How to write a data analyst resume

Thinking about a career as a data analyst? You’re in luck—it’s one of the most sought-after tech roles in 2025. That said, the competition remains fierce, so employers will be searching for candidates who truly stand out. Your resume is your chance to make a strong first impression and set yourself up for success.

In this blog, we’ll cover what to include in a data analyst resume, especially if you are just getting started in your career. You’ll want to consider data analyst core skills alongside your own experience, as well as what to avoid in your resume and what to do if you have limited experience in this field.

By incorporating these recommendations, you’ll create a tailored, detailed yet concise resume. Our goal is to help you secure an interview.

If you're looking for opportunities as a data analyst search our available jobs now.

Essential tips when writing a data analyst resume

• Tailor your resume to the specific role you are applying for. If you’re applying for a junior data analyst or senior data analyst, your resume should reflect this. Avoid creating a broad data analyst resume, as employers are seeking different skill sets and experiences at different levels.
• Make sure your resume isn’t too long. Hiring managers and recruiters will be reviewing numerous applications, so keep yours concise and to the point, with the key information jumping out to the reader.
• Highlight your core soft skills as a data analyst. Demonstrating these transferable skills will be essential, especially if you don’t have much experience in data analyst roles.

Skills to highlight in a data analyst resume

Whether this will be your first data analyst role, or a new position, there are essential skills you’ll need to succeed that should be included in a resume.

• Analytical skills: Analyzing data and critically explaining what it means will be essential in any data analyst role.
• Attention to detail: You'll need to be able to spot trends and errors when compiling reports.
• Collaboration: You'll be working with colleagues across departments to deliver valuable insights.
• Communication and stakeholder engagement: Positive communication is a crucial skill for most roles. As a data analyst, you’ll need to work effectively with various stakeholders and alter your messaging depending on the audience.
• Data management: Organizing and storing data will be key for quick and effective decision making.
• Organization: Managing data effectively and backing up essential work can prevent any data losses. As regulations and legislation increase, it’s important to maintain a clear audit trail and meticulous organization.
• Presentation skills: The ability to present your findings will be necessary for explaining complex data in a clear and concise manner.
• Problem solving: Successful data analysis involves translating your findings into actionable solutions. This problem-solving approach is what an employer will look for in a data analyst.

What to include in your data analyst resume

Your resume should clearly present your experience, qualifications, skills and knowledge for the data analyst job you apply for. Employers will be looking for a candidate who clearly knows what they’re talking about. Including the following in your resume will be essential:

Make your experience stand out

• Discuss your most recent roles first. Employers will be looking for someone who has the ability to query, clean and manipulate data. If your last job included analyzing data or presenting big data reports, the reader will want to know.
• Specify your soft skills. Skills needed for a data analyst role include common job requirements, like communication. Explain how your communication skills help you to translate complex data modelling into actionable insights - even if you’re new to the industry.
• Clearly state your relevant roles and responsibilities. Explore how projects you worked on in your last role relate to data analysis. Describe when you’ve used data visualization or a similar approach.
• Add any relevant extracurricular experience. Include links to a portfolio, case study or project that showcases your skills. Alternatively, if possible, include an attachment for employees to learn more.

Depending on your level of existing experience as a data analyst, there are different things that the hiring manager will want to see:

• Entry level (0-2 years): Internships, academic projects or personal portfolio.
• Mid-level (2-5 years): Experience working with real-world datasets, managing reporting and stakeholder comms and the level of stakeholder in an organization have worked with.
• Senior Level (5+ years): Leading projects, influencing business strategy and mentoring junior analysts.

Data analysis software that employers will look for on a resume

Data analysts rely on powerful tools and software platforms to process, analyze, and visualize large data sets. There are a range of common tools across the market, but some of the most popular include:

• Tableau
• Apache
• Spark, Hadoop & storm
• Power BI Statistical Analysis System (SAS)
• KNIME
• Microsoft Excel
• Google tools - Analytics, Big Query & Looker Studio
• Jupyter Notebook

It's okay if you haven’t used these data processing tools before. Being knowledgeable about similar tools can be very helpful when speaking with hiring managers. Even if you haven’t worked with a specific tool, you can explain how you have experience with something similar. If you haven’t used these data processing tools before, that’s okay. Conduct some online research or download a free demo in your spare time. Demonstrating that you’ve gone out of your way to learn will help to set you up for success.

Make information easy to digest with a clear layout

• Break up your resume into sections. An easy-to-read structure will help hiring managers to find what they’re looking for, which may indirectly demonstrate your skills in data visualization. Demonstrate that you can identify and highlight important information.
• Introduce your data analyst resume with a personal statement. Tell a brief story about who you are, what you can do and what you’re looking for. Don’t go into too much detail here – 100 words is enough. Remember: you can always add a cover letter if necessary.
• Highlight your education. If you’re a recent graduate, explain how your studies have underpinned your core skills in data analysis. Clarify why your degree, or other qualifications, may be relevant in a data analyst jobthe role.

How to become a data analyst with no experience

Embarking on this career path can be daunting without direct work experience. Don’t be discouraged to apply, though. Instead, tailor your resume to clearly demonstrate you have the skills and knowledge needed.

To boost your entry-level data analyst resume, it’s best to show your passion for the role and prior knowledge. I’d recommend utilizing free certification or entry certifications across cloud platforms. Where possible, gain exposure to AWS, GCP, Google BigQuery or Azure so you have some experience in using these.

What to avoid when writing a data analyst resume

When writing your data analyst resume, ensure that you avoid these common mistakes:

1. Spelling and grammar mistakes: Attention to detail is a key skill for a data analyst. Proofread your resume prior to sending it to an employer and ask colleagues or friends to take a look too.
2. Generic information: Avoid creating a one-size-fits-all resume if you’re applying for multiple data analyst jobs. Tailor your resume to explain why you’re the best candidate.
3. Irrelevant experience: Only focus on roles that showcase your data analysis skills. Avoid going into detail elsewhere, unless to highlight transferable skills.
4. Soft skills without evidence: Avoid listing generic skills like “detail-orientated” or “team player”. Instead, demonstrate it in your experience or achievements – find out more in this blog.

Things to remember when writing your resume

Rather than listing skills in abstract, showcase real life examples to illustrate each point. Specify your knowledge of data analyst software and convey your willingness to learn new skills. Of course, best practice resume rules apply in all industries. However, for data analyst jobs, aim to demonstrate your meticulous attention to detail in action. A well-crafted resume, with no errors, can indicate that your future reports will be similarly flawless.

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