How to use this list
These are keywords that often appear in business analyst job listings. They are not a checklist to copy. Paste the actual job ad into the free score checker to see which words that employer uses, then add a keyword to your resume only if it is true for you and you can talk about it in an interview.
"Business analyst" means different things in IT and in operations. Mirror the ad's side (systems, process or data) only where your work matches.
Hard skills
- Requirements gathering
- Process mapping
- Stakeholder management
- User stories
- Gap analysis
- Data analysis
- UAT
- Business process improvement
- Documentation
- Use cases
Tools and software
- Jira
- Confluence
- Excel
- SQL
- Visio
- Lucidchart
- Power BI
- Tableau
Certifications and licences
- ECBA, CCBA or CBAP (IIBA)
- PMI-PBA (PMI Professional in Business Analysis)
- BCS Business Analysis certificates (UK)
Soft skills
- Communication
- Facilitation
- Critical thinking
- Negotiation
- Attention to detail
Soft skills land better as evidence inside a bullet ("trained 4 new hires") than as a bare list.
Using keywords honestly
- Start from your real experience. Keep a full Master CV with everything you have done.
- Mirror the ad's wording for the same thing. If you built "dashboards" and the ad says "data visualization", you can use their term because it describes your real work.
- Put proof next to the keyword. A skill inside a bullet with a result is stronger than a skill in a list.
- Leave gaps as gaps. If you have never used a tool, don't list it. Mention you're learning it only if you really are.
- Avoid stuffing and hidden text. Repeating keywords or hiding white text can get a resume rejected by the people who read it.
Ran 12 workshops with finance and operations to map the invoice approval process, and wrote the user stories for the new workflow in Jira.
This is an example of the structure (action, tool or skill, result), not a line to copy. Your bullet must use your own work and your own numbers.
Sources and more reading
- O*NET: Management Analysts (13-1111.00) (US Department of Labor task and skill data)
- How to tailor a resume without making anything up
- Keywords for other job titles
FAQ
What keywords should a business analyst resume include?
Use the keywords from the specific job ad that are true for you. Common ones for business analyst roles include Requirements gathering, Process mapping, Stakeholder management, Jira, Confluence, Excel. Check a real listing with a free score checker to see which ones that employer uses.
Should I add a keyword I do not have?
No. Only add a keyword if it is true and you can discuss it in an interview. If it is a gap, leave it out or say you are learning it, if you really are.
How many keywords should I use?
There is no magic number. Cover the required skills you really have, in context, and keep the resume readable for a person.
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