Business Analyst Resume Skills and Keywords

What skills should I put on a business analyst resume?

The top skills to put on a business analyst resume are Python, Microsoft Power BI and Microsoft Office (Excel and PowerPoint), along with administration and management, economics and accounting, and systems evaluation. Employers also look for dependability, attention to detail and integrity, which are best shown through results in your bullet points rather than listed.

• Python
• Microsoft Power BI
• Tableau
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Administration and Management knowledge
• Economics and Accounting knowledge
• Systems Evaluation
• Dependability
• Attention to Detail
• Integrity

What software should business analysts know?

Business analyst job postings most often ask for Python, Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, SQL and Microsoft Office (Excel and PowerPoint). Many business analysts also use web platform development, development environment and database management software; which products matter depends on the employer, so list the specific products a posting names and you have used.

• Python
• Microsoft Power BI
• Tableau
• Structured query language (SQL)
• Salesforce software
• Atlassian JIRA
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Microsoft Visio
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Office

What hard skills do employers want in business analysts?

Business analysts need administration and management, economics and accounting, systems evaluation, and systems analysis far more than most workers. Name these in your resume summary and prove each one with a bullet that shows you using it.

• Administration and Management · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Economics and Accounting · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• Systems Evaluation · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Systems Analysis · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• English Language · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
• Personnel and Human Resources · Needed more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Compared with the average rating across all jobs in Department of Labor data.

What soft skills do business analysts need?

The most important soft skills for business analysts are dependability, attention to detail and integrity, followed by intellectual curiosity and achievement orientation. Show them through results in your bullet points rather than listing them as single words.

1. Dependability: A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
2. Attention to Detail: A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
3. Integrity: A tendency to be honest and ethical at work.
4. Intellectual Curiosity: A tendency to seek out and acquire new work-related knowledge and obtain a deep understanding of work-related subjects.
5. Achievement Orientation: A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, set high work-related standards, and exert high effort toward meeting those goals and standards.

What keywords should a business analyst resume include?

A business analyst resume should include the exact tool names, skills and job title from the posting. For business analysts, common keywords include Python, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft Office (Excel and PowerPoint), Administrative Analyst and Business Consultant. Applicant tracking systems and recruiters scan for these words, so use them wherever they truthfully describe your experience.

How do I write business analyst resume bullet points?

Start each business analyst bullet point with a past-tense verb and a core task, such as “Gathered and organized information on problems or procedures,” then end it with a measurable result: what changed, by how much, and for whom. These starters come from the job’s most important tasks.

What are other job titles for a business analyst?

Other job titles for a business analyst include Administrative Analyst, Business Consultant, Employment Programs Analyst, Management Analyst and Management Consultant. Government job data groups them as “Management Analysts.” Search for these titles too, and use the posting’s exact title on your resume when it fits your experience.

• Administrative Analyst
• Business Consultant
• Employment Programs Analyst
• Management Analyst
• Management Consultant
• Organizational Development Consultant
• Performance Management Analyst
• Program Management Analyst
• Administrative Support Coordinator
• Business Development Analyst
• Business Management Analyst
• Business Management Consultant
• Business Operations Analyst
• Business Process Analyst
• Business Process Consultant
• Business Systems Analyst
• Clerical Methods Analyst
• Commercial Specialist
• Dealer Analyst
• Forms Analyst

What education do business analysts need?

Most business analysts need a bachelor's degree to get hired, plus less than 5 years of experience in a related job. On your resume, list coursework or certifications in administration and management, economics and accounting, and English language. In a federal survey, 57% of business analysts said the job requires a bachelor's degree and 24% a master's degree.

How much do business analysts make?

Business analysts earn a median salary of $101,860 a year, according to May 2025 federal wage data. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $60,640, and the highest-paid 10% earn more than $171,640. Employment is projected to grow 10.1% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all jobs, with about 94,100 openings a year.

What other jobs can business analysts do?

Business analysts’ skills carry over best to jobs as project management specialists, information technology project managers and data scientists, which use the most similar skills and day-to-day work.