Is SQL or Python more important for a data analyst resume?

SQL. It appears in the large majority of data analyst job postings, ahead of Python, and is considered the one non-negotiable skill. If your resume buries SQL, move it to the top of your skills section.

Should I include a GitHub or portfolio link?

Yes, especially as a fresher or career switcher. Many interview-stage data analyst resumes link a GitHub profile or include a dedicated projects section showing dashboards or analyses, which gives hiring managers proof beyond a list of tools.

How many skills should a data analyst list?

Group skills by category (query languages, visualization, methods) rather than a flat list. The median data analyst resume lists around 21 skills, but relevance to the specific job description matters more than the total count.

How long should a data analyst resume be?

Two pages or under is standard, with a median around one and a half pages and about four work entries. Keep it to your most relevant, quantified experience.

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Data Analyst Resume Example (2026)

Q: What should a data analyst resume include?

A data analyst resume should include SQL as the top priority skill, Python or R, a visualization tool (Power BI or Tableau), a projects or portfolio section with a GitHub link, and measurable results such as time saved, accuracy improved, or revenue impact.

By the TheGreatCV editorial team · Last updated 27 August 2026 · 7 min read

Short answer: a strong data analyst resume leads with SQL (the one non-negotiable skill), backed by Python and a visualization tool (Power BI or Tableau), a projects/portfolio section with a GitHub link, and results measured in time saved, accuracy improved, or revenue impact. Full example below.

71%

(cite index="43-1">of data analyst job postings require SQL — well ahead of Python at 46% — making it the one skill your resume should never bury.

What recruiters look for

(cite index="43-1">SQL first, then Python; communication actually outranks Python, appearing in 55% of postings, because employers want analysts who can explain a chart to someone who will never write a query.
(cite index="43-1">Analysts who "show their work" — 36% of interview-stage resumes link a GitHub profile and 52% include a projects section.
(cite index="49-1">Measurable results such as time saved, reporting accuracy improved, revenue increased, or costs reduced — not just a list of tools.
(cite index="50-1">The specific tool named in the job description, not a generic "data visualization" — if the job emphasises Tableau, your bullets should show Tableau work in depth.

Complete data analyst resume example

A Data Analyst profile with 3.5 years' experience — open it in the builder to edit every field.

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Rohan Verma

Data Analyst

+91 98xxx xx463 | rohan.verma@email.com | Gurugram, India | github.com/rohanverma

Professional Summary

Data Analyst with 3.5 years of experience turning raw data into decisions using SQL, Python and Power BI. Built dashboards that cut manual reporting effort by 50% and surfaced insights that lifted campaign ROI by 18%.

Skills

Languages & Query: SQL, Python (Pandas, NumPy), Excel (Power Query, Pivot Tables)

Visualization: Power BI, Tableau, Google Data Studio

Methods: A/B Testing, Cohort Analysis, Dashboard Development, Data Cleaning

Work Experience

Data Analyst — Vertex Retail AnalyticsJul 2022 – Present

Gurugram

Built and automated 12 Power BI dashboards, cutting manual reporting effort by 50%
Analysed campaign performance data, surfacing insights that lifted marketing ROI by 18%
Wrote SQL queries against a 40M-row warehouse to support weekly leadership reporting
Partnered with product and marketing teams to translate business questions into data models

Junior Data Analyst — Vertex Retail AnalyticsJun 2021 – Jun 2022

Gurugram

Cleaned and validated datasets for 5 recurring reports, reducing errors by 30%
Supported A/B tests on the checkout flow, contributing to a 6% conversion lift

Projects

E-commerce Sales Dashboard (Portfolio)SQL, Python, Tableau

Built an end-to-end pipeline analysing 2 years of e-commerce sales data
Published an interactive Tableau dashboard highlighting seasonal demand patterns

Education

B.Sc. Statistics — University of Delhi · 78%2018 – 2021

Certifications

Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate — 2023
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300) — 2024

Languages

English, Hindi

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Skills to include, by category

Languages & QuerySQLPythonRExcel (Power Query)

VisualizationPower BITableauLookerGoogle Data Studio

MethodsA/B TestingCohort AnalysisData CleaningDashboard Development

(cite index="48-1">The skills section should be a scannable list organized by category, not a wall of comma-separated keywords — ATS parsers look for exact tool names, and recruiters look for recognizable stacks.

Certifications worth listing

(cite index="47-1">Certifications such as the Google Data Analytics Certificate or Microsoft's PL-300 help candidates stand out, especially when paired with a portfolio of real analysis projects.

Common mistakes to avoid:

Burying SQL below Python or visualization tools
Listing "data visualization" instead of naming Power BI or Tableau specifically
No projects section or GitHub link, especially as a fresher
Heavy graphics, unusual fonts or tables that break ATS parsing

Fresher or switching into data? (cite index="49-1">Add relevant projects, dashboards, GitHub links or portfolio work — a strong personal project can substitute for full-time experience early on.

Frequently asked questions

What should a data analyst resume include?

SQL first, Python, a visualization tool, a projects/portfolio section with GitHub, and measurable results.

SQL or Python — which matters more?

SQL. It's the one non-negotiable skill and appears in far more job postings than Python.

Should I include a GitHub link?

Yes, especially as a fresher or career switcher — it's common among interview-stage resumes.

How many skills should I list?

Group them by category (query, visualization, methods) rather than a long flat list; relevance beats quantity.

How long should it be?

Two pages or under, roughly 1.5 pages with about 4 work entries is typical.

Your next step

Open the example above, swap in your own stack, projects and results, then download a clean PDF.

Build your data analyst resume free →

About this guide: written by the TheGreatCV team, who build free resume tools used by analysts worldwide. The example is illustrative — replace it with your own real experience and numbers.