Pssst. I call it a CV or Curriculum Vitae
Knowing (and doing) this will take you DIRECTLY into an interview for a Business Analyst role.
Whether you want to get your first interview as a Business Analyst.
Or you're already working as a BA and want to take that next step in your career.
Or even if you just want some practical tips on how to write your resume for a new Business Analyst role.
This is DEFINITELY the post for you.
Why?
Because today I'm giving you a step-by-step guide to writing the perfect resume when applying for a Business Analyst role.
Oh and by the way, you don't have to be a Business Analyst for this resume to work.
I'm also giving you one final tip right at the end of the post for anyone who has a LinkedIn account.
(Don't have a LinkedIn account? Get one now)
AND I'm giving you a one-time opportunity to download TWO examples of my personal resume for FREE.
But the first example is how NOT to do it.
The second example is HOW TO do it.
By the way, if you've already succeeded with your CV and you're looking for interview tips, have a read of this: 16 interview Hacks
Lets take your Business Analyst Resume to the next level
Firstly, why am I writing this post?
A while ago I wanted to take my BA career to the next level.
I knew my resume needed updating, So I did just that.
I then uploaded it to a few job sites.
A number of recruitment agencies called me.
But after the agency had sent my resume to the hiring company. I heard nothing.
The response rate was TERRIBLE.
Probably about 10%.
Why?
Because my resume was terrible.
It was 4 pages long with far too much detail - NOT GOOD! As you can see in the bonus section.
Look at this...
Waaay too much detail.
But at the time, I thought everything on there was relevant to my application, guess what - it wasn't..
Trust me.No employer will respond to a 4 page resume.
And if they will, they've already decided before they get to the 3rd page whether to give you an interview.
So I changed mine - significantly.
I reduced it to 1.5 pages, kept ONLY the key selling points and made it much more compelling to read.
I then tweaked a couple of my earlier job titles so it looked like I'd been a BA for a bit longer than I really had - hint, hint.
The result?
A whopping 90% success/response rate.
5 interviews.
2 new job offers and a difficult (but good) choice to make - BACK OF THE NET!
FACT - If you're going to get noticed among the crowd of Business Analysts you MUST have a first class resume in order to sell yourself.
I can't promise that doing this will guarantee a job.
No.
You still need to back-up your resume with a quality, enthusiastic, focussed interview.
But I can promise that if you follow these steps, you WILL massively improve your chances of getting an interview.
So here goes.
Step 1: Your Resume Title
Simply, put your full name, address, mobile number, and email at the top.
Then add a break line
That's it.
Nothing else.
Like below
Step 2: Personal or Summary Statement
Keeping this section straight to the point will IMMEDIATELY get you recognised.
Make it about 100-120 words.
It can be a bit less, but No more.
Focus on your Business Analysis skills, experience and knowledge.
First, explain what type of Business Analyst you are - dynamic? Enthusiastic? Customer centric?
Then, where you've been working recently.
Followed by what roles you've done - use roles/responsibilities which relate to Business Analysis
Briefly state what qualifications you have.
State your industry experiences.
Finally tell them a little bit about your work.
DONE!
Here's a quick visual of how it might look on the page.
Step 3: State your Key Skills on your Resume
This is another great way to be direct without using too many words.
So...
Provide 4 or 5 of your strongest key skills.
For example.
Communication - Excellent at building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders to obtain information on systems and processes. This has been key to my success at [company name].
That's just one example.
Make yours similar.
Notice how I don't use the phrase 'I am excellent'.
They already know I'm talking about me so it's not needed.
DO make your key skills relevant to Business Analysis.
DON'T repeat your words in any of them.
Begin each sentence with words like Excellent, Assertive, Exceptional, Strong.
However, don't be too self-indulgent, it could come across negatively.
Find the balance between selling yourself and loving yourself.
Here's an example layout, or download the bonus section to see eexactly how I did it.
Step 4: Add your career summary
Possibly the most important part of your resume. Here's how you might lay it out:
Where you need to be a bit clever.
Why?
Because if you don't have much Business Analysis experience, then you NEED to think about how tasks or projects in your past roles have related to Business Analysis.
Many people have never been officially called a Business Analyst.
But their work is often in-line to that of a Business Analyst.
So.
Even though I would never tell you to LIE on your resume.
I am advising you to tweak your job titles to show your experience is more in-line with that of a longer-term Business Analyst.
But remember - you still need to back it up at the interview. SO do more research at home if necessary.
If you're a graduate. And you're just starting out.
No worries.
Apply for junior Business Analyst roles.
But think about how your degree might relate to Business Analysis. And emphasise those areas.
4.1 Put your latest/current job first.
Write the date from and date to, Company name and Team Name - all on one line
Then give your role title. (Remember to tweak it)
My title was 'Finance Business Analyst'
But I wanted to broaden my chances
So I kept it as just 'Business Analyst'
And I gave the team name as 'Systems & Change' instead of 'Finance Systems & Change'
You see ' simple but very effective.
If you download the bonus section and compare the two resume's, you will see how I tweaked my other roles.
Now.
Your role description needs to be about 150-180 words.
First tell them what you currently deliver in your role.
Then explain your core responsibilities, write in Business Analyst language.
What's Business Analyst language?
Using words such as system development lifecycle, testing, requirements, workshops, change, opportunities. And many more
You get the picture.
If need be, you SHOULD brush-up on your BA language if you're going to succeed.
Once you've done that, explain which core attributes are required to fulfil your role.
Again in Business Analyst language.
Where do you hold a particular strength? Tell them what it is and why.
I'll say it again.
Keep it straight to the point.
4.2 Describe the Role you had before your current Business Analyst role
You can also change your job title for this role
In my example
Senior Cash and Reconciliation Administrator
Became
Deputy Team Manager / Process Improvement
Write the same details for this role as you did for your current role (As I explain above)
Being careful not to repeat the info from your summary statement (from step 2)
Instead, aim to back-up your summary statement with a little more info.
Still using clear Business Analysis language.
4.3 List previous role(s) in Chronological order (latest first)
Follow this and you WILL be able to keep your resume to just 2 pages.
DON'T go into detail for these roles.
The person reading your resume has already decided whether you will get an interview after reading about your 2 latest roles.
So don't give them more work to do for no reason.
I like to provide ONE success story from each of my earlier roles.
And write one or maximum two sentences about that particular success.
E.g.
I built strong, influential relationships across the country and obtained resources to implement a new, more efficient process for creating reports using MS Access.
Honestly, that's all you need to write.
Trust me.
It works.
Step 5: Check for GAPS in your Resume
Are there any gaps?
By which I mean.
Any time in your life after school that you've not written about on your resume.
Just explain it.
For example:
I spent 12 months working abroad as a barista
So I added this information as a Round-The-World tour on my resume in the career summary section. ' SIMPLE.
It's easy to 'big-up' your time in life.
You just need to be a bit creative.
And persistent.
Step 6: List Education / Professional (Business Analyst) Qualifications
I call this 'putting the cherry on top'.
List your qualifications in chronological order - latest first.
Have you taken any Business Analysis Certifications?
Such as.
The Full ISEB Diploma.
CBAP or CCBA
If you don't have much work experience,
Expand on your latest qualifications or degree
However.
If you have lots of work experience
DO NOT think if you expand on a Business Analysis qualification without tweaking your work experiences you will get the interview
In my experience.
Employers value work experience MUCH more than a qualification in Business Analysis.
So if you do have a lot of work experience
You DON'T need to provide much detail here.
Simply give the year, Name of Institute or school, then the name of the course and your result.
See the example below
So that's everything
Done.
Finito.
You should EASILY be able to keep your resume to just 2 pages from now on.
Step 6: Update Your LinkedIn account in-line with your new Business Analyst Resume
I reckon there's an 80% chance that a future employer will check your LinkedIn account
Or they will get someone they know to do it for them.
Here's mine:
So you cannot have major differences between your resume and LinkedIn account.
I'm specifically talking about the job titles.
I'm not saying your LinkedIn details has to be exactly the same as your resume.
It doesn't.
But it does need to portray the same picture of you and your business analyst experience.
If you tweak your job titles on your resume.
You MUST update your LinkedIn account to match.
So if the best way to do that is to copy and paste.
Then go for it.
Oh and one more tip
If you worked in a 6 month temporary role at any point
Be sure to mention it on your LinkedIn AND resume.
The bottom line for Business Analysts and their Resume's
The bottom line is this:
Always keep your resume up-to-date.
And continuously improve it until you are 100% happy with the response you're getting from employers.
Or even more so, the companies that agencies contact on your behalf.
Or even companies you contact directly.
Finally.
Be persistent with tweaking your resume and you WILL know when it is in great condition to land any number of Business Analyst interviews.
Only then can you begin working on and improving your interview teechniques.
Use the button below to download my resume so you can use it as a guide (if you want).
Thanks for yr valuable tips on how to write an effective resume. Could you also guide me on how to write a good cover letter meant for a business analyst?
Hey Sarthak,
No problem on the tips. Sure thing, If you drop me an email, maybe we can discuss.
Cheers,
Matt
Hi Matt,
just wanted to testify that this technique really works. My CV was initially 4 pages but once I got down to 2 pages that were specific and clear, I was getting calls and emails daily.
I am at a point where the calls are coming in but I haven’t converted to a live interview yet.
What am I missing????
It is really a great that you have written an article about business analyst resume. Thanks for providing these advanced tips.
Thanks Martin, glad you like it 🙂
Cheers,
Matt
Hi Matt,
I aam in need of BA cv writing service and have been searching for how to contact you.
Please see here to purchase my CV writing services.
https://www.ba-guru.com/product/resume-writing-services/
Kind regards,
Matt
Very helpful…
5 stars to u Matt…
Gr8 tips… Will surely recommend others to visit this post…
Thanks Saurabh
Many thanks for the tips Saurabh, it was very useful.
Please can you also give some tips on how to write a good personal statement for a Business Analyst application?
No problem Saurabh, The CV download does contain a personal statement which you could use as a guide :-). Cheers, Matt
I really liked this post! I read your blog constantly and
most of the time you are coming out with some outstanding stuff.
I shared this with my friends and my followers as I really loved it!
Keep up the good work 🙂
Hello, I am struggling finding a new position as a BA. I thought I had a strong resume but I am getting very limited response from employers. Can you please help me?
Hi Muhammad, I offer a writing service for just £75 see here : https://www.ba-guru.com/product/resume-writing-services/
Hi Matt,
I want to land a business analyst role and I have previous roles with business analysis capabilities but haven’t had the Business Analyst title. Question is in my Personal Statement should I mention that I am seeking and wanting to start a career as a BA? Thank you!
Hi Kian, it really depends how much BA work you were doing. Another option might be that you’re ‘looking to continue your work in Business Analysis’. Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Matt
Hello Matt
Hoping you are ok.
I’ve got a quick question re: job interview
One of the areas I’m going to be interviewed on is “ solving technical problems” I’m not sure exactly what they mean by this. Is it about problem solving skills?
I am changing my career from education to Business Analyst. I have a technical postgraduate degree but nothing that I can show relevant to the business analysis. Help me out
Are you able to assist developing a linkedin profile together with the resume writing service or with additional charge? I tried writing to your e-mail before purchasing, but my email bounced. Appreciate if you could reply. Thanks
THanks Jenny, I’ve sent you an email separately. Regards,
Matt