Organizations depend on analytical insight to make well-informed, data-driven decisions. Your business analyst resume should highlight an ability to harness raw data, transform it into a strategic plan of action, and effectively communicate these plans with business teams. We’ll cover resume-writing basics and provide expert tips to help create a document highlighting your unique career achievements.
Key takeaways:
A great business analyst resume will show how you can connect business and technology using data. To ensure you include all of the most important aspects of your career history, include these sections in your resume:
In the resume header, provide your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a link to any online profiles or portfolios. Before sending off your resume, be sure all of your info is up to date so hiring managers can easily schedule an interview.
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
A resume profile is a brief summarization of your unique experience and qualifications. It should include a few engaging sentences about your business analyst background and key strengths. For inspiration on what to write about, look at the job description of the position you’re applying for and match up your specializations with key requirements.
If you excel in developing predictive models and the company you’re interested in working for needs help to optimize its supply chain, include that. Or maybe your career focus has been on risk management, and you’re confident it could help a company reduce operational vulnerabilities. Lead into your resume with facts like these to hook the reader.
Agile business analyst with over a decade of experience in the technology sector. Leads global teams through complex data integrations and strategic process improvements. Focused on optimizing product life cycles with high-impact, data-driven solutions.
Business analyst known for delivering data-driven insights and strategic recommendations. Nearly two years of experience in the health care sector optimizing demand forecasting and profitability through advanced data modeling and key performance indicators (KPI) analysis.
The work history section of your resume should outline your latest and most relevant jobs. List the job title, employer name, location, and dates of employment. Each description should give a general idea of your core responsibilities, with a focus on demonstrating how you used your analytical skills to impact business decisions and outcomes.
While you play a technical role in helping businesses analyze data, your ability to facilitate change is vital. Mention your experience guiding departments through transitions or adjusting workflows. Show you can use those soft skills to communicate effectively and maintain momentum on projects and initiatives.
Senior Business Analyst, Logitech, Dallas, TX
January 2018 – present
Junior Business Analyst, Boston Consulting Group, Remote
June 2023 – present
Data is key to understanding the potential of a business. Similarly, numbers help hiring managers understand the potential value you could bring to their team. Use KPIs and monetary figures to describe how you’ve done things like optimize data models or reduce business costs. Provide hiring managers with evidence of real results.
Just like the same business strategy won’t work for every company, a generic resume isn’t likely to land you many interviews. Each organization has its own unique challenges and business goals. So, adjust your resume accordingly to show you can meet those needs.
Take note of the terms and themes that come up around job requirements, skills, preferred certifications, software proficiencies, and tools. As you match up your own experiences, weave those phrases and topics naturally throughout your resume. Avoid copying large bodies of text word-for-word, as this can have a negative effect and could be flagged as spam in ATS programs.
If you understand the core function and daily responsibilities of a business analyst, you can make up for a lack of experience by leveraging relevant skills. Then, take that understanding further by studying the job description of each role you apply for. Match your existing abilities with those required for the job and customize your resume accordingly.
Internships, mentorships, education, and software knowledge can all help you build out your entry-level business analyst resume. Or, consider earning a certification like the Entry Certificate in Business Analysis. This is a great way to demonstrate your foundational knowledge and prove to hiring managers that you’re a competent early-career candidate.
Most employers want to see at least a bachelor’s degree for a business analyst position. Some common majors include business, finance, economics, and information technology (IT). If you have a higher degree in a relevant major, list that first.
Then, include any role-specific certifications you may have from reputable organizations like the International Institute of Business Analysis (IBBA) or Project Management Institute (PMI). Scrum, Agile, and Six Sigma credentials would also help you stand out from other applicants.
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI | June 2017
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
Certified Business Analysis Professional, International Institute of Business Analysis, 2018
Business analysis is a multifaceted job. It entails highly technical data and communicating with business teams to share practical steps. This requires a unique fusion of hard and soft skills to be successful in your work. By including both types of skills on your resume, you show hiring managers you have what it takes to navigate technical complexities and contribute to a healthy work culture.
Hard Skills | |
---|---|
Agile methodologies | Business intelligence tools |
Client relationship management (CRM) systems | Data warehousing |
PIM systems | Process modeling |
Requirements gathering | SQL and database management |
Statistical analysis | Unified modeling language (UML) and use cases |
Soft Skills | |
---|---|
Analytical reasoning | Change management |
Creative solution development | Cross-functional leadership |
Emotional intelligence | Facilitation |
Market research | Stakeholder engagement |
Action verbs help to communicate your accomplishments clearly. Instead of listing off your tasks, you can frame them as achievements by using action verbs. This captures the attention of hiring managers and allows you to be concise with your descriptions, avoiding repetitive first-person language. Utilize words like these to enhance your business analyst resume:
Action Verbs | |
---|---|
Advised | Analyzed |
Collaborated | Engineered |
Evaluated | Executed |
Facilitated | Implemented |
Optimized | Orchestrated |
Resolved | Spearheaded |
Streamlined | Synthesized |
Selecting a resume template is more than a matter of aesthetics — it’s about presenting your unique work history in the best possible way. For a business analyst, that means choosing a clean, well-structured layout.
An organized and uncluttered resume helps hiring managers quickly scan through your document without being distracted by walls of text and flashy graphics. Modern designs are a great option, often leveraging a minimalist approach and conveying a professional image.
Nancy Flores
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation zip code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Business analyst known for delivering data-driven insights and strategic recommendations. Nearly two years of experience in the health care sector optimizing demand forecasting and profitability through advanced data modeling and KPI analysis.
Junior Business Analyst, Boston Consulting Group, Remote
June 2023 – present
Business Analyst Intern, McKinsey & Company, San Francisco, CA
January 2022 – December 2022
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Administration
Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA | June 2022
When you gather data for a business, you’re collecting information specific to that organization. Do the same when writing your business analyst resume to understand exactly what a company is looking for. This will help align your resume with the job description and increase your chances of landing the best business analyst position in a fast-growing job market.
Determine how your skills and experience match up and prioritize incorporating that information into your resume. For example, suppose a financial services company needs someone who can improve forecasting accuracy. Then, you would match up your experience with financial modeling tools and present past projects where you successfully predicted financial trends.
If you’re an experienced business analyst, the reverse chronological resume is ideal. It prioritizes your extensive experience in business analysis and presents your career journey in a clear progression. Your skills and education take on a smaller role overall, allowing your work history to shine.
On the other hand, if you lack professional experience or would rather highlight your skills, the combination format is a good option. This balanced approach emphasizes your many unique analytical and leadership abilities first, with a smaller work history section.
Bring the data points of your resume to life with an accompanying cover letter. This simple addition can set you apart from other applicants. It’s your chance to explain how your technical skills and business insight could translate into success for potential employers. Include one with your resume to connect with the hiring team and convey your enthusiasm for the role.
ResumeTemplates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.