Data Analyst Resume Guide w/ Examples & Templates

data analyst resume example and job description
Created by CakeResume

With the gradual and widespread usage of the internet, businesses from various industries rely on data to make critical business decisions and improve business functions. Many businesses now  require employees who can retrieve, perform statistical analysis, organize, and interpret data into comprehensible forms for managers, stakeholders, and other executives to make better-informed decisions. This is the primary task of a data analyst; their other typical responsibilities might include designing and maintaining databases and data systems, working closely with programmers, engineers, and organizational leaders to develop process improvements, system modifications, etc.

It is important to note that data analyst differs from a data scientist, with the key difference in these 2 occupations mainly lies in the skills they use to deal with data; a data analyst will be more involved in sifting through data to distinguish trends and come up with meaningful results, whereas a data scientist will have to code more and use more mathematical modeling.

Having a professional data analyst resume prepared for a job search is exceptionally crucial for jobseekers. In a highly competitive field such as data science, a well-designed and awesome data analyst resume can help you stand out as a candidate and open many doors for you to start your career as a data analyst.

How to Write a Data Analyst  Resume?

Before you jump into a job searching marathon, there are several different steps you should understand to enhance your overall resume writing process.

Step 1: Understand the differences between data analyst CV and a data analyst resume.

A data analyst CV and a data analyst resume might be interchangeable in some instances, but it is essential to distinguish them. The main differences between these lie in length, content, purpose, and layout.

A data analyst CV is more detailed, has a simple structure, and is usually over 2 pages long. It is mainly used for application processes in academia, medicine, or science fields. 

On the other hand, a data analyst resume is more concise and emphasizes relevant information for a specific job. There are various layouts for a resume; still, it should be within 2 pages long as its primary purpose is for a job application.

💡 Tips: Double-check the job advertisement to see if they are requesting a data analyst CV or a data analyst resume and format them accordingly.

Step 2: Choose the right Data Analyst resume format.

Your data analyst resume format seems so insignificant that many people overlook them, focusing more on the contents. Although the content is essential, your data analyst resume is the first point of contact between you and your prospective employer; it would be in your best interest to make sure that you leave a good first impression through a well-structured resume.

There are 4 types of resume format for data analysts you can use: chronological, functional, hybrid/combination, and targeted. You should ensure that the data analyst resume format is suitable for both your experiences and the job itself.

Step 3: Look up data analyst resume templates & examples online as references.

Unsure on how to start writing your data analyst resume? Looking up data analyst resume templates or examples online as reference can be a good starting point. By doing so, you might be able to take note of what to write and what NOT to write in your own data analyst resume.

❌ You should not copy and paste these references' contents, adjust them to your relevant experiences and the job description.

Step 4: Tailor your data analyst resume for the position.

There is no all-purpose resume. You should tailor your data analyst resume for the specific job position you are applying for. May it be a position that requires you to submit an entry-level data analyst resume or a senior data analyst resume, you should still edit your resume to include new achievements and responsibilities relevant to the job.

Step 5: Craft a data analyst cover letter.

A cover letter might sound insignificant, but it is a chance for you to impress the hiring candidate. A data analyst cover letter is a way for you to showcase your passion, qualities, and skills.

Step 6: Proofread.

Proofreading your resume might sound like an unnecessary step, but typos and grammatical errors can be a deal-breaker for recruiters! So, take a few extra minutes to look over your data analyst resume and see if you had made any mistakes.      

What to Put on a Data Analyst Resume? 

A data analyst resume is a gateway between you and your prospective employer, but that does not mean that you can include anything you want. Here are some things you should include when applying for a data analyst position:

1. Resume Profile (Personal Information)

  • Full name
  • Professional title
    Your job title can give your prospective employer an idea of how experienced you are as a data analyst.
  • E-mail address and phone number
    • Address (city, state, country)

    🔍 Fact: 76% of resumes are rejected because of unprofessional email addresses. Make sure your e-mail address should be professional.

    2. Data Analyst Resume Headline

    A data analyst resume headline is a short phrase about yourself that emphasizes your value as a candidate. It should include your strengths and experience that apply to the data analyst position. Keep it short and sweet; use relevant keywords that you may find in the job advertisement.

    Data analyst resume headline example:

    • Highly Experienced Data Analyst with 7+ Years of Experience in the Hospitality Industry
    • Motivated and Analytical Junior Data Analyst Who Increased Yearly Sales by 29%

    3. Data Analyst Resume Summary 

    This is the continuation of the resume headline. Your data analyst resume summary should highlight your unique value through relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences.

    Data analyst profile summary example:

    Analytical junior data scientist specializing in data mining and data processing. Achievements include designing a new database model that reduced airline check-in time by 33%.

    4. Resume Objective

    What is your career objective as a data analyst? Your data analyst resume objective should answer this question in 2-3 sentences. You can incorporate this into your data analyst resume summary.

    Career objective example for data analyst:

    Goal-oriented data analyst with 3+ years in the e-commerce industry, specializing in data mining for sales forecasting and market basket analysis. Seeking to leverage project management skills for the junior data analyst position in ABC Inc.

    5. Data Analyst Skills for Resume

    As a data analyst, your skills are one of your biggest selling points. This is your chance to present your data analyst skills that matches with the job description and show why you are the perfect candidate for the position. Python is a key skill for a data analyst that you might frequently find in job ads; this is a keyword for your data analyst resume. Make sure to incorporate key skills like this into your resume.

    Data scientist skills resume examples:

    • Technical skills:
      • SQL
      • Python
      • Microsoft Access 

    • Soft skills:
      • Presentation
      • Time management 
      • Working under pressure

    6. Work Experience

    Your previous work experience is an integral part of your data analyst resume; most recruiters hold this section at a high degree of importance. It is definite proof of your abilities as a candidate, especially for a senior data analyst resume or any other experienced data analyst resume. You should include your previous organizations’ names, job titles, brief descriptions of responsibilities and achievements, and employment period.

    Data analyst experience resume example:

    Data Analyst, XYZ Corp.                                                              

    Jun. 2012 - Jan. 2017                                         

    • Analyzed annual financial reports for errors and crafted database solutions to reduce problems from arising again, reducing report errors by 23%.

    7. Education

    Your education is formal proof of your data analysis skills and credentials, especially when creating a data analyst intern resume, a data analyst fresher resume or an entry-level data analyst resume.

    💡 Tips: You can include your school or university, degree, major, coursework, year of graduation, honors and awards, GPA, and extracurricular activities (if applicable).

    8. Additional Information: Portfolio

    A strong aptitude for data analysis is not always easy to demonstrate. You can still improve your standing as a candidate by building a portfolio of data analysis related projects to show to recruiters, this may be especially helpful if you are building a data analyst intern resume, a data analyst fresher resume or an entry-level data analyst resume. 

    📍 Where to showcase your portfolio?

    You can upload your projects on sites like Github or CakeResume, and include the links in your data analyst resume.

    Tips for Writing The Best Data Analyst Resume

    Writing a data analyst resume is tedious in itself; these tips might help lift some of the burdens from you:

    Tip 1: Customize the resume for data analyst positions.

    Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds to screen an applicant’s resume. Your data analyst resume should be accordingly adjusted to the job position to exclude irrelevant details.

    Tip 2:  Use Keywords.

    Incorporate keywords you find in the job description into your data analyst resume.

    Tip 3: Quantify results in your data analyst resume.

    Quantify your deeds to prove how your data analysis helped increase sales revenue, improved workflows, etc, it will make your accomplishments seem more apparent and more convincing.

    Tip 4: Choose an ATS-friendly data analyst resume format.

    Applicant tracking software (ATS) cannot identify fancy data analyst resume templates with too many visuals. Remember to include keywords that match the job ad.

    Tip 5: Adopt resume action words (verbs).

    Action verbs can instantly provide information about you in an employer’s mind.

    Tip 6: Highlight both hard skills and soft skills

    Although your hard (technical) skills are essential for a data analyst position, the job will require you to work closely with other departments. Soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and research are needed to be a good data analyst.

    CakeResume provides the right data analyst resume templates & formats for data analyst to showcase their skills and experiences. Sign up to create the best data analyst resume Now!

    How to Write a data analyst cover letter?

    After discussing why you should write a data analyst cover letter, how can you write one? Your data analyst cover letter should include:

    1. Contact details: let you identify yourself. Include your name, e-mail, and phone number.
    2. Research on the hiring company to find out more about the hiring manager.
      Greeting them with the right name can be an excellent first impression. Introduce yourself and mention the position you are applying for.  
    3. Explain why you are applying for the job and what you bring to the table. Show your knowledge about the company.  
    4. Convince them why you are the perfect candidate for the position by showcasing 2 to 3 of your relevant skills and experiences.
    5. End the cover letter in a polite tone, thanking them for their time.

    Data Analyst Resume Sample

    Eugene McLane

    Data Analyst
    Michigan, USA

    Highly analytical and detail-oriented data analyst who increased sales revenue by 38%

    Mobile: (+24) 128-652
    Email: [email protected]
    Linkedin: Linkedin.com/in/abbymclane
    GitHub: github.com/abbymclane

    Summary

    Data analyst with 5+ years’ experience in the manufacturing and healthcare industry. Advanced knowledge on R, Python, and C++; adept at monitoring and receiving data from various data streams including SQL, Access, and Excel.

    Work Experience

    Data Analyst II.ABC Hospital, Michigan, USA. 

    Jun. 2019 - Present

    • Analyzed and tracked patient data for a 700-bed facility. 
    • Created a medical record filing system which helped decrease outpatient wait time by 16%.
    • Assisted in developing and implementing automated standardized reporting formats to assist in hospital-wide performance improvement activities.
    • Developed automated standardized reports for use in performance improvement and quality activities.

    Data Analyst I.XYZ Inc., Québec, Canada.

    Feb. 2012 - May 2017

    • Performed in-depth data validation on data from suppliers in Turkey, Indonesia and Hungary.
    • Created data modeling standards and procedures.
    • Performed market analysis to achieve objectives efficiently, resulting in a 38% increase in sales revenue.
    • Optimized data collection procedures to generate weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports.

    Skills

    Hard Skills: 

    • Python™ / C++ / R / SQL / Microsoft Office / Tableau
    • Database Design
    • Data Modeling
    • Data Visualization
    • Data Mining

    Soft Skills: 

    • Problem Solving
    • Research
    •  Teamwork
    •   Leadership
    •  Critical Thinking

    Language

    • English
    • Spanish
    • French
    • Portugese

    Education

    • M.A in Business Administration, University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management 
      Concentration in Business Analytics.
      2017 - 2019 
    • B.S. in Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University
      Academic award: Dean’s Honor Roll.
      2008 - 2012

    --- Originally written by Patricia Rosita ---  

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