How to Write a Data Analyst Resume
You can write a great resume for data analyst jobs by showing how you’ve answered complex questions and informed key business decisions. We have provided the following tips to help you effectively explore this topic and ensure that each section of your data analyst resume contains the correct details.
1. Write a concise profile summarizing your qualifications
A strong Profile will catch the hiring manager’s interest by giving the top reasons you excel at data analysis. What is your approach to collecting, organizing, and interpreting data sets? How has that approach generated insights and helped leaders address major business issues? For instance, your diligent approach and software expertise may have helped optimize tracking at large warehouse facilities. Show the broad impact of your data analysis work in your Profile, and you can be sure your resume makes a great first impression.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Motivated Data Analyst with 2+ years of experience. Demonstrated success working with EHR/EMR programs to draft detailed reports on patient care, billing, and readmission risk factors. Designed a system that improved readmission forecast accuracy by 22% using logistic models, LDA, QDA, and tree classification. Master of Science in Biostatistics.
Mid-Career Profile Example
Systematic Data Analyst with strong recent experience in inventory control and warehouse fulfillment processes. Efficiently extract sales and inventory data, generating usable reports and processes to avoid back-ordering. Career highlights include boosting on-time fulfillment rates by 26%. Power user of Excel, Tableau, SAS Enterprise Miner, SQL, and SharePoint. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
2. Add a results-driven experience section
To write a powerful Experience section, give examples of your related success in data analysis. For each job in your work history, consider what data insights you found and how they helped the organization navigate key changes or challenges. For example, maybe you identified customer issues that led your company to hone its service procedures. Or perhaps you uncovered new consumer trends or helped find and remove unnecessary production costs. With relevant highlights like these, you can give hiring managers a sense of the positive impact you’d have on their organization.
Mid-Career Experience Example
Data Analyst, ABC Warehousing, Columbia, MD | March 2017 to Present
- Gathered business intelligence on logistical processes, helping reduce yearly transportation costs by 12% ($800K)
- Used trend data to reduce back-ordering by 19% for retail partners
- Designed statistical analysis for large customer data sets, lowering cart abandonment rates by ~27%
- Developed an update process that rolled out changes to all systems at once, reducing downtime and streamlining warehouse operations
Senior-Level Experience Example
Operations Data Analyst, Home Health Co., Houston, TX | January 2015 to Present
- Recommend, set up, and use IBM SPSS statistical software to track key data points
- Use large data sets and Teradata to build statistical analysis models and reports
- Collaborate with C-suite executives to interpret data points and draw actionable conclusions
Highlights:
- Generated data insights that enabled organization to cut operating costs by 17%
- Created operational processes to reduce customer onboarding time, raising profit by 9%
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Demonstrate your proficiency in data analysis by highlighting your education and certifications in your resume. If you majored in a related subject like statistics or computer science, include that next to your degree title. You’ll want to feature any certifications you’ve earned in data analysis, but also consider including your credentials or training in other work areas like public speaking, management consulting, or software you expect to use in your next role.
The following are templates and examples to help you format your education and certification details on your resume. Note that optional template areas appear in [brackets].
Education
Template:
Degree Name — [Major], School Name, City, ST | [Year]
- [Dissertation or capstone project details]
Example:
Bachelor of Science (BS) — Mathematics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL | 2019
Certification
Template:
Certification Name or Title, [Awarding Organization] | [Year]
Example:
Data Science Certificate, Cornell University | 2018
4. List key skills and proficiencies
Include a “Key Skills” section on your resume to display the various ways you help influence and guide decision-making. You can also use this section to show your technical skills like Excel or Tableau (but if you’re proficient in five or more relevant programs, consider making them their own section or Profile sentence). Below are some common skills and keywords for data analysts:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Advanced Microsoft Excel | AdWords |
| Business Strategy Development | Client Data Confidentiality |
| Complex Problem-Solving | Data Gathering & Analysis |
| Data Modeling | Data Research & Mining |
| Data Visualization | Data Warehousing |
| Efficiency Improvement | Executive Consulting |
| Google Analytics | Management Consulting |
| Microsoft SPSS | Pattern Recognition |
| Predictive & Prescriptive Analysis | Procedure Development |
| Process Streamlining | Project Management |
| Python | R Programming Language |
| Relational Databases | Reporting & Documentation |
| SAS Enterprise Miner | SharePoint |
| SQL | Tableau |
| Task Prioritization | Team Collaboration |
| Trend Forecasting | |
How to Pick the Best Data Analyst Resume Template
As with most vocations, data analysts should use a resume design that’s simple and straightforward. Opt for a visual template that lets the hiring manager quickly review your best career details. Use a clear resume font, and avoid any template with overly colorful or elaborate designs.
Data Analyst Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Anna Jacobs
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | San Francisco, CA 94109 | www.linkedin.com/example
Profile
Motivated Data Analyst with 2+ years of experience. Demonstrated success working with EHR/EMR programs to draft detailed reports on patient care, billing, and readmission risk factors. Designed a system that improved readmission forecast accuracy by 22% using logistic models, LDA, QDA, and tree classification. Master of Science in Biostatistics.
Key Skills
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Data Modeling
- Data Research & Mining
- Data Warehousing
- Management Consulting
- Predictive Analysis
- Reporting & Documentation
- SQL, SAS, Tableau
- Systems Improvement
Professional Experience
Data Analyst I, Agriculture Co., Washington, DC | January 2022 to Present
- Used logistic regression to improve customer preference predictions, streamlining sales and raising profit by 8%
- Wrote a script to quickly locate high-loss products, and automated inventory updating via Excel and Access
- Partnered with customer service to pinpoint top client complaints, generating process changes that increased positive feedback rating from 76% to 89%
Healthcare Analyst, 123 Hospital, Gainesville, FL | November 2020 to December 2021
- Used Crystal Reports to summarize data collected by the Florida Department of Health
- Analyzed complex data sets and created presentations to provide actionable intelligence
Education
Master of Science (MS) — Biostatistics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC | 2022
- Demonstrated excellence in predictive analysis using large data sets
- Capstone Project: Identified registration errors and automated scheduling corrections, reducing student wait times by 13%
Bachelor of Science (BS) — Mathematics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL | 2019
Melissa Jones
(123) 456-7890 | meli[email protected] | Annapolis, MD 21401 | www.linkedin.com/example
Profile
Systematic Data Analyst with strong recent experience in inventory control and warehouse fulfillment processes. Efficiently extract sales and inventory data, generating usable reports and processes to avoid back-ordering. Career highlights include boosting on-time fulfillment rates by 26%. Power-user of Excel, Tableau, SAS Enterprise Miner, SQL, and SharePoint. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
Key Skills
- Cost Reduction & Elimination
- Cross-Department Collaboration
- Data Gathering & Analysis
- Pattern Recognition
- Process Streamlining
- Project Management
- Task Prioritization
Professional Experience
Data Analyst, ABC Warehousing, Columbia, MD | March 2017 to Present
- Gathered business intelligence on logistical processes, helping reduce yearly transportation costs by 12% ($800K)
- Used trend data to reduce back-ordering by 19% for retail partners
- Designed statistical analysis for large customer data sets, lowering cart abandonment rates by ~27%
- Developed an update process that rolled out changes to all systems at once, reducing downtime and streamlining warehouse operations
Data Analyst, XYZ Customer Service, Houston, TX | November 2013 to January 2017
- Developed tools and queries for analyzing and summarizing failure data points
- Designed a BOM tool and inventory model to track supply chain overorders, cutting costs $650K with no disruption to customer service
- Collaborated with IT and purchasing departments to automate replacement ordering processes, eliminating a full-time position and reducing back orders by 12%
- Developed systems and tools to eliminate waste and reduce downtime and presented recommendations to C-suite executives
Education
Master of Arts (MA) — Mathematics, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI | 2013
Bachelor of Science (BS) — Finance, University of Maryland, Baltimore | 2010
Language
Fluency in Spanish
Jeremy Myers
(123) 456-7890 | j[email protected] | Houston, TX 77001 | www.linkedin.com/example
Profile
Data Analyst with strong experience helping drive growth for a home healthcare company. Use advanced analytics and business intelligence to develop reports that guide key decision-making. Recent highlights include creating tracking procedures that cut operating costs by 17%. Power-user of Excel, Tableau, Google Analytics, AdWords, SAS Enterprise Miner, SQL, and Microsoft SPSS.
Key Skills
- Data Gathering & Analysis
- Data Interpretation
- Efficiency Improvement
- Executive Consulting
- Procedure Development
- Reporting & Documentation
- Task Prioritization
- Team Collaboration
Professional Experience
Operations Data Analyst, Home Health Co., Houston, TX | January 2015 to Present
- Recommend, set up, and use IBM SPSS statistical software to track key data points
- Use large data sets and Teradata to build statistical analysis models and reports
- Collaborate with C-suite executives to interpret data points and draw actionable conclusions
Highlights:
- Generated data insights that enabled organization to cut operating costs by 17%
- Created operational processes to reduce customer onboarding time, raising profit by 9%
Market Research Analyst, 123 Retailer, Houston, TX | November 2008 to December 2014
- Pinpointed and analyzed market opportunities, working with development teams to create targeted products and services
- Compiled customer data into reports on behavior, trends, market conditions, and engagement levels
Highlight:
- Used Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager to write scripts that resulted in a marketing lift of 18%
Education
Master of Science (MS) — Supply Chain Management, Towson University, Towson, MD | 2014
Bachelor of Science (BS) — Statistics, University of Texas, Houston | 2010
Credential
Data Science Certificate, Cornell University | 2018
Frequently Asked Questions: Data Analyst Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for data analyst resumes?+
For data analysts, the best resume verbs will show your influence on key decision-making – for example, “informed,” “highlighted,” or “recommended.” But there are various others you might use to describe your duties and contributions in this field. The following verbs list can help you brainstorm:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Assessed |
| Cleaned | Collected |
| Combined | Communicated |
| Consulted | Corrected |
| Created | Enhanced |
| Evaluated | Extracted |
| Gathered | Guided |
| Highlighted | Improved |
| Influenced | Informed |
| Interpreted | Isolated |
| Modeled | Organized |
| Pinpointed | Processed |
| Recommended | Reset |
| Resolved | Reviewed |
| Scrubbed | Streamlined |
| Suggested | Summarized |
| Synthesized | Uncovered |
| Visualized | |
How do you align your data analyst resume with a job posting?+
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023, demand for data analysts and scientists will grow by about 34 percent in the next five years. This growth rate is much faster than the average for all vocations.
You can get more interviews in this fast-growing field if you tailor your resume for each application. For example, if the company is looking for someone collaborative, you may want to call out that aspect of your experience in your Profile and Key Skills sections. Or say the company has many non-English speaking customers or business partners. You may want to highlight your foreign language skills both in your Profile and as a separate section farther down the document.
With adjustments like these, you can make your resume more relevant to each new job opportunity.
What is the best data analyst resume format?+
In nearly all cases, you should use a Combination (or Hybrid) resume because it’s easiest for hiring managers to learn about your pertinent skills and experience. It’s also easiest for you to modify based on your job goals.
With the Combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills and experience in your Experience or Work History section, and an intro section. (This combination of work history and intro content is where the format gets its name.) Your resume intro should usually include a Profile summary and Key Skills section, but you may also add a Career Highlights or Awards section.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
To increase your chances of an interview, write and submit a strong cover letter. The key to an effective letter is customizing it based on each job opening. Read our data analyst cover letter guide to learn how. For other related examples, see our business analyst and data scientist cover letter guides.
