How to become an application analyst

As an application analyst, you'll ensure the integrity, safety and availability of the software applications that form part of a business or organisation's information systems. You'll make sure that the practices and processes needed for a business to function and succeed are running smoothly, acting as a technical point of contact to fix application issues - usually on an immediate basis.

You will be an integral member of the IT/technical services team, working alongside application developers and software engineers. You may build custom applications, or improve existing software and processes.

Starting out as an application analyst can be competitive as the role combines both business and IT, meaning you have to have knowledge and experience of both.

You may specialise in a particular type of application or work across applications.

What does an application analyst do?

The duties you undertake vary according to the organisation your work for. For example, you may focus more on problem resolution in some organisations, while in others you may have more of a role in user training.

However, in general, as an application analyst, you'll typically need to:

identify organisational need for new applications
research and evaluate new software applications or updates to existing products
prepare technical specification as a roadmap for software
implement, test and integrate new applications
schedule and perform routine system backups, testing and upgrades
install new operation systems and releases
provide instructions and training to staff when necessary
monitor, record, respond and troubleshoot requests for support from staff and users
investigate and resolve faults, errors and other technical issues
analyse error trends aimed at reducing or minimising down time
troubleshoot user issues
liaise with software suppliers to fulfil the requirements of the organisation
manage storage servers
install updates and carry out data backups
ensure data is secure
identify and develop functionality changes
maintain documentation of key databases and linked applications
prepare cost analyses for new applications and proposed new IT projects
attend regular internal and external meetings to provide updates and propose application solutions.

Application analyst salaries in the UK

Average starting salaries for an application analyst are around £31,000.
With experience, you can expect to earn between £33,000 and £47,000, with the average being around £40,000.
In senior roles you'll earn up to £59,000.

Salaries vary depending on a range of factors such as the sector you work in, the type of employer and your location, as well as your qualifications, certifications, specialisms and experience.

Additional benefits may include life insurance, private medical cover, dental plans and a company car. Bonuses are also offered.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

How many hours does an application analyst work?

You'll typically work 37 to 40 hours a week. Overtime, including weekends, is possible, in order to deal with any technical issues.

There may be opportunities for hybrid working and contract working on a freelance basis.

Entry into the field may be possible without a degree or HND in an entry-level role. You could then work your way up by doing further training and qualifications while gaining experience. However, most employers are looking for candidates with at least a Bachelors degree in computer science or another relevant field.

Relevant degree subjects include:

computer science
information systems
information technology
mathematics
statistics.

For some positions, you may also need specialist knowledge or a postgraduate degree in a specific subject such as database administration, software engineering, or internet applications.

Strong technical skills are essential as is knowledge of, and certification in, relevant computer languages and applications. This is especially important if you are applying to work for an IT company.

Technical experience is highly valued and can be the deciding factor at the interview stage. Any previous relevant support experience can increase your chances of success when looking for a job.

Key skills for an application analyst

You'll need to have:

coding and software design skills for analysing systems and testing and implementing changes and updates
data analysis skills for working with data and databases, and analysing performance
customer service skills with the ability to relay technical information to non-technical users and elicit clients' needs
excellent communication skills with the ability to build professional relationships with users and stakeholders
project-management skills and the ability to switch between tasks quickly
planning and time management skills with the ability to work to deadlines and give realistic estimates.

Application analyst work experience

Employers look for applicants with prior experience, so it's vital that you get some relevant work experience while at university. This could be through vacation work, an internship or an industrial placement. Some degree courses include a year in industry, where you can develop your skills and experience through real-life projects, and also build a network of contacts in the industry.

Large companies often advertise internships and placements on their websites and on IT job websites, but you may have to make targeted speculative applications to smaller businesses. Charities also look for volunteers to support their work.

Get in touch with your university's careers service to receive advice on placements and find internship opportunities.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Who employs application analysts?

Opportunities for application analysts exist in all sectors of employment from financial services, education and public administration to healthcare, engineering and retail. You can work across the UK and for any size of organisation.

The main players are the big organisations with well-developed IT systems, and these often run their own graduate schemes. However, demand for IT professionals is increasing across all sectors due to the need for websites and applications and the need for increased cybersecurity systems.

Working with a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) may allow you to develop a broader range of skills, gain earlier responsibility and experience a variety of short-term projects.

Look for job vacancies at:

You can also check out IT recruitment agencies to search for vacancies, for example at Spectrum IT, Lorien or Harvey Nash UK.

Networking and personal contacts can provide opportunities for freelance work. Competition is strong, as advertised jobs attract specialists from all over the world. However, there is a demand for skilled IT workers.

What does learning and development look like for an application analyst?

As an application analyst, in time, you can be promoted within your organisation, taking on more responsibility for managing projects and/or teams. You may become a team leader or senior application analyst.

In order to progress, you will need to keep learning throughout your career to keep up to date with new technologies and advances in products and services. This can be done through:

additional qualifications relating to the job such as IT service management, software testing and business intelligence
in-house training courses, which are more typical in larger organisations
specific application, language or operating system courses, usually provided by the product vendor.

You may also choose to develop in-depth knowledge of a particular application or language to become an expert. Alternatively, you may move into software architecture, particularly solutions architecture, as many of the skills needed to be an application analyst overlap with those of a software architect.

You might want to move from the support side of IT into the development side, i.e. software development and testing. It may also be possible to progress into a business analyst, systems analyst or project manager role. Self-employment, on a contract basis or even through setting up a consultancy company, can be possible for experienced application analysts.

Membership of relevant bodies such as The Institution of Analysts and Programmers (IAP) and BCS (The Chartered Institute for IT) is useful for access to events, training, advice and building up a network of contacts.