Data Analyst resume keywords and bullet examples

Data analyst postings are full of tool names: SQL, Excel, Tableau, Power BI, Python. Recruiters search for those words first, then look for proof that your analysis changed a decision. Name the tool and the decision in the same bullet.

Keywords recruiters search for

These are the terms that come up most in data analyst job postings. Use the ones that describe work you've really done, in your skills section and inside your bullets:

SQL
Python
R
Excel
Tableau
Power BI
Looker
Data visualization
Statistics
A/B testing
ETL
Data cleaning
Reporting
Stakeholders
Data modeling
Pandas
Business intelligence

Every posting is a little different. Paste the one you're applying for into the free ATS checker to see exactly which of its keywords your resume is missing.

Weak bullets, rewritten

Made reports for the team

Built 8 Tableau dashboards that replaced a weekly 6-hour Excel report

Analyzed data

Analyzed 2 years of churn data in SQL and Python, which led to a retention offer that cut churn 9%

Cleaned data

Wrote SQL checks that caught duplicate orders and fixed a 4% overcount in monthly revenue

Worked with stakeholders

Ran A/B test analysis for the product team on 14 experiments, reporting results to the VP of Product

Examples only. Use the numbers and tools that are true for you.

Sample data analyst resume summary

Data analyst with 3 years of SQL, Python and Tableau experience in e-commerce. Built the weekly revenue dashboard used by 40 managers and found a pricing issue worth $180K a year.

Mistakes that get data analyst resumes skipped

Naming tools without saying what you built with them.
Leaving out the business result. A dashboard matters because someone used it to decide something.
Listing Python when you have only finished a course. Say “Python (pandas, coursework)” or leave it out until you've used it on real data.
Two columns, tables or icons. Applicant tracking software can read them out of order, so keep one column and standard headings.

Questions

Do I need Python on a data analyst resume?

Many postings ask for SQL and Excel first, and Python or R as a plus. List Python only if you've used it on real analysis, and read the posting to see how much it matters.

Should I include portfolio projects?

Yes, if you're early in your career. One or two projects with a real dataset, a clear question and a result are worth more than a long list of courses.

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Keywords for other roles

Last updated October 18, 2026