Entry-level data analyst resume - text version:
Contact Information:
MICHELLE SANDERS
- Tableau and Data Visualization Certified Data Analyst
- johndoe@email.com
- San Francisco, CA
Summary
Recent computer science graduate with strong technical skills and a passion for data analysis. Motivated to gain experience in building web-centric solutions on Java. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Experience
Data Analyst Intern
XYZ Corporation 01/2022 - 01/2023 Los Angeles, CA Assisted in data analysis and reporting resulting in improved operational efficiency.
- Collected and cleaned large datasets for analysis.
- Conducted statistical analysis and created visualizations to communicate findings.
- Developed automated reports to streamline data reporting processes.
- Collaborated with team members to identify areas for process improvement.
Research Assistant
University of California 01/2021 - 01/2021 Berkeley, CA Assisted in data analysis and report writing for research studies.
- Controlled financials and planned project work for 10+ research assistants
- Assisted in data collection and cleaning for research studies.
- Conducted statistical analysis and created visualizations to communicate findings.
- Contributed to writing research reports and papers.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
University of California 01/2020 - 06/2022 Berkeley, CA
Languages
- English
- Spanish
- French
Awards
Best Rookie Data Analyst Award
- Recognized for outstanding data analysis skills and contributions to the team
Employee of the Month
- Consistently exceeded performance expectations and contributed to team success
Strengths
Data Analysis
- Analyzed and interpreted data to drive business decisions resulting in a 15% increase in revenue
Problem Solving
- Developed solutions to complex problems in a team setting resulting in increased efficiency by 20%
Attention to Detail
- Ensured accuracy in data collection and analysis resulting in error reduction by 25%
Skills
- Java
- Python
- Data Visualization
- SQL
- Statistics
- Tableau
Achievements
Data Visualization Project
- Developed interactive visualizations that increased understanding of data insights and facilitated decision making
Process Improvement Initiative
- Identified inefficiencies in data collection and analysis processes and implemented improvements resulting in time savings of 30%
Maybe you’ve always been good with numbers and have excellent problem-solving skills, and that’s what drew you to the data analysis field. Data analysts are highly sought after in 2023, as almost every company that wants to make substantial growth in their industry uses data analysts to create and implement a data strategy. Even those brand new to the field can expect a highly motivating career.
The key is to get your foot in the door, and you can do that with a standout resume that markets your skills and abilities. We can help you learn how to market yourself and your skills, starting with a step-by-step guide to craft an entry level data analyst resume..
Choose the best format for your entry level data analyst resume
At Enhancv, we’ve done a study to determine how our resume templates compared to the Microsoft word templates when scanned in Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software. We found our resumes do significantly better and are much easier to scan than Microsoft Word resumes.
We’ve also learned that to create a successful resume which can be scanned by ATS, make sure that there are no grammar or spelling errors. Check out the following advice on how to format your resume:
- Length/Columns: In all honesty, it really doesn’t matter if you have a double or single column resume or whether the length of your resume is one or two pages. However, most successful resumes are one page with two columns to separate information.
- Section Headings: According to ATS best practices, if you are writing information into an experience section, make sure that you only include your experience in it.
- Colors and Design: Although eye-catching colors and graphics won’t be read by ATS software, they help to make your resume stand out to a potential hiring manager
- Fonts: You don’t need to just use Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri fonts in your resume, and in fact all Google fonts can be read in ATS software.
- File Format: The best file format to use for your resume is PDFs, as there is less movement of images and text when using it. PDF is also easier for ATS software to scan.
Another helpful tip is that you should use a reverse chronological format for your resume because with that format, you list all of your most recent experience first.
In addition, if you’re newly entering a field or you’re entering a creative field, try using a hybrid resume format. With a hybrid resume format, both your experience and your skills are given equal weight, with both being represented on separate parallel columns.
Pro tip
Try not to just list the programming languages you know, but give real tangible examples of how you use it to conduct data analysis.
Add your contact information in the resume header
Did you know that your resume header is actually scanned by ATS software? Therefore, do your best to make sure that the contact information that you list is free from errors.
Below, you can find a list of the most important information to include on your resume header:
- Your first name and last name
- Your title
- Your phone number
- Your email address
- Your location
- A picture of yourself (optional)
- Relevant social media handles (optional)
Create an interesting entry level data analyst resume summary
You can use your resume summary as a first opportunity to present yourself as the best entry level data analyst available for hire. Even if you don’t have a lot of experience, you can show that you’re a great fit by leaning into your strengths and skills.
Resume summaries are also great places to include specific ATS keywords, which you can find by combing through the job description. Look for the expectations for the role, and you’ll find nuggets of keywords like ‘ability to analyze data streams’.
Below, you’ll find a checklist of the most important information to include in your resume summary:
- Your title and years of experience
- Your most relevant skills in your field
- Your top 1-2 professional achievements
Showcase a standout entry level data analyst experience section
Create a standout data analyst resume by crafting an experience section that quantifies your achievements. You’re a numbers person, someone whose life work is to make sense of complex data streams. In the same way that you strive to back up your predictions with data, quantity every achievement and accomplishment in your experience section.
Here are some things that you should keep in mind when creating an experience section:
- Reverse chronological order: Use it to list your most recent experience first.
- Job title: Always include a job title, as it can help to clarify the role you played at previous companies.
- Company’s name, location, and description: Include general information of where you worked, including city, state, and even the country.
- Date of employment: List the month and year that you started and ended your employment at a company because this helps for ATS.
- Achievements and responsibilities: You should only list experience which is pertinent to the role you’re entering. For example, leave out your time as a fast-food restaurant manager off of your data analyst resume.
- Be specific: Use metrics or specific examples to show the impact you’ve made.
- Scan through the job description for keywords: You can find some great ATS keywords in the job description by pulling out specific expectations for the role.
Three examples of quantifiable achievements in the data analyst field
- Increased conversion rate: If you’ve implemented changes to a website or app that resulted in more website viewers that became first-time customers, then highlight that in your resume.
- Cost savings: How have you helped your company save money over the last year through your data analysis?
- Automation: Where have you created opportunities for automation in your work, allowing you to save time and resources?
02/2020 - 11/2023
- Implemented changes to a client’s website’s landing page, resulting in a 20% increase in conversion rate within the first month of implementation.
- Collected and cleaned data, preparing the information for my direct supervisor.
- Helped develop and implement a data automation process alongside the senior data analysts, resulting in a 50% reduction in time spent on data analysis and a 25% increase in overall productivity.
List your education
Your resume education section can be a great place to list accolades and honors that you’ve received while in your formative years at university.
Below, you can find a checklist with the most important things to include in an education section:
- Degree Name
- University, college, or other institution
- Location (optional)
- Your GPA
- Years attended
- Honors and Dean’s List
02/2010 - 11/2015
List your relevant entry level data analyst skills
Both your technical skills and soft people skills are incredibly important on your resume, especially for a data analyst job.
Hard skills
Technical skills, also called hard skills, can help your resume to be more ATS friendly, as you can pull key skills from the job description.
The top 3 technical skills for data analyst:
- Data analysis
- SQL programming
- Data visualization
Soft skills
In addition, soft skills are important for keywords in ATS software, and they can also give you an edge with hiring managers. If a potential manager sees authentic examples of how you showed leadership skills in your skills section, then your resume could get moved to the top of the stack.
The 3 most popular soft skills for a data analyst:
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Attention to detail
Include your entry level data analyst certificates
Certifications can better show the skills that you bring to the table when in an interview.
Here’s what you should include if you’re putting a certificate on your resume:
- Certification name
- Name of issuer
- Year of obtainment
- Location (if applicable)
- Date of expiration (if applicable)
- Expected date of obtainment (if applicable)
Top 3 data analyst certificates for your resume:
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate
- Google Cloud Certified: Professional Data Engineer
- IBM Data Science Professional Certificate
Use other sections to give yourself an advantage
If you’re entering a management position, you may wish to include a “Day of My Life/ My Time” section for your resume. Marissa Mayer did, and it helped her to explain all the responsibilities she’s had in previous roles. Although this section won’t be scanned by ATS software, it might provide more key information to hiring managers.
It may also give a potential manager a glimpse of whether you’d be a good fit in the company’s culture.
Here are four additional sections to consider, including:
- Membership of professional associations
- Conferences
- References
- Volunteering
Create a matching cover letter for your entry level data analyst resume
A cover letter is your first opportunity to plead your case on why you think you’d be the perfect fit for a role.
Below, you can find the most important things to include in your cover letter:
- Contact information that corresponds with your resume.
- Greeting.
- Achievements in the first paragraph.
- Cover letter body:
- Work experience
- Skills
- Why you’d be a good fit
- Call to action
Cover letter example
Dear Jude O'Hare,
I am writing to express my interest in the entry-level data analyst position at Behemoth Industries. My name is Rob Roy, and I recently completed a 6-month internship at Leviathan Corporation, where I gained valuable experience in data analysis, data management, and data visualization.
During my internship, I was involved in several data-driven projects that required me to collect, analyze, and interpret large amounts of data from various sources. I also assisted in the development of data visualization dashboards using tools like Tableau and Excel, which helped the company make informed business decisions.
I am excited about the prospect of joining Behemoth Industries and using my skills to contribute to the company's data-driven decision-making processes. I believe that my proficiency in SQL, Python, and R, as well as my understanding of data visualization tools, make me a strong candidate for this role.
Besides my technical skills, I possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, which I honed during my internship. I am also a team player who thrives in a collaborative environment and is committed to delivering high-quality work.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further and how they align with the needs of Behemoth Industries.
Sincerely,
Rob Roy
Key takeaways
- Format your resume using a reverse chronological format.
- Your resume header will actually be scanned by ATS software, so avoid grammatical and spelling errors.
- Use your resume summary to market yourself to potential hiring managers.
- Your experience section should focus on specific, quantifiable examples.
- Although technical skills are highly sought after, listing soft skills can help you differentiate yourself from other candidates.
- You may wish to include other sections, including a section with your references.
- Your cover letter is your first opportunity to introduce yourself to a hiring manager.
