20 Business Analyst Resume Examples & Guide for 2023

As a Business Analyst, you understand the importance of quality assurance and requirement gathering.

When recruiters look through Business Analyst resumes, they’re trying to spot a CRM pro with stellar technical skills.

You know how to manage and analyze data, but how do you stand out from the mountain of other applicants with SQL and Python skills?

After reading our extensive guide, you’ll be able to write your Business Analyst resume as if you wrote the BABOK.

Here’s what you’ll learn from this Business Analyst resume guide:

• How to pick the right combination of technical and soft skills that’s relevant for your role;
• What to do when your target business analyst job is different from your previous role;
• How to write bullet points that describe your technical skills and how they affected the company;

Looking for related business analyst resumes? Check out our other profiles

• Business Data Analyst resume
• Business Development resume
• Business Intelligence resume

How to write a business analyst resume

You have a complex job. Explaining its intricacies and the good work you’ve done because of it will take space. However, recruiters hate text-heavy and condensed resumes.

That’s why it’s best to use a reverse-chronological or combination resume.

A reverse-chronological resume does well in highlighting impressive career trajectories or promotions.

If you want to highlight your skills, go with a combination resume format. It organizes your achievements into different skill buckets at the top of your resume.

It’s an advantage for seasoned professionals because the recruiter won’t be able to tell if an achievement took place two years or nine years ago.

For more information on the best resume formats, read our guide: The Best Resume Formats You Need to Consider (5+ Examples Included).

How to write a noticeable business analyst resume header

Listing your correct contact information and LinkedIn profile URL is standard advice for writing a resume header. This is why your resume’s current header might look like this:

What doesn’t work:

• Title is generic and not job-specific
• Missed opportunity to include keywords in LinkedIn URL

On the opposite side, here's our rewrite:

What works:

• Title is tailored for a specific job
• Email address and LinkedIn URL both contain specific job title

Customize your email, job title, and your LinkedIn URL to fit the job you want. It’s a good way to insert extra keywords and catch recruiters’ attention right away.

In some cases, Business Analysts are sometimes called Functional Consultants, Product Managers, or IT Analysts. Remember to use the right job title.

If you want more ideas for stand-out resume headers, read through our guide Perfecting Your Resume Header so You Get Noticed.

You have the recruiter’s attention now. Keep them hooked with an eye-catching resume summary.

What it takes to make your business analyst resume summary stand out

Including notable achievements in your Business Analyst resume is obvious advice.

What exactly qualifies as a notable achievement, though?

Business Analyst roles differ from one industry to another, so it pays to specialize. Even within the same industries, companies have different processes and terminology. Because of these, specificity is important when writing your Business Analyst resume.

Consider the 3 Business Analyst resume samples below:

This summary doesn’t indicate what industry you worked in—much less the tasks you did.

This summary is an improvement because it shows the specific tasks you’re familiar with. But there’s no gravitas. No impact.

The best Business Analyst resume summary includes both tasks and a measurable result. Here’s an example:

For more tips on crafting an attention-grabbing resume summary, check out our guide Resume Summary: How-To Guide (30+ Examples You Need To See).

Business analyst resume experience section: Charming recruiters with style

The professional history section is the main course of your resume. Fill it with relevant experience and achievements.

But don’t just leave it at that. Go beyond the usual expectations with these tips:

1. Find the right balance between jargon and layman's terms

In big companies, a recruiter might do a paper-screening to pre-qualify applicants first. But for startups or small businesses, a manager or a Senior Business Analyst will be the one reviewing your application.

How will this affect your Business Analyst resume?

There’s a chance one person reading it may only have a vague understanding of your role. Some recruiters are only given a list of skills or keywords to look for when pre-qualifying applicants.

Worse still, they may not even understand the jargon at all.

Where do you stand then?

Belcak advises candidates to examine the job ad to hone in on the skills, tools, and projects the employer wants to see.

This way, you don’t have to worry about a recruiter who’s just basing their decisions on a keyword checklist. You’ll also pass the scrutiny of a potential manager who understands the minutiae of your work.

It also helps if you use the industry-accepted terms on your Business Analyst resume. For example, your previous employer might’ve conducted "beta tests" to get feedback before launching a software or service.

Beta test might’ve been the popular jargon within your company. But other companies refer to this process as "data testing," or "end-user testing." It’s also generally known as "user acceptance testing."

2. Show a range of skills

Some Business Analysts work in finance, technology, or healthcare. Some Business Analysts are only expected to analyze numbers. Other business analysts also oversee the implementation of their proposed solutions.

Don’t let this discourage you from applying to roles not related to your current work. Think of it as having a bigger market for your diverse skill set. For instance, if your IT Business Analyst resume explains how your skills are transferable in a finance or warehouse operations, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Typical transferable responsibilities include:

• Creating detailed reports outlining the company’s current performance, goals, resources, and performance gaps
• Planning and monitoring performance or resources
• Forecasting
• Variance analysis
• Creating and modifying workflow charts
• Identifying project requirements and scope
• Improving current system practices
• Statistical and predictive analysis
• Analyzing market trends and uncovering opportunities for growth

If you have the skills, your resume can be tailored to fit a particular specialization.

3. Show results

Companies hire you to improve their performance so you have easy access to whether your work helped or not. There’s no excuse not to share the tangible outcome of your efforts.

Below are different ways to show results on your Business Analyst resume:

• Percentage of improved output or productivity for warehouse operations
• Increase sales for front-line sales teams and marketing efforts
• Decrease in refunds or cancellations
• Decrease in surplus for supply chain operations or retail businesses
• Decrease in bugs or customer complaints for SaaS-based on user activity data

If you’re having trouble pinpointing the outcome of your work, ask yourself "So what?" What happened because of the market research study you did? What happened as a result of the sales forecast you wrote?

Keep asking yourself "so what" until you get to the bottom of the situation.

Now that you know what to do, it’s time to see what those changes look like in an actual resume.

2 business analyst resume experience examples

Below is a Business Analyst work history sample that lacks all four of the suggestions above.

What’s wrong with the example above? Anyone who reads it will ask, "So what???"

So what if they poured through thousands of product listings on Amazon? What came out of that? Did it benefit the sellers or buyers in any way? Did it benefit Amazon?

Context is important. It shows why your task was crucial and how it impacted stakeholders. Otherwise, you might as well be a theoretical number cruncher.

Belcak analyzed hundreds of resumes from his audience and students. From this, he found that the most effective bullets consist of:

• 45% industry terms
• 15% action words
• 15% measurable results
• 25% common words

Here’s what the Business Analyst resume sample above looks like if rewritten based on this formula:

All bullets above show results, not just in money earned or saved but in other aspects of the business, too.

Belcak’s finding suggests allocating 45% of words to industry terms. This isn’t limited to jargon. Product stocking and quality control are both used in the retail industry, and yet you don’t have to work in that industry to know what it means.

_Check out our How to Cover Work Experience On Your Resume guide for more tips on building a job-winning experience section. _

Need entry-level business analyst resume tips?

Let me clue you in on a little secret…

Those jobs ads that require one to two years professional experience are testing you.

Recruiters receive up to 250 applications for one job posting. So if you don’t apply because you don’t have all their "requirements," there’s less work for them.

Job ads that "require" one to 2 years for fresh graduates are flexible. The work experience requested here isn’t limited to corporate settings.

Coursework, extra-curricular activities, volunteer work, side projects are all viable ways to flesh out your entry-level Business Analyst resume.

Business Analysts often have a degree in Business Administration. Their coursework usually covers the gamut of business communications, financing, operations and policies.

Find out which of the job requirements are similar to your coursework and college projects, then write about that.

For example, if you see phrases like "develop performance benchmarks" or "improve operational workflow," then write about your coursework in business policy or business process improvement. That’s relevant experience right there.

Don’t underplay non-analyst roles or side projects, either. If while waitressing, you tested different phrases you can say to increase your tip, and shared it with other waitstaff, that’s another relevant accomplishment.

Just choose the right words when describing it. For example:

"Increased customer satisfaction by X% after testing and iterating several customer-centric spiels."

Where increased percentage of customer satisfaction refers to increase in tips, the customer-centric spiels are the friendly or complimenting stuff you said.

Looking to build your own entry-level job resume? Follow the steps in our guide How To Write Your First Job Resume.

This is how you should talk about your skills on your BA resume

You might’ve held a role where your focus was on building financial models. But the job you’re applying for now is more on prototyping and benchmarking performance. You have both skills, so which should you include on your resume?

The key is to start with the job ad. Prioritize the skills mentioned there by listing it at the top of your skills section. You can even divide them up by business function, or simply by soft and hard skills.

How to describe soft skills on your resume

A recruiter won’t believe you’re a good collaborator simply because it’s listed as a soft skill on your resume.

You have to prove it. Describe a situation where you used those skills at work.

Are you still not sure what skills will win recruiters over? Check out our guide on How to Create A Resume Skills Section To Impress Recruiters (+10 Examples You Need to See).

Should I add an education section to my resume?

If you’re an experienced Business Analyst, lList your degree, school’s name, and location. Don’t list the year you graduated if it was more than 10 years ago.

If you’re a fresh graduate looking to enter the industry, you may want to lList academic achievements such as your GPA, a Cum Laude, or other awards., if you’re a fresh graduate.

There’s no specific degree required, as it depends on what the job entails. Many jobs posted online will ask for a degree in Business Administration, Business Management, or Information Technology.

Candidates applying for a senior or management role are often required to have a Master’s in Data Science or in Business Analytics, according to Study.com. Senior roles often perform complex and cross-functional analysis. High-level mathematics combined with machine learning taught in these courses equip candidates with the skill set required for such demanding tasks.

Browse more essential tips on how to feature education on your resume, in our guide Perfecting the Education Section on Your Resume.

Consider these 7 business analyst resume certificates

Yes, these certifications cost money and they take time to complete. You don’t have to invest in them when you’re straight out of college.

When you’re ready to level up your career, a comprehensive course and a worldwide recognized certification from any of these institutes can definitely change the game for you.

For more information on how to properly list resume certifications, we recommend reading our guide How To List Certifications On A Resume (Examples Included).

Other sections to include on your resume

In some cases, there are other sections you may want to consider including in your resume.

If you’re a recent graduate or making a career change, odds are your work history is low on Business Analyst experience. Including projects, highlights, and awards is a good opportunity to demonstrate relevant skills.

Maybe you’re already a professional Business Analyst, but you want to explore a new specialization. Adding sections for volunteer work, publications, languages, and hobbies and interests can show specialized knowledge in other areas.

Certain companies may also require adding references to your resume.

Cover letter for a business analyst

One of the most important skills for Business Analysts is the ability to produce accurate and professional documentation. Your cover letter is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate this skill.

It may sound obvious, but a cover letter that is free from typos and grammatical errors is key. A candidate who can’t write a competent cover letter won’t be trusted to create deliverables for clients.

So how do you write a Business Analyst cover letter that gets interviews?

We’ve got you covered. Our expert tips and template will help you write a Business Analyst cover letter that impresses recruiters.

There you will find guidance on choosing the right introduction, conveying your skills, showing your industry knowledge, and other helpful advice.

Key takeaways to write an interview-worthy business analyst resume:

• Don’t be afraid to showcase the wide range of your skills and professional experience.
• Help the recruiter and Senior Business Analyst understand your work by including context when describing your work.
• Don’t forget to show off your soft skills. Even if your role is heavy on analysis and numbers, no one wants to work with a robot.
• Explain how your accomplishments translate to good work and less training for your target employers.

By Experience

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Entry Level Business Analyst

Hone in on transferrable analytical skills and familiarity with business analysis methodologies. Underline training or internship experiences, particularly those relating to problem-solving, process improvement, or data analysis.

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Junior Business Analyst

Showcase understanding of business analysis fundamentals, along with any certification or academic accomplishment. Highlight collaborative projects or case studies that show your problem-solving abilities.

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Senior Business Analyst

As a Senior Business Analyst, focus on your leadership in managing projects, stakeholders management, and capacity in mentoring junior analysts. Showcase projects where your efforts led to substantial process improvements or significant business benefits.

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By Role

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Agile Business Analyst

The Agile Business Analyst role evolved from Agile project management principles. We have to understand the Agile practices, as they may affect the global trends in business analysis. To increase chances for employment as an Agile Business Analyst, incorporate these tips:

• Demonstrate your ability to interpret and understand Agile principles and methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, iterative development, etc.
• On your resume, focus on Agile projects where you've performed business analysis and how your work contributed to the successful delivery of the product.
• A strong emphasis on understanding the business goals and how Agile practices can be utilized to meet those goals is necessary.
• Show how your analytical skills have helped in identifying business needs, and translating them into user stories or backlogs.

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Banking Business Analyst

The role of a Banking Business Analyst has evolved along with the developments in the banking and finance industry. Specialized skills and banking trends can greatly influence the job prospects.

The following tips can assist you in crafting your application for a Banking Business Analyst:

• Highlighting your understanding of banking operations, regulations, compliance, and security will strengthen your application.
• Make sure to showcase your expertise in financial models, forecasting, and strategic planning.
• Evidence of strong data analysis skills and familiarity with related tools such as SQL or SAS is pivotal.
• Your knowledge about banking-specific software and ability to utilise them in business process enhancements can set you apart.

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Business Analyst Accounting

The Business Analyst Accounting role combines business analysis and financial management abilities. It's your adeptness in financial accounting tasks that could make you suitable for this position.

Consider the following pointers while applying for this role:

• Showcase your accounting expertise and proficiency in accounting software including QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, among others.
• Emphasize your capacity to understand financial reports, carry out audits, and perform budget analysis in your CV.
• Feature projects where you contributed to the simplification of the accounting process.
• Demonstrate how your aptitude in BA techniques resulted in notable enhancements in accounting operations.

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Business Analyst Retail

The Business Analyst Retail position is strongly influenced by the dynamics of the retail industry. A solid experience in retail operations can significantly increase your chances.

Here are some points to consider when applying:

• Highlight your knowledge of retail business operations, product management and inventory control.
• Place a strong emphasis on your ability to analyze consumer behavior, market trends and sales data.
• Draw attention to instances you have contributed to enhancing customer experience or improving sales.
• Highlight your ability to use retail-related software to optimize store operations and sales.

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Finance Business Analyst

Highlight your understanding of financial models, forecasting, and budgeting. Detail previous accomplishments where your insights about financial data played a significant role in strategic decision-making.

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Financial Business Analyst

Present your knowledge in financial regulations, investment strategies, and wealth management. Show instances where you leveraged financial data to create opportunity forecasts or mitigate investment risks.

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Healthcare Business Analyst

Healthcare Business Analysts should emphasize their knowledge of healthcare systems, medical terminologies, regulations, and privacy policies. Highlight how your analysis led to improvements in patient care, reduced operational costs, or improved compliance.

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IT Business Analyst

Emphasize your knowledge of IT infrastructure, software development life cycles, and systems architecture. Show how your technical analysis led to more efficient system implementations or significant reductions in tech-related issues.

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RPA Business Analyst

Highlight your proficiency in RPA tools, automation design, and workflow management. Demonstrate how your automation solutions improved business efficiency, decreased errors, or reduced manual workload.

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Salesforce Business Analyst

Emphasize your knowledge of Salesforce CRM and its various features. Highlight situations where your proficiency in Salesforce led to better customer relations, sales, or customer data management.

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SAP Business Analyst

Highlight your proficiency in SAP modules relevant to the job. Display cases where your expertise in SAP led to streamlined business processes, improved data management, or cost efficiency.

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Servicenow Business Analyst

Emphasize your proficiency with the ServiceNow platform, especially in designing, configuring, or managing workflows. Show instances where your service delivery management led to improved customer satisfaction or operational efficiency.

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Software Business Analyst

Highlight your understanding of software development life cycles, programming languages, and QA testing. Demonstrate situations where your software analysis led to better product development or fewer software defects.

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Supply Chain Business Analyst

Feature your expertise in supply chain operations, logistics, and inventory management. Explain how your analyses have enhanced supply chain efficiency, reduced costs, or optimized inventory levels.

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Tableau Business Analyst

Emphasize your practical experience with Tableau for data analysis and visualization. Showcase situations where your Tableau-driven insights led to strategic business decision-making.

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Business Systems Analyst

Highlight your proficiency in systems analysis and design, along with knowledge of relevant enterprise systems. Demonstrate how your work has resulted in improved system efficiency, valuable user training, or significant issue resolution.

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