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Data & Analytics

Data Analyst Resume Keywords & Skills

By Ashish Jayan

These are the keywords, hard skills, and action verbs Applicant Tracking Systems look for on a data analyst resume. Mirror the ones that appear in your target job description; matching is literal.

Core skills (ATS)

  • Data analysis
  • SQL
  • Data visualization
  • Dashboards
  • A/B testing
  • Cohort analysis
  • KPI reporting
  • Statistical analysis
  • Data cleaning
  • ETL
  • Forecasting
  • Requirements gathering

Tools & platforms

  • SQL
  • Python
  • Excel
  • Tableau
  • Power BI
  • Looker
  • BigQuery
  • Snowflake
  • dbt
  • Google Analytics 4
  • Jira
  • Git

Statistics & methods

  • A/B testing
  • Hypothesis testing
  • Regression analysis
  • Cohort analysis
  • Funnel analysis
  • Segmentation
  • Time-series forecasting
  • Descriptive statistics
  • Confidence intervals
  • Correlation

Certifications

  • Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
  • Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Associate (PL-300)
  • Tableau Desktop Specialist
  • IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate
  • Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)

Action verbs

  • Analyzed
  • Built
  • Automated
  • Visualized
  • Modeled
  • Forecasted
  • Segmented
  • Optimized
  • Reported
  • Identified
  • Streamlined
  • Quantified

Skills to list, by type

Hard skills

  • SQL (joins, window functions, CTEs)
  • Data cleaning & wrangling
  • Excel (pivot tables, Power Query, INDEX-MATCH)
  • Data visualization & dashboard design
  • A/B testing & experimentation
  • Descriptive & inferential statistics
  • Cohort & funnel analysis
  • KPI definition & metric design
  • ETL & data modeling (dbt)
  • Time-series forecasting

Tools & platforms

  • SQL (PostgreSQL, BigQuery, Snowflake)
  • Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets
  • Tableau
  • Power BI
  • Looker
  • Python (Pandas, NumPy)
  • dbt
  • Google Analytics 4
  • Jira
  • Git

Soft skills

  • Stakeholder communication
  • Data storytelling
  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • Requirements gathering
  • Executive presentation
  • Attention to detail

Certifications that help

  • Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
  • Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate (PL-300)
  • Tableau Desktop Specialist
  • IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate
  • Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)

How to use these keywords (without stuffing)

  • Only add a keyword if it's genuinely true; you'll be asked about it in the interview.
  • Match the exact wording in the job description; ATS keyword matching is literal (write both "CI/CD" and the tool name).
  • Put keywords where they carry evidence, inside quantified bullet points, not only in a skills wall.
  • Aim for natural coverage, not density. Ten defensible keywords beat forty hollow ones.

More Data Analyst resume resources

Data Analyst resume examplesAnnotated example + copyable bulletsData Analyst resume builderRole-tailored free builderData Analyst resume summary examplesSummary examples by experience levelData Analyst resume bullet pointsQuantified bullet points to adapt

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need Python to get a data analyst job?

Not always. SQL, Excel, and a BI tool (Tableau or Power BI) are the non-negotiables, and plenty of roles hire on those alone. Python helps once you're automating things or working with bigger datasets, so list it if you have it. A sharp SQL-and-dashboard resume with quantified impact still clears most ATS filters and screens.

How do I write a data analyst resume with no experience?

Lead with 2–3 portfolio projects that use real datasets and end in a decision or dashboard, and put them directly under your summary. Quantify them the way you would a job ("surfaced 3 at-risk segments in a 120K-row dataset"), add a Google or Power BI certificate under Education, and mirror the tools each posting names.

SQL, Excel, or Tableau: which matters most on a data analyst resume?

SQL is the most consistently required skill across postings, so make it prominent and specify the dialect. Excel and a BI tool (Tableau or Power BI) come next; name the specific features and dashboards you built. Match whichever the job description emphasizes, and prove each with a quantified bullet.

Should a data analyst resume be one page?

Yes, for most analysts: one clean, single-column page that an ATS can parse field by field. Front-load your strongest quantified results and a relevant BI tool in the top third. Go to two pages only with roughly 8+ years of experience or a substantial publication or leadership record.