Business Intelligence Analyst Resume Skills (With Examples)

Updated 25 February 2023

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Business intelligence analysts use data and other information to enable organisations in making informed business decisions. These analysts work on determining business-critical requirements and priorities, implementing data warehouse (DW) strategies, defining key performance indicators (KPIs) and identifying business intelligence (BI) using advanced tools and software. If you are looking at building a career as a business intelligence analyst, it is important for you to understand what are the various skills that business intelligence analysts possess and how you may improve these skills yourself.

In this article, we discuss the definition of business intelligence analyst resume skills, list six such skills, look at a few steps to help you improve them, see ways you may use them in the workplace and review effective means to highlight them during the job application process.

Please note that none of the companies, organisations or institutions mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.

What Are Business Intelligence Analyst Resume Skills?

Business intelligence analyst resume skills are those important skills that you can include in your resume when you are writing your resume to apply to the position of a business intelligence analyst. These skills include both technical skills, which you may develop through training and education, and soft skills, which you may develop and enhance throughout your professional career. Including the right skills on your resume is very important to show the hiring managers you are the right candidate for the position and improve your chances of getting shortlisted for the interview.

Examples Of Business Intelligence Analyst Resume Skills

Below are six important business intelligence analyst skills you may include in your resume:

Data analysis

Business intelligence analysts primarily interpret a large amount of data and information, so analysis of data is an important skill to have in this field. They examine different data sources and realise connections between these data sources. They do this to draw conclusions accurately based on the data they analyse.

Data tools

A business intelligence analyst uses different tools for accessing, analysing and visualising data. They might use structured query language (SQL), a programming language that helps analysts in querying databases and pulling the data and information they require. Some other tools and programs that a business intelligence analyst may use are Power BI and Tableau. These tools help them in pulling data from various sources and producing visualisations, like graphs.

Programming

Programming is an important skill for business intelligence analysts as it helps them in creating scripts and automating data-based functions, like modifying or locating specific data. These skills can also help them in managing their tasks well and expedite their workflows. Programming languages like Python and SQL are some of the commonly used tools and programs in business intelligence.

Business acumen

Business acumen is the ability to handle and understand different business circumstances and plan strategies accordingly to generate positive outcomes. A business intelligence analyst offers solutions as per the data they interpret. So for them, business acumen may be helpful in devising helpful solutions and establishing proper metrics for measurement of improvements.

Critical thinking

Thinking critically helps business intelligence analysts in processing information so that they can recognise the implications, potential applications or connections for the data they are analysing. For instance, using the information on sales, client satisfaction and cycle times, an analyst can make informed conclusions about their interconnectedness. Such conclusions can be very useful for organisations to improve their business functions and increase their operational efficiency and revenue.

Attention to details

When working with data, a highly skilled and knowledgeable business intelligence analyst can identify minute details in the data that can be useful insights for the company for which they work. The ability to find such details in the data can help improve the overall accuracy of business intelligence reports. This leads to insights of better quality and overall more benefits for the organisation.

How To Improve Your Business Intelligence Analyst Skills?

Here are a few steps that may help you in improving your business intelligence analyst skills:

1. Earn certifications

Certifications can prove helpful for improving your skills and knowledge as a business intelligence analyst. There are different certifications available that you may opt for per your requirements. These certifications may help you in improving yourself in different programming languages, visualisation techniques and data tools that can help you enhance your business data analysis efficiency.

2. Attend training courses

There are many training courses available both offline and online that you may attend to learn to program or the basics of various data tools. These courses are available for different experience levels and allow you to learn the basics if you are new or the advanced concepts if you have prior knowledge or experience.

Online courses also offer flexibility in terms of you being able to choose when you do the coursework and how much time you spend every day. This makes it possible to attend the course even if you have other commitments and time constraints because of professional or personal reasons.

3. Keep yourself updated

As technology continues to advance, there are innovations in techniques of doing data analyses, programming and data visualisation. This makes it very important that you keep yourself updated with the latest trends to remain relevant in the industry. Continuous education, renewing your certifications regularly and attending seminars may help you in making sure that your skills stay relevant and you maintain your competence in the field.

Business Intelligence Analyst Skills In The Workplace

You may use the below tips to help you maximise your business intelligence analyst skills:

Be receptive to feedback. Being receptive to feedback from your clients and your colleagues and superiors is very important. They can give you the advice to help you improve your overall performance in your job.
Ask questions. When you are learning a new technology or tool, it is advisable to ask questions about the different techniques and correct practices. Seeking assistance from more experienced colleagues or peers can help you in mastering the tools quickly and becoming better at work.

Ways To Highlight Business Intelligence Analyst Skills

Here are a few ways you can communicate your business intelligence analyst skills to the hiring managers:

On a resume and cover letter

When you include your business intelligence analyst skills in your resume, it is important that you take care of a few important considerations. The first thing you may focus on is to make sure that your resume is suitable for the various applicant tracking software tools that many companies use for shortlisting resumes. You may do this by including keywords from the job description in your resume in relevant sections. Make sure your technical skills section matches the requirements in the job description.

You can include your achievements from your past jobs that show how the skills you mentioned helped you to perform effectively at your job. Use action verbs to highlight your achievements in your resume. You may even mention your skills in your cover letter as well, alongside your resume. Including your skills and explaining how they have helped you previously in the work experience section may give you an opportunity to show why you are suitable for the role.

During an interview

A job interview offers you a more personalised opportunity to convey your abilities and skills to potential employers. It is helpful to arrive for an interview fully prepared to discuss how your abilities and skills fit the requirements of the organisation. Before coming for the interview, it is advisable to think of specific examples that demonstrate your proficiency in using these skills to be efficient at the role. These examples may help the interviewers in understanding your potential as a business intelligence analyst.