
How to Make a Resume: Step-by-Step Resume Writing Guide
How to write a resume that will get the job done? This step-by-step guide will show you the best resume examples and how to make a professional resume in a few easy steps.
Being a data analyst is a great career choice, as this job will see growth in the coming years. The bad news? There’s a lot of competition. You must do a great job of proving that you’re better than other candidates.
Do you have the right skills? Do you live and breathe data? Catch the employer’s attention with a great data analyst resume. Keep reading to find out how to write a great data analyst resume in no time!
This guide will show you:
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Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume samples here.
Targeting different analytical jobs? We’ve got you covered:
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You need to pay attention to even the smallest details when it comes to making a data analyst resume.
How do you start writing the best data scientist resume? Use the well-respected reverse-chronological resume. This type of resume puts your skills and experience right up front.
According to our HR statistics report, hiring managers often only spend seven seconds looking at each application. Being good isn’t good enough. Your data analyst resume must be great.
Pro Tip: While PDFs are usually your best choice, make sure to read the job description carefully. Some hiring managers prefer to not receive PDF data scientist resumes.
Still not sure what format you want for your data science resume? Read our guide: 3 Resume Formats: How to Choose the Best One [Examples]
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You’ve got plenty of facts to put in your resume for data analyst. That includes your contact information.
You want to keep it concise. You want to have more room to expand on your data analyst skills and experience.
The three things you must include are:
Adding your address is optional nowadays when it comes to resumes. It may even be a good idea to exclude it if the job is not local.
Do not list your work email address. Avoid non-professional sounding email addresses.
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John Henry – Jhenry@gmail.com – 204-854-3464 |
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John Henry, 454 Wood St.., Dayton, OH, 43434, Email: JohnDigsStarWars@gmail.com, Phone: 204-854-3464. |
Completed a spectacular project that you want to share on your big data analyst resume? List URLs to your professional portfolio or blog to showcase your knowledge.
Pro Tip: Scan your blog and social media accounts to make sure there is nothing unprofessional posted. For instance, that drunken photo of you and your pals must go.
Consider directing the hiring manager to your LinkedIn profile? Make sure your data scientist resume sample is optimized before you do. Read our guide: How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile to Get More Jobs.
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Everything adds up when it comes to this candidate being the best fit. That’s what you want the hiring manager to think when reading your data science resume.
A creative resume summary or data analyst resume objective will keep that hiring manager reading. Which one should you use? It depends on your circumstances.
A resume summary highlights your skills, experience and achievements.
If you are a professional who already works in a related industry, use a resume summary. Consider it your “elevator pitch” or “sales pitch.” That means keep it snappy and keep it short.
This is how your resume summary should look:
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Process oriented data analyst with 5 years of experience. Experienced in interpreting and analyzing data to drive growth for a pharmaceutical company. Reduced operating costs by 15%. Furnish insights, analytics, and business intelligence needed to guide decisions. |
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Worked as a data analyst for 5 years. Crunched numbers for a drug company to increase profits. |
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, our online resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.
Are you writing an entry-level data analyst resume?
You should use an objective if you have a resume without experience in the industry, are changing careers, or have noticeable gaps in your job history.
It’s still your sales pitch, but tells who you are and why you would be a valuable hire.
This is how your data analyst resume objective should look:
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College graduate attentive to sales data. Passionate about studying how to improve performance. Seeking to leverage data analytical skills to improve corporate performance as a data analyst. |
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College graduate who loves looking at sales numbers and wants a job as a data analyst. No experience in data analysis but am a fast learner. |
Pro Tip: Whichever you use, keep it tight by not writing in complete sentences. Avoid personal pronouns and remove unnecessary words.
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Start with your most recent job when listing your work experience on a data analyst resume. List up to six responsibilities and achievements under each job.
Tailor the information to fit the job description.
A data analyst collects and processes data to see how to use it to answer questions and solve problems. Provide big data analysis achievements that fit. If you are writing a financial data analyst resume, give examples fitting to that kind of job. The right data analyst skills on a resume will get you a better chance at the job.
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June 2014-May 2015 ABC Retail, Ohio
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ABC Retail, Ohio
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June 2014-May 2015 ABC Retail, Ohio
Assisted data scientists with analysis that increased sales performance by 21%. Spearheaded in-depth analysis of stockroom operations that led to a 14% decrease in operating costs. Worked closely with the company to identify customer needs and demands. |
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ABC Retail
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Pro Tip: Boost your data scientist resume by completing projects that match your career goals. Focused projects may build up more data to convince the hiring manager that you’re the right choice.
Want to spice up your data scientist resume? Powerful resume buzzwords can boost your resume. For instance, say “spearheaded gathering data” instead of using the tired resume word “led.”
Need some action words to help you make the best data analytics resume possible? Find them here: 80 Examples of Resume Action Words for Every Profession.
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Working with big data can be complex. Your resume for a data analyst job better show how you learned your skills.
At a minimum, most data analyst jobs require a bachelor’s degree. Many data analysts have a master’s degree or higher.
Submitting a SAS data analyst resume? Remember to include workshops and conferences where you learned SAS skills.
Relevant coursework in mathematics, statistics, and computer science all prepare you to tackle big data. An example would be if you took a course in SQL databases and database querying languages.
If your education is not that advanced, place your data analyst experience in your resume first.
When filling out your education section, list your:
Start with your highest degree. Remember to phrase your education section so it reflects the job description.
This is how your education section should look:
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Master of Arts in Business Administration, 2015-2016 Case Western Reserve University, Ohio
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Master of Arts in Business Administration, Case Western Reserve University
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Should you list your GPA on your resume for data analyst?
It’s optional, though some experts suggest only adding it if you graduated within the last three years and earned a GPA above a 3.0.
The best advice is to learn as much as you can about the job offer and the employer. Do your research, then decide whether this company would like to see your GPA on your data science resume.
Pro Tip: List achievements that match the job description. Filing the most books on your library work study shift isn’t going to get you the job.
Need more tips to help you write a stellar data science resume education section? See your guide: How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples]
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Being a data analyst isn’t easy. It takes certain data analytic skills to both analyze big data and communicate well enough that others can understand.
It’s up to your data scientist resume to show you have the skills needed to do the job.
How do your data analyst skills on a resume make you different from other applicants?
List your skills in a spreadsheet. Consider what skills are most pertinent to the job. Think of them like data analyst resume keywords that grab an employer’s attention.
Can you work with large amounts of data like facts, figures, and crunching numbers?
Do you have strong enough math skills to make estimates based on the numbers?
Can you write and speak clearly to explain what you analyzed?
Are you vigilant enough in your analysis to make sure you come to the correct conclusions?
Can you use data warehousing and business intelligence platforms, or database querying languages?
Do you question established business practices and brainstorm new approaches to data analysis?
Is finding solutions based on data just a job for you, or do you have a love for it?
Being a data analyst and writing an intelligence analyst resume requires certain technical skills.
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Power user of Excel, SAS Enterprise Miner, SQL and Minitab programs. |
Excellent knowledge of how to use analytics to find conclusions based |
Strong communication and creative problem solving skills. |
Experienced at using MS Access, Oracle 8i databases. |
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Experienced at analyzing data. |
Knowledgeable about data analysis tools. |
Strong math skills. |
Being a data analyst or a business analyst are one of those jobs where strongly wanting to be one is not enough.
You must be able to read the story behind big data and explain it clearly. Your data analytics skills section must prove you have the skills that the position requires.
Pro Tip: Do not use a list of generic skills on your data analyst resume. Pick specific skills that show you have the skills needed for the job.
Want more tips on how to list skills on a data science resume? Read our guide: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume [Proven Tips]
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How much do you want that data analyst job?
That much? Then let’s keep boosting your data science resume.
After all, you want to stand out from the crowd. This is your chance.
For more certifications, google data analyst to see what’s out there.
Are you writing a research data analyst resume?
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Earned Certification of Professional Achievement in Data Sciences from Columbia University. |
Experienced user of QDA Miner, ATLAS.ti, HyperRESEARCH, and MAXQDA data analytics software. |
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Passionate about crunching numbers. |
Scholar of the Month in data software class. |
What gets noticed is the data analyst resume that best matches the job description. Add data analyst resume sections that prove you are the best match.
Pro Tip: The ideal software and certifications will depend on the data analyst job description sample. Make sure you list software and certifications that best match the job description.
Did you know that you can also list hobbies and interests on your data modeler resume? Find out if you should and how: +20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests to Put on a Resume [5 Tips]
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With strong data analyst resumes, who needs data analyst cover letters?
You do.
Forget what you’ve heard that cover letters are no longer. Most hiring managers want to see a cover letter along with your data scientist resume.
It’s so important that 45% of recruiters will toss out your resume without a cover letter.
Write your cover letter to make sure it fits the job description.
Do not use a cookie cutter approach or a cover letter from a previous job application.
Do some research to find out the name of the person who will make the hiring decision. Address your data scientist cover letter directly to that person.
When writing your data analyst cover letter, look at the company’s website. Be sure to include something about the company that interests you.
How would you fit into that company culture? Explain how in your cover letter.
Pro Tip: Remember that you want to show you’re a whiz with all things big data. Make sure your cover letter gives that impression.
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Need some more guidance on how to write a data analyst cover letter? We have you covered. Scan our guide: How to Write a Cover Letter [Complete Guide with Examples]
Being a data analyst requires very specific skills.
If you do that, you are well on your way to grabbing the hiring manager’s attention.
Do you have any questions on how to make a data analyst resume? Let us know in the comments section.
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How to write a resume that will get the job done? This step-by-step guide will show you the best resume examples and how to make a professional resume in a few easy steps.
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