Business Analyst (BA) Resume Examples & Template [2024]

How to write a business analyst resume that grabs the recruiter's attention? Explaining why you’re a perfect match doesn’t have to be tricky. All you need to do is understand how to wow the hiring manager.

And we’re about to show you how to do it on a job-winning resume for business analyst jobs.

This guide will show you:

• A business analyst resume sample better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a resume for business analyst jobs that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of the best business analyst skills (resume top 3 skills included!).
• How to write a perfect business analyst resume summary and get the job you want.

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 Targeting other jobs in business and analytics too? See one of our dedicated guides:

• Salesforce Business Analyst Resume
• Entry Level Business Analyst Resume
• Analyst Resume
• Budget Analyst Resume
• Business Administration Resume
• Business Development Resume
• Business Owner Resume
• Business System Analyst Resume
• Business Resume
• Program Analyst Resume
• Best Resume Examples
  

Business Analyst Resume Sample

Here's how to write a business analyst resume:

1. Format Your Business Analyst Resume

As a business analyst, you solve problems. You look at a company’s organization and performance, find the problems, and introduce change. You translate mountains of data into actionable, bite-sized information. 

And how does it translate to writing a resume for a business analyst?

The ability to translate large into small is a necessary skill to have when writing a resume. A strong business analyst resume should reflect that skill in action. And it all starts with your resume format. 

Here’s how to format your business analyst resume sample:

• Divide your resume into sections and categories. Boost the readability of your document, by sticking to this outline:
• Header (including your name, position, and contact information)
• Summary Statement or Career Objective (depending on your experience)
• Experience Section
• Education Section
• Useful Skills
• Additional Sections (certifications you received, languages you speak, interests you have, publications with your name on them, etc.)

• Choose the right font for your resume. Times New Roman, Arial, and Helvetica are only some of the great options.

• Set line spacing of 1.15 and standard resume margins to an inch on each side. That’s yet another way of making your document more readable. 
• Choose the best file format. And what’s the best format for your business analyst resume sample? PDF files usually do the trick, unless it’s specified differently in the job ad.

• Name your resume correctly. Include your name and the position you’re after. Add “resume” so that your recruiter won’t confuse it with your cover letter.

Since we’ve analyzed the formatting, it’s time to start writing your resume.

Pro Tip: Want to go with a template? Choose a style that matches the culture of your industry and/or employer. For example, traditional resume templates may work better for conservative companies. 

2. Describe Your Business Analyst Experience

Did you know that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of business analysts, such as yourself, is projected to grow much faster than the average of all occupations? That means the competition will be fierce. And that means your experience section must be top-notch.

Here’s how to describe your work experience on a business analyst resume:

• Stick to the reverse-chronological format. That’s the best way to highlight your most recent activities, in which your recruiters are the most interested.
• Tailor your resume to the job description to show that you’re answering this specific ad and not just sending resumes to tens of different companies.
• Write more about your accomplishments than about your duties. Your achievements are proof that you’ve done your duties well. 
• Add as many as six bullet points under each job. That breaks your accomplishments down in detail. 
• Quantify whenever possible. Working with numbers is extremely important in your line of work. Your hiring manager will focus on results. Regardless of who reads your resume first, they want to quantify any investment made.
• Use action verbs, power words, adjectives, and synonyms. That’s how you can avoid writing a generic resume and stand out more among your competitors.

Let’s see some examples of the right BA resume experience section.

Sample Business Analyst Job Description for a Resume

The first example is precise and uses power words, synonyms, and numbers. The second example, on the other hand, doesn’t deliver any specific information. Will the analysis written by this BA be just as vague? Better not risk it.

But what if you’re not as experienced as the candidate above? There’s still a way to impress your recruiter with your work experience.

Business Analyst Resume Sample: Entry-Level Work Experience Section

See how precise the first candidate is? See how weak the word “different” looks in the second example? Your resume won’t impress recruiters unless you give them specific information about your achievements.

Time to go back a bit further down your life and shine with your education section.

Not sure how to include your achievements and experience? Need help knowing where to start? Read our guide: Achievements to Put on Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples)

Creating a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide and use content from Certified Professional Resume Writers to have a resume ready in minutes.

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3. Highlight Your Education on a Resume for a Business Analyst

Before creating an education section on your BA resume, you might ask yourself, how far back should you go with your resume. The answer to that is pretty simple, and it doesn’t require any work in Excel: 

• Limit yourself to the basics and just list your highest degree of education if you already have tons of business analysis experience.
• List relevant coursework, favorite fields of study, academic achievements, and extracurricular activities if you’re writing a resume with little experience.

And just remember: be relevant to the opening and try to impress the reader. 

Here’s how to create a good education section on your business analyst resume:

• Include your degree on a resume. Mention the school name and the date you graduated.
• List yourmajor and minors on your resume to show more education details.
• Add all the student honors, relevant coursework, and other extracurricular activities to your resume.

Let’s see what it should look like:

Education on a Business Analyst Resume Sample

Simply perfect. And not only because the candidate has graduated from Stanford University. Only last year, almost 10,000 people achieved that. But this candidate also has some accomplishments to prove his potential.

This example is simply not clear. Also, 3.5 is not an impressive GPA score at all.

Time to see how to top that potential and experience with some relevant skills.

Pro Tip: Mention your GPA on a resume if it’s higher than 3.5. If you list cum laude on a resume, skip adding information about your GPA.

4. Put Your Business Analyst Skills on a Resume

What are the 3 most important skills of a business analyst? It’s problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills. However, to impress a hiring manager, you need more than just these top 3 business analyst skills.

Here’s how to add skills to your business analyst resume:

• Visit the job ad and search for the necessary skills section. Some of them might be hidden in skill-related keywords, but it’s usually a no-brainer to spot them.
• Do some research about the company. Visit their social media, website, and search for some news about them. See what technology they’re using and show the recruiter you're skilled with it, or at least have some knowledge about it.
• Read your experience and education section and see if you’ve got some achievements that can easily be mirrored by your skills.
• Write a master list of all your professional skills. That will help you identify those needed most by your future employer.
• Choose 5–10 hard and soft skills that are most suitable for the job you’re after.
• List your skills in an order that spotlights your best skills first. Remember, your resume isn't a research report—it's a sales document.

Here are some common skills you might find in a typical business analyst job description: 

Business Analyst Skills for a Resume

• Analytical Skills
• Technical Skills
• Management Skills
• Computer Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Communication Skills
• Leadership Skills
• People Skills
• Project Management Skills
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Time Management Skills
• Active Listening Skills
• Creative Thinking
• Decision-Making Skills
• Microsoft Office Skills
• Detail-Oriented
• Collaboration Skills
• Active Listening
• Organization
• Teamwork
• Presentation Skills
• Administrative Skills
• IT Skills

Here’s how a good business analyst resume skills list can look like:

Business Analyst Skills (Resume Examples)

Some things go beyond your experience, education, and skills sections. Read on and see how to include them in your resume.

6. Add Other Sections to Your Business Analyst Resume

We’ve got all the standard sections covered. But your employer is not looking for yet another standard business analyst. You need to prove that you’re an exquisite, outstanding person. Who, apart from a set of relevant skills, great education, and amazing achievements, has something more that can be of value. 

Everything that can impress the hiring managers can be put in the additional sections of your resume. Let’s take a look at what it can be.

Here are some additional sections you might add to your business analyst resume to boost your chances of landing an interview:

• Resume licenses & certifications are a great way to show you've got all the skills and knowledge necessary to perform your task efficiently. 
• Publications on a resume show you’re not only a pro-business analyst. You’re also an authority figure for other business analysts.
• Conferences you attended show you are willing to learn new things, which is always valuable.
• Languages on a resume are more than welcome, as they tell the recruiter that you can communicate interculturally, which is a great plus in every organization.
• Volunteering experience, especially if it’s relevant to the job opening, is something that every HR specialist loves to see, as it proves you're a great culture fit.

Let’s see what it can look like on your resume for a business analyst:

Business Analyst Resume: Examples of Other Sections

You’re almost ready. It’s time to go back and write a perfect opening for your resume. 

Pro Tip: Once you’ve completed your business analyst resume highlights, you may need to make cuts. Does your resume fill more than a page? Cut it by deleting extra sections first. 

7. Create a Business Analyst Resume Summary or Resume Objective

The best BA resume starts with a resume summary or a resume objective. And here’s a trick as useful as SUM Formula for Excel: you write it last, using everything that you’ve included in your resume so far. 

Wondering which should you use, and what’s the difference between an objective and a summary?

• Write a business analyst resume summary if you’ve got years of business analyst experience or any related experience. Highlight your accomplishments, experience, and relevant skills.
• Write a resume objective if you don’t have tons of relevant experience. Highlight your skills and motivation. 

To perfectly start your resume, follow these steps:

• Look for things in your resume that stand out and can help you get the job you’re after. 
• Take another look at the job ad and compare it to what you’ve already written in your resume.

• Choose 2–3 top skills and achievements that are the most relevant for the position.

We know that, just like any business analyst, there’s nothing better for you than a clear formula. So here it is:

Seems pretty straightforward, right? Let’s see how it can look like on a senior business analyst resume!

Sample Business Analyst Resume Summary 

Did you know that recruiters look at a resume for an average of 7 seconds? The first example reads fast and gives all the details necessary to assess whether the candidate is the right fit. The second example, on the other hand, gives you basic information. No achievements, no numbers, no details. Also: no reason to waste any more time on that resume.

Now let’s see some examples of right and wrong resume objectives for an entry-level business analyst resume.

Business Analyst Resume Objective

Your BA resume is written and ready to send. But don’t do it just yet!

Learn more about writing a captivating intro to your resume. Visit our guide: How to Write a Perfect Resume Introduction 

8. Add a Cover Letter to Your Resume for Business Analyst

Cover letters are still a must-have. Your business analyst cover letter works with your resume, offering hiring managers the most eye-catching and important aspects of your candidacy.

Here’s how to write a great cover letter to accompany your resume for business analyst:

1. Format your cover letter properly. Make it consistent with your resume template to show your attention to detail.

2. Begin your cover letter by grabbing readers’ attention within the first few sentences. That’s how you make them want to read further.

3. Keep the correctlength of your cover letter. Try to keep it shorter than 400 words.

4. Finish your cover letter with another spectacular achievement and top it with a call to action, offering a precise date and time for an interview.

And that’s it. Now it’s time to answer the job opening and prepare for an interview.

Pro Tip: The only thing you want to avoid is repeating your resume for a business analyst. Cover letters should complement resumes and not repeat them. 

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:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

Kudos to you, you just got yourself a well-written business analyst resume! Let’s just have a quick recap of how to do it, so that nothing goes missing:

• Select the right format for your resume and describe your experience in reverse chronological order.
• Start your resume by writing a resume summary or objective.
• In the experience section of your resume, describe your achievements, not duties.
• Include information about your education that’s relevant to the BA job you’re trying to land.
• Include additional information, like publications, languages, certificates, etc.
• Add a cover letter and make it consistent with your resume.

Thank you for reading this guide! Let’s talk more in the comment section below!

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Sources

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/management-analysts.htm
• https://facts.stanford.edu/academics/graduate-profile/
• https://career.mercy.edu/blog/2019/11/08/eye-tracking-study-shows-recruiters-look-at-resumes-for-7-seconds/