Data Analyst Resume Example

1. Write a resume summary or career objective

We advise starting your data analyst resume with a resume summary or resume objective. Data analyst roles require a technical skill set, so it’s essential to highlight your expertise and capabilities at the beginning of your resume with a well-written resume introduction.

A data analyst resume summary is a short paragraph placed near the top of the page, usually underneath the resume header, that summarizes your professional background and relevant qualifications. Use this type of introduction if you’re an experienced data analyst.

Here’s an example of how to begin your resume with a resume summary:

A resume objective, on the other hand, is valuable for entry-level and junior data analysts with limited experience. The 2–3 sentence objective focuses on your relevant skills and career goals.

Here’s an example of a great resume objective for someone applying to an entry-level healthcare data analyst position:

2. Showcase your data analyst skills

Statisticians use quantitative techniques to interpret and analyze data. Because of this, hiring managers look for relevant technical skills on your data analyst resume, such as:

• statistics and mathematics proficiency
• big data analytics
• analytical thinking skills
• computer savviness
• predictive modeling techniques: decision trees and generalized linear models (GLM)
• analytical tools: SAS, IBM SPSS, Microsoft Excel, pivot tables, and Tableau
• Analytical coding languages: SQL, C++, and Java

As a data analyst, you also need job-related soft skills to focus on your work, collaborate with other analysts, and translate statistical jargon into understandable terms for non-technical coworkers. Here are some data analyst soft skills that impress hiring managers:

• Attention to detail
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Presentation skills
• Collaboration
• Written communication skills
• Patience
• Organization

3. Quantify your accomplishments

Because a data analyst role involves dealing with numbers and quantitative data, you should add hard numbers to the accomplishments you include on your resume.

Adding numbers to your resume allows employers to “visualize” the impact you had at your last job. Your quantitative accomplishments illustrate your concrete impact on the company. The more hiring managers can understand what you can achieve, the more likely they are to call you in for an interview.

Here are two examples of how to list achievements with data on your resume for context:

• Consolidated data and developed operations/procedures, improving workflow by 18%

• Analyzed 5,000+ contacts in a spreadsheet, successfully drawing conclusions about consumer data