You should have good problem solving skills, programming skills (anything helps), basic networking knowledge, windows/unix knowledge, etc. Pretty much whatever the job description is asking for... although you typically don't need to be an expert in anything... since it is just entry level

 

[OogyWaWa]

It seems to me that, generally speaking, the "Analyst" portion of any job title has to do with gathering and meeting the requirements dealing with the other part of the title. Whether it's an IT Analyst, Programmer Analyst, Security Analyst, etc. they analyze existing or new systems and are also part of implementation, rather than simply being a part of implementation/operation.

while this certainly is the case for most full-time IT employees, someone without the "analyst" title can certainly do (and often does) the same thing (get requirements, study existing systems, etc.

Listen people, the analyst is almost always a simple way to express pay-grade.

Analyst(junior)->Associate(senior)->VP(manager)->director->senior director->(possibly more levels)->CIO/CTO, etc.


Also, I agree the naming is completely stupid. If you're not analyzing something, you're probably not doing your job (regardless of job name)

 

[OogyWaWa]

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bestjobs/2009/snapshots/17.html

and/or

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bestjobs/2006/snapshots/7.html

Can someone who does this or know someone who does elaborate on this position? Currently I support databases/SQL and am trying to move up to something a bit more technical and higher paying? Any knowledge or advice would be appreciated!

sorry, just read the bottom part. I'm assuming you aren't in big SW (google, microsoft, etc.) or finance (goldman, morgan, jp, etc.), so you could always consider moving to one of those. Almost always the highest paying IT jobs. You could also look for something managing a small group of engineers/developers... if you want more money look for something that requires more skills than you are currently using (but can still do)

 

[JS80]

Sounds like they're supposed to be well-rounded people who focus on process improvements and advocate best practices (and the hardware and software to get there).

I think this is it. At my last company, when we got acquired and had to integrate finance and accounting systems with the parent company, we had to work closely with Business/IT analysts to figure out how to best bridge the data source that was going into accounting software X (acquired co) so that it could now go to software Y (parent co). It was critical that these guys not only understand the IT aspect but also had background in finance and accounting so that they could meet the requirements.

I think many times they are called Project Managers.

 

[Exterous]

Analyst(junior)->Associate(senior)->VP(manager)->director->senior director->(possibly more levels)->CIO/CTO, etc.

Interesting. At the places I've worked it was always Associate(junior) -> Technician -> Analyst(senior)/Administrator ->

Well - actually at the last place it was
Assocaite -> Techncian -> Manager - Director -> CIO
_______________________Administrator ^

 

[rakzum]

Perhaps it has something to do with homo, you know what, the bad kind of "sameness", wink, wink.

 

[OogyWaWa]

I think this is it. At my last company, when we got acquired and had to integrate finance and accounting systems with the parent company, we had to work closely with Business/IT analysts to figure out how to best bridge the data source that was going into accounting software X (acquired co) so that it could now go to software Y (parent co). It was critical that these guys not only understand the IT aspect but also had background in finance and accounting so that they could meet the requirements.

I think many times they are called Project Managers.

Your description is of a Business Analyst. Project managers manage timeline, budget and resources. Often times PMs and BAs are the same person, but the role is different.

I suppose the problem is that people don't understand the industry terms and misuse them or their individual company calls the position whatever the hell they want (which is what everyone does), so the naming is different between each company and sometimes even teams.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

from the BLS web site:
http://bls.gov/oco/ocos287.htm

Nearly all organizations rely on computer and information technology (IT) to conduct business and operate efficiently. Computer systems analysts use IT tools to help enterprises of all sizes achieve their goals. They may design and develop new computer systems by choosing and configuring hardware and software, or they may devise ways to apply existing systems' resources to additional tasks.

Most systems analysts work with specific types of computer systems—for example, business, accounting, and financial systems or scientific and engineering systems—that vary with the kind of organization. Analysts who specialize in helping an organization select the proper system hardware and software are often called system architects or system designers. Analysts who specialize in developing and fine-tuning systems often have the more general title of systems analysts.

Education and training.
When hiring computer systems analysts, employers usually prefer applicants who have at least a bachelor's degree. For more technically complex jobs, people with graduate degrees are preferred. For jobs in a technical or scientific environment, employers often seek applicants who have at least a bachelor's degree in a technical field, such as computer science, information science, applied mathematics, engineering, or the physical sciences. For jobs in a business environment, employers often seek applicants with at least a bachelor's degree in a business-related field such as management information systems (MIS). Increasingly, employers are seeking individuals who have a master's degree in business administration (MBA) with a concentration in information systems.

Despite the preference for technical degrees, however, people who have degrees in other areas may find employment as systems analysts if they also have technical skills. Courses in computer science or related subjects combined with practical experience can qualify people for some jobs in the occupation.

Employers generally look for people with expertise relevant to the job. For example, systems analysts who wish to work for a bank may need some expertise in finance, and systems analysts who wish to work for a hospital may need some knowledge of health management. Furthermore, business enterprises generally prefer individuals with information technology, business, and accounting skills and frequently assist employees in obtaining these skills.

Other qualifications.
Employers usually look for people who have broad knowledge and experience related to computer systems and technologies, strong problem-solving and analytical skills, and the ability to think logically. In addition, the ability to concentrate and pay close attention to detail is important because computer systems analysts often deal with many tasks simultaneously. Although these workers sometimes work independently, they frequently work in teams on large projects. Therefore, they must have good interpersonal skills and be able to communicate effectively with computer personnel, users, and other staff who may have no technical background.

Advancement.
With experience, systems analysts may be promoted to senior or lead analyst. Those who possess leadership ability and good business skills also can become computer and information systems managers or can advance into executive positions such as chief information officer. Those with work experience and considerable expertise in a particular subject or application may find lucrative opportunities as independent consultants, or they may choose to start their own computer consulting firms.