Analytical Skills: Definition and 8 Examples for Your Resume

In this article, we explore eight key analytical skills that can enhance your resume, along with practical tips for how to show and how to improve these abilities in both your professional and personal life.

What are analytical skills?

Analytical skills refer to the ability to collect information, process it, and draw conclusions.

Highly sought after by employers, analytical skills enable you to make infomed decisions and develop creative solutions to problems.

If you’re applying for a job where analytical skills are essential, you should highlight them when you write your resume and cover letter, and discuss them during interviews.

Why are analytical skills important?

The ability to think critically and solve problems is essential in almost any field, which means demonstrating your analytical skills to employers is a great way to increase your marketability and land a job.

Analytical skills help you find trends and patterns, make accurate business predictions, and come up with creative solutions to problems.

When combined with other skills on your resume, your analytical thinking will help you better adapt and respond to challenges like changing market conditions. Being analytical helps you stay agile.

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8 analytical skills examples to include on your resume

Here are eight examples of key analytical skills to improve and advance your career:

1. Critical thinking

Critical thinking skills allow you to think clearly and rationally by understanding the logical connection between ideas. It’s a soft skill that involves analyzing all the evidence at your disposal to come to a conclusion.

According to a survey by the American Management Association, 72% of employers feel that critical thinking is an integral part of their company’s success, but only half of the respondents’ employees actually demonstrate this skill.

2. Data analysis

Data analysis is the ability to collect, organize, and interpret data. Being good at data analysis is essential for a lot of jobs because it helps you develop efficient solutions to problems.

Some examples of data analysis skills include:

• identifying patterns and trends in data
• understanding how different variables might interact
• testing hypotheses through analytical methods
• drawing conclusions from tests

With data driving decisions in nearly every industry, from finance to healthcare to marketing, employers are always looking for candidates who are skilled in data analysis.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts the number of jobs requiring data science skills will increase by about 28% through 2026 with no signs of decline in the near future, making it a great skill to have on your resume well into the future.

3. Research

Research skills are the abilities needed to find and use new information.

Research skills are valuable because they help with:

• New product development
• Identifying customer needs and wants
• Analyzing market conditions

Not only that, but having strong research skills helps you learn faster and adapt to new situations, making them useful for nearly any position.

4. Attention to detail

Attention to detail is the ability to thoroughly review and analyze information, ensuring accuracy and completeness. It involves catching small errors, inconsistencies, or gaps in data that others might overlook.

This analytical skill is essential in fields such as finance, law, healthcare, and engineering.

Employers highly value attention to detail because it minimizes costly mistakes and ensures high-quality work.

Examples of attention to detail include:

• Proofreading documents to ensure they are free of errors
• Checking data entries for accuracy
• Precisely following complex instructions
• Identifying and correcting discrepancies in financial reports or contracts

Mastering attention to detail can set you apart as someone who produces precise, reliable, and efficient work, which is crucial for long-term success in any role.

5. Problem solving

Problem solving skills allow you to identify issues and find effective solutions. Being innovative, practical, and adaptable are problem solving skills that are highly sought after by employers.

In the workplace, problem solving can take on many forms. Whether you’re resolving a conflict with a coworker, dealing with a dissatisfied customer, handling an unexpected delivery issue, using an alternative material/software, or solving an invoice-related accounting problem, being able to assess and resolve problems is a necessary skill that will always be high in demand.

Problem solving skills are important because they:

• Are highly transferable across roles and industries
• Help you handle unexpected situations
• Are used to resolve conflict
• Improve processes and SOPs

6. Troubleshooting

While similar to problem solving, troubleshooting is systematic and more technical. It involves identifying the cause of an issue in electronics and software systems and then using a method to identify a problem and identify the cause.

While troubleshooting may sound like a skill reserved for jobs in tech like software engineer or development, it’s useful for any professional using technology on a daily basis. It allows employees to quickly work through tech issues they encounter in the workplace without wasting time or resources.

7. Forecasting

Forecasting is an analytical skill that involves supporting a company’s growth and stability by predicting its cash flow. To be able to successfully make predictions, you’ll need a solid understanding of business, technical knowledge, and data management skills.

By combining these skills, you can make informed decisions ranging from analyzing market trends to planning mergers or acquisitions.

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8. Strategic planning

Strategic planning involves setting long-term goals and defining the steps needed to achieve them. This skill is critical for organizational growth, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and capitalize on opportunities.

Companies rely on professionals with strong strategic planning skills to guide decision-making and create sustainable growth. According to McKinsey & Company, organizations that practice effective strategic planning outperform their peers in terms of revenue growth and innovation.

Examples of strategic planning include:

• Developing business strategies to enter new markets
• Creating marketing plans that align with company objectives and budgeting
• Analyzing competitors and market trends to inform business decisions
• Managing resources efficiently to meet long-term goals

Strategic planning is a skill highly sought after by employers, particularly for leadership and managerial roles. It demonstrates your ability to think ahead and make decisions that position an organization for success.

How to demonstrate your analytical skills

Many employers list analysis skills as a key requirement in job postings, so it’s important to show that you have abilities they’re looking for.

Showcase your analytical skills on your resume

The first place most employers will look in your job application is your resume. That’s why if you want to prove that you have strong analytical skills, it’s essential you include examples on your resume.

The best way to showcase your analysis skills is by listing specific analytical software or tools that you’re familiar with in your resume skills section, like Tableau and Zoho Analytics.

You can also provide examples of analytical methods or processes that you’ve used in previous roles when you list work experience on your resume, like efficiency ratio analysis and data cleaning. Show how you’re capable of handling unexpected situations and challenges by listing situations like this on your resume.

The following example shows this financial analyst demonstrating their analytical abilities in their resume summary:

In this example the candidate clearly explains why they’re a good fit for the job and highlights some of their most impressive accomplishments related to their analytical skills.

In the following math teacher resume example, the educator lists analytical skills in action in the work experience section:

Show your analytical skills on your cover letter

Your cover letter is the perfect place to provide more in-depth examples of how you used your analytical skills at work.

A good way to demonstrate your analysis skills in your cover letter is by providing an example of a time when you used your analytical skills to solve a problem or make an important decision.

For example, in this excerpt from a business analyst cover letter, the candidate puts forward their analytical expertise:

This candidate highlights their analytical skills throughout their cover letter by detailing their responsibilities in their current role, as well as sharing details about their reputation at work.

Demonstrate your analytical skills during an interview

Questions related to analytical ability frequently come up during interviews. Prepare and practice answers to commonly-asked interview questions like the following:

• Can you describe your problem solving process?
• Describe a time when you were given a data-heavy problem. How did you handle the situation?
• How do you go about finding trends in data?
• What is your experience with statistical analysis?
• How comfortable are you working with large data sets?

By preparing convincing answers that display your analysis skills you can quickly show employers that you have the expertise they’re looking for.

How to improve your analytical skills

Not confident in your analytical skills? Here are a few tips to help you develop your analysis skills:

1. Practice thinking critically: When you collect and organize information, take a step back and evaluate it.
2. Ask questions: This will help you develop a better understanding of the issue at hand and also train your brain to think more analytically and approach problems from different angles.
3. Develop your analytical ability outside of a professional setting: Practice your skills outside of work by using brain-training apps and games like Sudoku, crossword puzzles, board games, or chess.
4. Conduct research: Stay on top of trends and best practices in your industry. Improving your subject-matter knowledge will lead to faster problem-solving.
5. Take on leadership roles: These roles will give you opportunities to put your analysis skills to the test and improve them even further to refine intuitive decision making. For example, you could volunteer to lead a project or take on a leadership role in a community organization.
6. Break down complex problems: Instead of getting overwhelmed by a large issue, break it into smaller, manageable parts. Analyze each part individually and then see how they relate to the bigger picture. This methodical approach sharpens your analytical thinking.
7. Ask for feedback: Ask colleagues or supervisors to provide feedback on your decision-making and problem-solving processes. Constructive criticism can help you identify areas for improvement and offer insights into how you approach analysis.
8. Engage in continuous learning: Take courses, attend workshops, or pursue certifications in relevant areas like data analysis, critical thinking, or strategic planning. This formal education can strengthen your analytical skills and apply them in your field.

More skills-related resources for your resume

Here are more skills-related resources to help you write your resume.

• HR skills
• Sales associate skills
• Medical assistant skills
• Graphic design skills
• CNA skills
• Accounting skills
• Receptionist skills
• Child care skills
• Nursing skills
• Server skills
• Cashier skills
• Teacher skills
• Customer service skills
• Transferable skills
• Hard skills vs soft skills
• Soft skills
• Hard skills
• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• People skills

Frequently asked questions about analytical skills

We’ve answered some common questions about analytical skills below:

Can I include analytical skills if I don’t have formal experience?

Yes. You can include examples from internships, school projects, volunteer work, or personal projects where you applied analytical thinking. For instance, handling research or analyzing data during a university project would count as an example.

Should I list software or tools related to analytical skills?

Yes, you should list any software or tools related to your analytical skills. Many analytical roles require specific software skills. If you’re proficient in tools like Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau, R, or Google Analytics, list them in your resume to demonstrate technical proficiency.

What if the job description doesn’t specifically ask for analytical skills?

Many jobs inherently require analytical thinking, even if it’s not explicitly listed.

Look for key terms in the job description like “problem-solving,” “decision-making,” “data-driven,” or “strategic thinking” that signal the need for analytical skills. Then tailor your resume to reflect those needs.