Where Should a New Graduate Start? A Multi-Source Evaluation of the Banking Sector Business Analyst Signals in an Emerging Economy

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Many of the existing studies focus on aligning occupations with higher education curriculum. However, it is known that with the ever-changing technology, skill requirements are constantly shifting. This discrepancy between education and employer demands can make it difficult for graduates to prepare themselves for the labor market. Accordingly, this study aims to assess the business analyst profession and recommend key skills for new graduates. We begin by analyzing the business analyst job ads within the Turkish banking sector. The research benefits from the professional qualifications of business analysts (n=15) in the National Occupational Standard (NOS) established by the Turkish Vocational Qualification Authority (VQA), including opinions of expert business analysts in the job analyst profession, to determine which skills are of critical importance. We interpret employer instrumental signals in job ads (n=323) from different sources with content analysis. Analytical thinking skills, knowledge of foreign languages, reporting, communication skills, and aptitude for teamwork and innovation are the most sought-after skills. Advertisements often request knowledge of SQL and Office programs and soft skills (SS). We have observed that the hard/technical skill requirements (such as Agile, Scrum, and Python) differ between employers. Our results emphasize that graduates should not be content with university courses, especially for developing SS.