| <p>Getting started in a Business Intelligence | | | | the hundreds that application software need to |
| career may be the easiest way for a graduate to | | | | function.</p> |
| break into the IT industry, but it is no free lunch and | | | | <p><strong>4. Reporting Software< |
| a level of competency must be reached.</p> | | | | strong></P> |
| <p>Getting a job is only the first step, being | | | | <p>Just like the programming languages, it does |
| well prepared to build a successful career is | | | | not really matter which reporting software you learn, |
| something else.</p> | | | | it is more about understanding the theory.</p> |
| <p>Here are the five main areas a Business | | | | <p>That said, it makes sense to learn the most |
| Intelligence specialist needs to be proficient in. < | | | | popular and that, by far and away, is Crystal |
| p> | | | | Reports.</p> |
| <p>All of them are important, but none are deal | | | | <p>It is my software of choice, but more |
| breakers. Even if you only have one or two of the | | | | importantly, it is used by virtually everyone |
| items on this list, the rest can be learnt.</p> | | | | everywhere and has huge support in the form of |
| <p><strong>1. Relational Databases< | | | | both documentation and user base.</p> |
| strong></p> | | | | <p><strong>5. Analysis Skills< |
| <p>Understanding how relational databases | | | | strong></p> |
| work is one of the most important things in Business | | | | <p>This is the trickiest of the five to define as |
| Intelligence. Working blindly to the table schema | | | | Business Intelligence analysis is different to what is |
| provided by the database developer will drastically | | | | usually considered to be analysis in the IT industry.< |
| limit what you can do.</p> | | | | p> |
| <p><strong>2. SQL</strong>< | | | | <p>The other problem is that no materials exist |
| p> | | | | to learn this specific skill set. It is one of the |
| <p>SQL, Structured Query Language is the | | | | problems of Business Intelligence for the beginner: it |
| programming language used exclusively for extracting | | | | is such a new discipline that the books and courses |
| information from databases.</p> | | | | have not been written yet!</p> |
| <p>SQL does not change much between | | | | <p><strong>Summary</strong>< |
| different databases, so learning one version is enough | | | | p> |
| to apply to all databases.</p> | | | | <p>None of the above are essential |
| <p>It is possible to have a successful Business | | | | prerequisites to starting a Business Intelligence career, |
| Intelligence career and never be able to write a line | | | | but the more you know, the easier it will be.< |
| of SQL, but it can certainly make it easier when | | | | p> |
| trying to solve more complex problems.</p> | | | | <p>Every single one of these skills can be learnt |
| <p><strong>3. Basic Programming Skills< | | | | in a reasonable time frame, and I would advise |
| strong></p> | | | | learning them all to a comfortable level before going |
| <p>Most reporting software has an underlying | | | | after any Business Intelligence position.</p> |
| scripting language similar to how Excel has macros. | | | | <p>With the exception of number four, most |
| These languages all have their own quirks and take | | | | of these subjects are covered as part any computer |
| some effort to learn, especially as many do not have | | | | IT relate degree, and if you have had the advantage |
| many resources to refer to.</p> | | | | of this level of training it is usually enough to get you |
| <p>But once learned, it is usual for reporting | | | | a solid start as a Business Intelligence analyst. |
| programmes to only ever be a few lines long and not | | | | |