1. WELCOME TO MODULE 4 OF WRITING IT RESUMES!
In this module, we're focusing on business analysts.
Think of business analysts as company sleuths. These professionals leverage data to benefit businesses positively.
For example, the primary goals of analysts are to:
- Analyze & Report Performance Gaps
- Identify & Report on Trends & Patterns
- Deter Risks & Complications
- Strengthen Staff Performance, Business Processes & Systems
Business analysts help business decision-makers solve known and unknown problems and make better decisions to improve efficiency, use of resources, overall performance, costs, and revenue.
Most often, business analysts fall under the IT umbrella. Analysts can support the entire business operation, one or more departments (e.g., finance, human resources, or purchasing), or be project-specific.
The job title can vary too, although the tasks tend to be much the same or very similar, despite the title.
For example, job titles very much like business analysts include:
- Business Intelligence Specialist
- Business Systems Analyst
- Business Analytics Analyst
- BI & Reporting Analyst
- Business Analyst I/II/III (Entry-Level to Advanced)
- Data Specialist
- HR Technology Analyst
2. TOOLS & SOFTWARE FOR BUSINESS ANALYSTS
Analysts use various software to achieve their end goals, starting by collecting and analyzing common data points pulled from multiple internal sources, such as the company's customer management, sales, and accounting software.
As businesses grow and expand, sophisticated business analysts leverage more sophisticated tools, leveraging API integrations for consistent real-time data monitoring and artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for automation and time savings.
Business analysis can get rather complex, so many tools are available for analysts to assist with gathering, planning, analyzing, and visualizing data.
Popular tools used by business analysts include:
- CRM Tools (Pipedrive, Zoho, Salesforce)
- Flowcharts & Diagramming (LucidChart, Visio, Creately)
- Project Management (Jira, Confluence, Trello)
- Data Visualization (Qlik, Tableau, Spotfire)
- Advanced Analytics (KISSmetrics, Woopra, Amplitude)
3. KEYWORDS FOR BUSINESS ANALYSTS
Actionable Insights
Adhoc Reporting
Agile Work Environment
Business Insights
Business Intelligence & Reporting
Business Intelligence Landscape
Business Needs Assessments
Business Process Optimization
Business Process Reviews
Business Process Roadmapping
Business Processes & Technology
Business Workflows
Competition Analysis
Continuous Data Improvements
Cost & Benefit Analysis
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Data Analysis & Maturity
Data Analysis Software
Data Gathering & Analysis
Data Migrations
Data Modeling
Data Quality/Reliability
Data Queries
Data Reductions & Streamlining
Data Source Connections
Database Development
Descriptive Analytics
End-to-End Workflow Analysis
Enterprise Data & Analytics
Feasibility Assessments
Financial Modeling
Full Data Stacks
Gap & Performance Analysis
Issue Identification & Resolution
IT Automation & Modernization
Metric Analysis & Conversions
Micro & Macro Data
Multi-Department Analysis
Multi-Source Data Collection
Multivariate Analysis
Operational Metrics
Operational Performance Measures
Presentation Development
Process Advancements
Process Analysis
Productivity Needs
Program Metrics
Project Management
Project Planning
Quantitative & Qualitative Data
Real-Time Dashboards & Reports
Root Cause Analysis
Solution Design & Configuration
Solution Development & Implementation
Solution Impact
Staffing Levels & Requirements
Strategy Development
System Configuration & Workflows
System Refinement
Team Strategy & Performance
Trend Identification
Trending & Performance Data
Workflow Charts
Workflow Diagrams
4. CERTIFICATIONS
- Agile Methodology Certification
- Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
- Certified Cybersecurity Analysis (CCA)
- PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PBA)
- SimpliLearn Business Analyst Masters Program
- ITIL Certification
- Six Sigma Certification
The International Institute of Business Analysis is a leading organization for business analysts.
5. WRITING ACHIEVEMENTS
Despite business analysts directly impacting company financials and successes, we rarely can tie those to specific dollar increases and percentages like we can with other job roles.
This is what makes writing resumes for IT professionals different from other job roles. When we write resumes for those in the IT space, we ask the right questions to uncover achievements, yet we oftentimes find them unable to elaborate on specific results. For example, how their actions supported revenue increases, added new sales, and saved overhead.
Although you may not be able to tie numbers to their actions, you can introduce achievements of sorts to their resumes. You do this in part by ensuring you write IN DETAIL about:
- Positive outcomes that have resulted
- Continuous improvements that have been introduced
- Business needs and challenges resolved
You may also be able to connect the dots between what your client has done and the company's overall performance.
For example, a business analyst focused on HR financials and performance could have impacted overhead costs.
Broadened HR insights that compared cost-per-hire, time-to-fill, turnover, and retention rates against typical industry standards. Provided HR with the information needed to reduce hiring costs by 13%.
Your goal as a resume writer should be to look for ways to connect the client's actions to a positive outcome in the company. We further set our clients apart as resume writers from other candidates by showing client results.
