In increasingly competitive markets, companies are turning to business intelligence analysts to dig deep into their internal data and find useful patterns that can guide business decisions. Business intelligence analysts are increasingly in demand for their technical skills that can turn complex data sets into meaningful insights. If it’s time to land a new job, you’ll need a strong business intelligence resume to showcase your technical knowledge, numbers-oriented approach, and conceptual thinking skills.
That’s where we can help. With 300+ industry-specific resume examples and writing guides, Resume.io is an expert resource for job seekers across industries and experience levels. Here’s what we’ll cover in this writing guide and the business intelligence resume example it contains:
- What does a business intelligence analyst do?
- How to write a business intelligence resume (tips and tricks)
- The best format for a business intelligence resume
- Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
- Professional resume layout and design hints.
If you’re looking for a new job in business intelligence, opportunities abound. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the field of operations research analysts (including business intelligence) to grow by 23% over the coming decade. That’s significantly faster than the average for most occupations.
What does a business intelligence analyst do?
Business intelligence analysts work in an IT environment to collect, clean, organize, and analyze data from businesses and organizations. In today’s digital environment, companies collect and store large amounts of information inside internal systems. These data sets can be useful in helping evaluate an organization’s successes and what steps it should take in the future. The job of a business intelligence analyst is to convert these numbers and data sets into useful recommendations to guide the company. Here are some of the responsibilities of a business intelligence analyst:
- Data collection. Identify location and procure access to data sets including those contained within spreadsheets, servers, and company records.
- Preparation of data. Ensure that the data collected is complete, accurate, and ready to be analyzed.
- Data analysis. Use various computer programs and mathematical models including Tableau, Power BI, or SQL to run simulations and extract patterns from larger data sets.
- Presentation of data. Create reports and visual aids in order to present findings to stakeholders in a clear and logical way
How to write a business intelligence resume
The very first step in writing your business intelligence resume is understanding what sections to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:
- The resume header
- The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
When writing your business intelligence resume, it’s important to remember that the initial person reading it might be an HR manager who has no knowledge of the technical skills needed to collect and analyze business data. At the same time, your business intelligence resume must still show that you are qualified for the role. We recommend placing hard skills (like programs, software, and methodology) in your skills section and explaining the impact of your analysis within your employment history bullet points.
Think about the following questions before beginning to write your resume:
- What was my primary achievement in each of my previous roles?
- What were the key findings of my analysis that might not have been discovered otherwise?
- What actions were taken as a result of my work and what was the positive impact on the company?
- How did my analysis impact the business as a whole?
Choosing the best resume format for a business intelligence analyst
Since business intelligence analysts are trained professionals who need significant experience within the field, we recommend the reverse chronological resume format as the best choice, as demonstrated in the resume sample. This resume format focuses on the employment history section where you can list your previous positions and offer more insight into the impact your work had on your employer.
This resume format gets its name from the fact that your previous jobs should be listed from most recent to oldest (reverse chronological order.) While other resume formats exist, we recommend them for students or people working in more independent fields as they can make a candidate come across as inexperienced. You can find an adaptable model for your own resume in our business intelligence resume example.
Resume header
The resume header is the section found at the top or sometimes on the side of the page that contains your full name, contact information, and a link to your LinkedIn profile or portfolio. Your email address and phone number are considered sufficient contact information, and you do not need to include a home address. Your header can add a touch of attractive formatting to the page by using a professional color scheme and a larger font size. For more formatting ideas, see our adaptable business intelligence resume sample.
Resume summary example
The summary of your resume serves as an introduction to your biggest achievements and the reasons why you’re qualified for the role. These 3-4 sentences are meant to grab the hiring manager’s attention and encourage them to continue reading the rest of your resume. Make sure to focus on key skills or responsibilities mentioned in the job description. You can also make note of any well-known previous employers, but make sure to save the details for further down the page. See our adaptable summary resume example below for more inspiration.
Experienced Business Intelligence Analyst with a demonstrated capacity for managing and interpreting complex data to deliver keen business insights and recommendations. Proven track record of creating and managing innovative business intelligence solutions, empowering transparency across all organizational levels.
If you’re struggling to write a succinct and effective summary, check out our related business and management resume examples including our:
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Employment history sample
The employment history section is likely the area of your resume that the hiring manager will be most interested in. That’s because this is the place to share your previous accomplishments and the results you brought about for other employers.
Begin by creating subheadings with the employer’s name, the job title, dates worked, and location. Then, add 4-5 bullet points summarizing your duties and achievements. Make sure to focus on only the most relevant information that is applicable to the new job you are applying to. As a business intelligence analyst, it’s also important to provide numbers, statistics, and concrete data that illustrate the positive impact you had on the business operations of your previous employer. See our adaptable employment history resume sample below.
Business Intelligence Analyst, DarkChannel Radio, Baton Rouge, LA
February 2019 - Present
- Generate key insights into business performance and competitive landscape, gathering and interpreting data from multiple sources.
- Uncover business opportunities through market and trend analyses.
- Evaluate internal processes for alignment with emerging needs.
- Prepare detailed financial and performance reports for leadership information, supporting strategic decision-making.
Business Analyst, BonMarche, Baton Rouge, LA
January 2016 - January 2019
- Contributed to process change and evolution, evaluating internal policies and procedures to identify gaps and recommend resolutions.
- Designed innovative workflows to enhance performance, reducing labor.
- Re-engineered data and intelligence management infrastructure, implementing new systems to elevate capabilities.
- Partnered with cross-functional teams to design project road-maps and facilitate streamlined execution.
Data Analyst, Lagniappe Inc, Baton Rouge, LA
June 2011 - December 2015
- Analyzed business processes to uncover improvement opportunities, leveraging data-based insights to support recommendations.
To maximize the impact of your employment history section, make sure to begin each bullet point with an action verb that conveys your initiative and impact. Here’s an example:
Instead of:
- Used data and intelligence management infrastructure to provide results
Try:
- Re-engineered data and intelligence management infrastructure, implementing new systems to elevate capability
CV skills example
The skills section takes on extra importance in a business intelligence CV because this role requires you to have a strong set of technical skills in order to evaluate and analyze data. Before completing this section, make sure to take another look at the job description and highlight any specific software and/or methodologies that your prospective employer is looking for.
On your CV, be sure to balance these “hard skills” with soft skills which are personality traits or intrinsic qualities that make you right for the job. For more examples of these, check out our resume skills sample below:
- Data Visualization
- SQL Server
- Data Analysis
- Microsoft Power BI
- Business Intelligence
- Data-Based Recommendations
- Market & Trend Analysis
- Competitive Analysis
- Report Generation
- Performance Insights
Business intelligence resume education example
Business intelligence analysts will need both hands-on experience and knowledge gained from education. Many employers will look for candidates with degrees in fields like business administration, computer science, statistics, or mathematics. Make sure to list degrees in reverse chronological order and include the degree name, school, dates attended, and location.
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
September 2007 - May 2011
If you are a recent grad, you may also choose to include your GPA or any honors achieved as bullet points under your education. As you advance in your career, we recommend removing these details to make more space for your employment history.
Resume layout and design
Just like the formatting of a chart makes it easier to understand the data contained within, the design of your resume helps a hiring manager find and analyze information about your qualifications. A great layout starts with a clear and attractive header to keep your name and contact information in one place. Don’t forget to include your LinkedIn or portfolio website if you have one. Here are a few more tips for a great layout:
- Keep a balance of white space to text so that the page is easy to read
- Use consistent font styles and sizes
- Consider using a professional resume template to ensure proper formatting
- Change the margin size to cram in more text or make your experience look larger
- Add unnecessary colors or images
- Submit a resume with spelling or grammar mistakes
Key takeaways for a business intelligence resume
- Business intelligence is a growing and in-demand field, so now is a great time to prepare your resume.
- Make sure to focus on achievements and the impact you had on your previous employers so that an HR manager can easily understand your value.
- List your previous jobs and your degrees in reverse chronological order as this is the most common way of formatting a professional resume.
- Check out our adaptable business intelligence resume sample to get started creating a professional layout.
