What is the most important keyword on a Data Analyst resume?

SQL. It appears in roughly 94% of Data Analyst job descriptions and is the most common ATS-screen disqualifier when missing. Put it in your top skills row AND in at least one project bullet (e.g. "Built 12 SQL dashboards reducing reporting cycle from 5 days to 4 hours").

Should I include Excel on a Data Analyst resume in 2026?

Yes — but only if the JD names it. Roughly 60% of mid-market Data Analyst JDs still require advanced Excel (pivot tables, XLOOKUP, Power Query). Senior analytics roles at FAANG-adjacent companies have largely moved past it; let the JD guide you.

How do I quantify Data Analyst impact for ATS + recruiters?

Pair every project bullet with a metric: time saved, revenue/cost impact, scale of data touched, or end-user count. "Built churn-prediction model" → "Built churn-prediction model in Python; reduced 30-day churn by 11% across 2.4M users." Numbers boost both keyword density and recruiter scan-time conversion.

Optimize your Data Analyst resume. In 60 seconds. Free.