-
Career
-

A Guide to Writing A Business Analyst CV and Cover Letter

By
Kenneth Gray

Business Analyst CV Writing:

Heading: 

  • Contact Information: Your name, phone number, professional email address, LinkedIn profile and city or location. 

Summary of Professional Experience:

  • A brief 2-3 sentence overview of your years of experience, areas of expertise, and value proposition. For instance, "detail-oriented Business Analyst with 5+ years of experience in the finance sector, skilled in data analytics and stakeholder management."

Skills Section:

Showcase both technical and soft skills:
  • Technical Skills: Data analytics tools (such as SQL, Power BI and Tableau), process modelling tools, UML, and others relevant to the sector or role.
  • Soft Skills: Communication, stakeholder management, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Professional Experience:

For each position:
  • Job Title: Your title, the name of your company, and the dates you worked there.
  • Responsibilities: 3-5 bullet points. Begin with strong action verbs and quantify your accomplishments where possible. For example, "collaborated with a team of 10 to redesign internal data management processes, resulting in a 20% efficiency boost."

Education and extras:

  • Formal qualifications: Degrees achieved, institution names, graduation years.
  • Certifications: Examples include BCS Business Analysis foundation, practitioner and any domain-specific certifications.
  • Awards and Honours: Recognitions that can help you advance professionally.
  • Languages Available: This is especially important if the job necessitates interaction with worldwide teams.

Creating a Cover Letter:

Address it Properly:

Find out who the hiring manager will be and address them by name. If this is not possible, address the hiring manager in general.

Introduction:

Begin with a powerful statement about the BA position you're applying for and a summary of your qualifications.

Body (1-2 paragraphs):

  • Explain why you're the right person for the job, citing relevant experiences or projects. 
  • Talk about how your skills match up with the company's goals and values

Summary:

Reiterate your interest in the role and explain your desire to discuss the opportunity further with them.

Signature:

Sign off with "Sincerely" or "Kind regards," followed by your complete name.

Tips to Stand Out:

  • Personalise Your CV and Cover Letter: Keep general applications to a minimum. Customise your CV and cover letter for each position, highlighting relevant experiences and skills.
  • Quantify Achievements: Numbers give context. Rather than "managed a project," say "managed a project with a £500,000 budget that increased efficiency by 25%."
  • Remain Current: Show that you're up to date on the latest technologies, techniques, and best practises, especially in tech-driven industries.
  • Showcase Soft Skills: Technical ability is required, but soft skills can set you apart. These skills, whether in conflict resolution, facilitation, team collaboration, or negotiating, are crucial for a BA.
  • Review: A BA must have a keen eye for detail. Make certain that your CV and cover letter are free of typos and grammatical problems.

In conclusion:

The appropriate CV and cover letter will help you standout in a sea of Business Analyst hopefuls. They demonstrate not only your qualifications but also your ability to speak effectively and pay attention to detail, both of which are essential for a Business Analyst. You'll be well on your way to getting that sought after BA role if you tailor, quantify, and revise your application materials.