# Resume Tips for Your Data Analyst Dream Job Matt Mesher June 10, 2023 3 Min Read ## Data Analyst Resume Tips Sometimes it can be tough to stand out in a stack of resumes. Even great candidates can struggle to get noticed. But don’t worry, we have some tips to help spruce up your resume and land your dream analytics job! ## The Analyst Conundrum Great analysts tend to do two things well: (1) they’re strong critical thinkers and (2) they’re effective communicators. When others skip steps in their thinking and leap to conclusions, analysts think step-by-step with cleverness and discipline. The issue is that we often like to show our work, because it’s how we make sure our logic is sound. This is a big strength! But it can also hurt our communication with non-analysts. ## Being a Communication Savant The solution is to start at the end. Give your audience the conclusion first, and let them ask for the how. This way, they immediately get “ _why I should care_” and you keep them engaged, wanting more. ## So about My Resume? You’re applying for a data analytics position. Your job is to distill signal from noise. Show you know how with your resume! Here are some simple recommendations. ### Structure for Success - **Start with overall highlights.** Put the most important information about your skills and background at the top. - **Go top-down.** Most important 2-3 things should be at the top. Then you can offer your supporting facts. ### Think Like a Designer - **Use white space.** Dense text is hard to absorb. Less and more, especially when people are going fast. So make it clear the few places you want their eye to go. - **Use simple, clear words.** Esoteric words help no one. Need inspiration? Read some Hemmingway! ### Show You’re Dynamic - **Passion never goes out of style.** Don’t make things too dry. Let your interests come out. Employers like motivated, dynamic employees who can bring something extra. - **It’s ok to list non-work items.** Do you volunteer? Are you a member of a society? These are good items to include, just use them as brief flourishes. ### Things to Avoid - **Don’t make your resume a dense list of information.** This requires your audience to synthesize. They’re busy and want to hire you to give them time back. Give it to them! - **Don’t blot out the sun**. You don’t have to fill every square inch of the page. If you’re just starting your career, employers understand and don’t expect you to have a huge amount of experience. If you’re a veteran, show you’ve learned how to communicate the most important points. - **Look out for typos**. Attention to detail is important for analysts. Run your resume through spell check, tools like Grammarly and even ChatGPT. And no matter what, always remember, you got this!