Why this resume works
- Every tool is tied to a decision. The dashboard replaced six reports; the cohort analysis supported a markdown plan; the data-quality checks protect the morning report.
- Stakeholders are visible. Store managers, finance, operations and leadership appear in the bullets, which shows the analyst can work across teams.
- A public project with a notebook and write-up gives interviewers something concrete to discuss.
- A relevant certification (PL-300) supports the Power BI claim without taking much space.
Weak vs. strong analyst bullets
Created dashboards in Power BI.
Built a Power BI sales dashboard for 38 stores that replaced six manual weekly Excel reports.
Did data analysis using SQL.
Identified slow-moving inventory with SQL and cohort analysis, supporting a markdown plan that freed about 12% of seasonal stock.
Cleaned data.
Automated data-quality checks in Python that flag missing store feeds before the morning report runs.
How to present analyst skills
| Group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Querying and analysis | SQL (PostgreSQL, SQL Server, BigQuery), Python (pandas), R, Excel |
| Reporting and BI | Power BI (DAX), Tableau, Looker Studio |
| Methods | Cohort analysis, forecasting, A/B test readouts, segmentation, KPI definition |
| Data work | Data modelling, ETL basics, data-quality checks, documentation |
Projects that help, and projects that don't
- Helpful: a public-data project with a real question ("How has transit ridership recovered by route?"), clean notebook, clear chart, and a short written conclusion.
- Less helpful: a copy of the Titanic or Iris tutorial with no new question.
- Link the project and describe the finding in one line on your resume.
- A strong portfolio project also explains the data limits, the assumptions you made, and what you would investigate next. That gives a hiring manager evidence that you can reason about imperfect business data rather than only produce charts.
Common mistakes
- Listing every Python library you've imported once.
- Bullets that describe tasks ("ran queries") without the business question.
- Unexplained acronyms from a previous employer's internal systems.
- Screenshots of dashboards inside the resume (they can't be parsed; link to a portfolio instead).
Make your own data analyst resume
- Upload your current resume (PDF, DOCX or TXT) or paste the text into the free builder. No account needed.
- Choose the Minimal template to get this exact look, or compare it with the other four.
- Review every line, then download your PDF. Downloads are free; your upload is deleted within 30 minutes.
With a free account, Tunquest finds up to 3 matching jobs a day in Canada and tailors your resume to each one. You review everything before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Do data analysts need a portfolio?
It helps a lot for junior analysts and career changers. One or two thoughtful projects are enough.
Should I include Excel on a data analyst resume?
Yes, many analyst roles in Canada still rely heavily on Excel. Be specific: Power Query, pivot tables, XLOOKUP.
Why use the Minimal template?
Its serif typography and quiet layout keep attention on the content, which suits analytical roles. Any Tunquest template would work.