Career Pathway: Business analytics

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Career Pathway: Business analytics

Interested in turning measurements into insight? 

With a business analytics major from Western 麻豆传媒应用 University鈥檚 Haworth College of Business, you will play an increasingly important role as organizations seriously examine data. In order to deliver exceptional business performance, it is crucial that businesses actively analyze internal and external data to drive their decisions. Opportunities abound for tech-savvy business people who know how to deal intelligently with data.

The business analytics major prepares students to succeed in a data-driven world, providing exposure to software platforms and techniques used to store, transform, manipulate, analyze and interpret small and large sets of data.

Start by making an appointment with Zhang Career Center, which can assist you in discovering your career interests and values. The business analytics industry includes employees who tend to be investigative, conventional and enterprising. They value achievement, recognition and working conditions according to . Find out if your work preferences match careers in analytics by taking the Focus2 assessment.

What is business analytics?

Technical skills are part of the proficiencies that are required for a job and may be developed in your major coursework. Analytics-oriented technical skills desired are understanding of social media and internet dynamics, Adobe Creative suite, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft programs, ERP software and front-end programming languages.

Interpersonal skills enable you to succeed and are often developed outside of the classroom. These include social perceptiveness, persuasion, active listening, complex problem solving, negotiation, service orientation, collaboration, systems analysis and evaluation.

What careers involve these business analytics skills?

There are many different ways to acquire an internship, online or in person. Visiting the Internship Catalog and the Career Outcomes Report can help you learn about the companies that have previously employed business analytics students.

 is WMU鈥檚 employment website. All students should set up an account and publish a resume. Resumes made public by the student are searchable by employers.

Students use their Handshake accounts to view internship and full-time job opportunities posted by employers and sign up for on-campus interviews. For more information, visit the Zhang Career Center.

Business analytics student groups include Business Analytics and Information Technology (BAIT). Other groups include Business Association of Mentors, DECA at WMU, Delta Sigma Pi, Leadership and Business Strategy, Phi Chi Theta and Women's Business Network.

Events supporting the business analytics major include the following:

  • Business Career Day

The Zhang Career Center at the Haworth College of Business empowers learners to launch successful business careers by engaging them in innovative programming focused on professional readiness, while developing partnerships with global, regional and local leaders who hire students. As pioneers in career readiness programs and experts in customer service, staff members in the career center strive to meet the needs of all students and employers.

Career readiness competencies include:

  • Career and self-development
  • Communication
  • Critical thinking
  • Equity and inclusion
  • Leadership
  • Professionalism
  • Teamwork
  • Technology

Visit the  to learn more.

Tasks and processes in business analytics:

Experience with reading dashboard analytics, business process improvement, data metrics, advanced Microsoft Excel modeling, forecasting and planning, business systems analysis, reading big data, data analytics, data sets, software programs, computer programming, correlating data, simulations, data collection and processing, data warehouses, insights to information, technical documentation, SQL programming, SAP, statistical analysis, systematic thinking and search engine optimization.

Careers in business analytics:

Business intelligence analyst:

  • Commercial intelligence analyst
  • Competitive intelligence analyst
  • Consultant
  • Strategic business and technology intelligence
  • Global intelligence
  • Market intelligence

Computer systems analyst:

  • Administrative analyst
  • Employment programs analyst
  • Leadership development manager
  • Management consultation
  • Organizational development consultant
  • Quality control analyst

Management analyst:

  • Applications analyst
  • Business analyst
  • Computer analyst
  • Computer systems consultant
  • Information systems analyst
  • Programmer analyst
  • Systems analyst
  • Systems engineer

Operations research analyst:

  • Analytical strategist
  • Business insight and analytics manager
  • Decision analyst
  • Operations research group manager
  • Operations research manager

Business Externship opportunities

The Business Externship Program provides career exploration opportunities that connect students in Western 麻豆传媒应用 University's Haworth College of Business with mentors, many of whom are WMU alumni. Current business analytics externship opportunities include AGCO, Brunswick, Rocket Companies, Vibracoustic and many more. Learn more about the program.

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Brunswick logo in black.
The Rocket Companies logo is black and red.
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Zhang Career Center

To schedule an appointment, book with online portal or call (269) 387-2711 today.