← All CV guidesTechnology

    Data Analyst CV: Skills, ATS Keywords & Examples

    Data analyst roles attract hundreds of applicants, so your CV has to prove you turn data into decisions — not just that you know the tools. Here's how to write one that ranks.

    Hard skills to highlight

    • SQL (joins, window functions, query optimisation)
    • Spreadsheets / Excel (pivot tables, lookups)
    • A BI tool (Tableau, Power BI, Looker)
    • Python or R for analysis
    • Statistics and A/B testing
    • Data cleaning and modelling

    Soft skills that matter

    • Translating findings for non-technical stakeholders
    • Storytelling with data / dashboards
    • Attention to detail
    • Business curiosity

    ATS keywords to include

    • SQL
    • data visualization
    • dashboards
    • KPIs
    • ETL
    • A/B testing
    • stakeholder reporting

    Sample Data Analyst summary

    “Data analyst with 3 years turning messy data into decisions. Built self-serve Tableau dashboards that cut ad-hoc reporting requests 50% and ran the A/B tests behind a 12% conversion lift.”

    How to structure a Data Analyst CV

    • Quantify the business impact of an analysis, not just the analysis itself.
    • Name the specific tools (SQL, Tableau) — these are the literal ATS keywords for analyst roles.
    • Show one or two projects end-to-end: question → data → insight → decision.
    • Add a portfolio link with a real dashboard or notebook.

    Common Data Analyst CV mistakes

    • Listing tools with no evidence you drove a decision with them.
    • Vague bullets like 'analysed data' with no metric or outcome.
    • Omitting SQL — it's the single most-searched analyst keyword.
    • No portfolio or sample work linked.

    See how your Data Analyst CV scores

    Upload your CV and get an instant ATS compatibility score, a match against any job description, and AI suggestions — free to start.