Terms that decide this screen
These are the exact keywords ATS systems extract from data analyst job descriptions. Miss them and you are filtered out before a recruiter sees your name.
How to structure your skills section
Group them the way a parser reads them — one labelled line per category, plain commas, no tables.
5 resume mistakes that get data analysts filtered out
The patterns we see most often on data analyst resumes that fail ATS screening — each with the edit that fixes it.
Saying "analyzed data" without stating what decision it drove
"Analyzed purchase funnel data; identified checkout drop-off, improving conversion by 18%"
Not mentioning SQL prominently
SQL is the #1 keyword for data analyst ATS filters. Put it in your summary and in the first bullet under each role
No mention of business impact
Analysts who can connect data to revenue, cost, or growth get noticed. Quantify the decision your analysis supported
Skipping domain keywords
Add your domain: "e-commerce analytics", "fintech data", "healthcare metrics" — ATS systems score domain relevance
Listing tools without showing scale
"Built dashboards tracking 12 KPIs for a team of 80" beats "Built dashboards"
Who is hiring data analysts
These companies are actively hiring, and their ATS systems are the ones your resume has to pass.
Paste a real Data Analyst posting and see your score
HireRaft gives you a keyword match score, names what is missing, and rewrites the bullets to pass — in about 27 seconds. Free, no card.
Data Analyst resume — frequently asked questions
Do data analyst roles really use ATS filtering?
Yes — all major companies including banks, financial institutions, and tech companies use ATS. Amazon, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and most enterprise firms use automated screening for analyst roles.
Should I put SQL or Python first on a data analyst resume?
Put whatever the job description mentions first. If both are listed, order by the one you are strongest in. SQL is expected by nearly every role; Python is a differentiator.
Is a data analyst resume different from a data scientist resume?
Yes. Analyst resumes emphasize SQL, dashboards, business intelligence, and stakeholder communication. Scientist resumes emphasize ML models, statistics, Python, and research. Mixing the two weakens both.
How do I show impact as a data analyst?
Frame your work as a decision: "Built churn prediction dashboard → retention team reduced churn by 12%". You ran the analysis; the business acted on it. Both parts are valid to mention.
What certifications help on a data analyst resume?
Google Data Analytics Certificate, Microsoft Power BI Certified, AWS Certified Data Analytics, and Tableau Desktop Specialist are well-recognized and worth including if you have them.
Ready to pass the ATS?
Join the data analysts using HireRaft to get past the filter and in front of recruiters.
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