A business analyst trainee assists an experienced analyst in collecting data for a specific company or department within a company. The trainee examines the data and attempts to find ways to increase efficiency or reduce a company’s or department’s operating costs. Typically, the trainee must submit reports to an experienced analyst, who is in charge of making recommendations to the company’s board of directors or owners regarding operational changes and cost reductions.
A college degree in business administration, economics, or a related field is usually required of a business analyst trainee. Aside from business or finance degrees, some companies prefer analysts with industry experience, which means an information technology (IT) company might hire a computer science graduate rather than a business graduate. Before transitioning into a permanent analyst role, a trainee analyst typically receives on-the-job training for a period of time. Some companies run business analyst trainee internship programs for undergraduate students in addition to hiring graduates. People who enroll in these programs usually work as unpaid trainees for a period of time before the company offers full-time jobs to the top performers.
Business analysts are frequently tasked with evaluating organizational structures and determining how to improve a company’s business model. A business analyst trainee might be asked to look into one aspect of a company’s structure, such as the staffing model. The trainee may go over job descriptions from various departments to see if there are any overlaps in responsibilities that could allow the company to save money eliminating positions. A trainee may also be asked to review a specific aspect of the company’s operations, such as its internal communications structure or distribution network. To increase productivity, the trainee must determine if the company can save money streamlining processes or eliminating red tape.
Annual and quarterly sales and revenue targets are common in publicly traded companies, and these targets are usually divided among different departmental managers. A trainee business analyst may be tasked with analyzing the past and current performance of a specific department in order to identify and address production delays and other issues. In some cases, trainees write reports comparing a company’s operations to those of its competitors. If a report reveals that the company could improve efficiency incorporating ideas and practices that have yielded positive results at other firms, the company may decide to purchase new operating software, machinery, or equipment.
A manager or an experienced analyst usually reviews the reports that a business analyst trainee produces. This person may offer suggestions to the trainee on how to make reports more concise and easy to understand. Senior analysts also double-check reports for errors, because relying on reports with inaccurate data can lead to poor strategic decisions. Typically, trainees work closely with experienced analysts until the analysts determine that the trainees have the ability and experience to accurately analyze data and produce reports without close supervision.