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Data Specialist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted Experts
Dr. Todd Wittman Ph.D.,
Dr. Shaon Ghosh
Data Specialist Example Skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical data specialist skills. We ranked the top skills for data specialists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.2% of data specialist resumes contained data analysis as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a data specialist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 data specialist skills for your resume and career

1. Data Analysis

Here's how data specialists use data analysis:
  • Provided decision support along with data analysis for the Quality Management Department and to other departments and Leadership throughout the organization.
  • Enhanced process flow through the implementation of innovative utilities that facilitated data analysis via the use of various marketing methodologies.

2. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how data specialists use data entry:
  • Performed data entry for individual personal finance applications and history * Re-arranged filing system for maintaining hard copies of aged records
  • Provided end user training, created statistical reports, performed data entry, organized and facilitated information process changes.

3. Data Collection

Data collection means to analyze and collect all the necessary information. It helps in carrying out research and in storing important and necessary information. The most important goal of data collection is to gather the information that is rich and accurate for statistical analysis.

Here's how data specialists use data collection:
  • Consulted with nonprofits to monitor grant investments including: establishing metrics, data collection, program evaluation and capacity building.
  • Instituted quality control components to comply with internal policies and federal regulations while streamlining data collection and reporting.

4. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how data specialists use customer service:
  • Maintained a positive over the phone experience for Sprint customers, and received several customer commendations for providing excellent customer service.
  • Provide excellent customer service, communicate effectively with managers and drivers, utilizing radio dispatch, and answer telephones.

5. Data Management

The administrative process that involves collecting and keeping the data safely and cost-effectively is called data management. Data management is a growing field as companies rely on it to store their intangible assets securely to create value. Efficient data management helps a company use the data to make better business decisions.

Here's how data specialists use data management:
  • Managed the grant-related data management system; conducts periodic reviews to ensure information is up-to-date, accurate and consistently generates reports.
  • Processed movement data for analysis, and assisted with writing data management protocols and institutional review board proposals.

6. Visualization

Here's how data specialists use visualization:
  • Produce interactive data visualization information focused on business intelligence, as well as provide flight load ratio, using Tableau software.
  • Worked with an on-demand services and technology company to derive insights from sample data through data visualization software Tableau.

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7. Patients

Here's how data specialists use patients:
  • Identify data variances related to abstracted topics and facilitate their improvement to ensure patients receive the best evidence-based care.
  • Provide comprehensive administrative support to ACS verified level 2 trauma center servicing approximately 2,500 patients annually.

8. Data Lake

Here's how data specialists use data lake:
  • Migrated data from ~20 legacy business systems into EMC Greenplum based Data Lake usingHVR & Talend.
  • Worked with different CDC vendors like Attunity, Streamsets for Bulk-Loading data into the Data Lake.

9. Data Quality

Here's how data specialists use data quality:
  • Work closely with other department teams to ensure and document standard operating procedures that support data quality and production efficiency.
  • Coordinated maintenance and upgrades, provided user training and monitored data quality by providing weekly reports to co-workers and supervisors.

10. Project Management

Here's how data specialists use project management:
  • Project Management of various cost savings initiatives, Business Continuity projects and Data usage/audit compliance efforts.
  • Developed policies and recommendations for improved job development, project management and implementation of career fairs.

11. Analyze Data

Analyze data or data analysis refers to the practice of studying, organizing, and transforming data to make it more useful. It also includes the cleansing of non-useful information which helps in better decision making regarding any particular matter. Analyze data is a practice that is used widely in the field of business, social sciences, and science.

Here's how data specialists use analyze data:
  • Analyze data submitted as well as business intent from Credentialed providers, and non-credentialed providers.
  • Analyze data and medical insurance contracts as well as personal provider information.

12. ETL

Here's how data specialists use etl:
  • Functioned as Business Analyst to gather user requirement and documented business processes for ETL implementation.
  • Performed ETL testing, created Unit test plan and Integration test plan to test the mappings and created the test data.

13. Statistical Analysis

Here's how data specialists use statistical analysis:
  • Perform quality control and statistical analysis on data-sets and ratings for automated and manually received certificates.
  • Gathered, consolidated, analyzed, and distributed historical data to output through statistical analysis.

14. SAS

SAS stands for Statistical Analysis System which is a Statistical Software designed by SAS institute. This software enables users to perform advanced analytics and queries related to data analytics and predictive analysis. It can retrieve data from different sources and perform statistical analysis on it.

Here's how data specialists use sas:
  • Provided quality control using SAS 70 requirements by reviewing pricing, corporate actions, and P&L related reports.
  • Shadowed Senior Leader and trained with SAS, SRC Electronic Data, and SRC file exchange database and tape directory.

15. Master Data

Master data is the consistent, cohesive identifiers and extended attributes that describe the core entities of a company, including customers, prospects, citizens, vendors, locations, hierarchies, chart of accounts, and the objects around which a business is conducted. Master data enhances and improves data quality and can help eliminate data maintenance across multiple sources. Centralizing all master data enables companies to configure dedicated data governance and compliance processes.

Here's how data specialists use master data:
  • Initiated master data clean-up activities and performed periodic data review and data cleansing, developed corrective improvement process and method.
  • Provided analysis and solutions to eliminate recurring master data issues and reconcile data sets.
top-skills

What skills help Data Specialists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on Data Specialist resumes?

Dr. Todd Wittman Ph.D.

Associate Professor, The Citadel

I would strongly recommend any mathematics major to get a good background in statistics and computer programming, even if that is not going to be their primary field of study. You can still concentrate on the topics that interest you, but it is important to diversify your skill set.

Getting involved in a research project tells a prospective employer that you have done work beyond the classroom. It shows that you can tackle a difficult problem that does not have an answer in the back of the textbook. At most colleges and universities, faculty are eager to work with bright undergraduate students on projects. Students are often intimidated by their faculty, but it does not hurt to ask. It might result in an interesting research experience, internship, or even a lead on a job after graduation.

What Data Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Shaon GhoshDr. Shaon Ghosh LinkedIn Profile

Assistant Professor of Physics, Montclair State University

Speaking for physics graduates specifically, and STEM graduates in general, I believe that the future is going to be a knowledge-based economy driven by data. It is also a sector that has been the least affected by the pandemic. If there is one skill that students should have in their repertoire, it is "technical computing skill". Note that I am intentionally not calling it "computer programming skill", which is a much more general term (encompassing anything from web-page designing to coding a new Linux operating system).

It is important that students should know how to handle and analyze large volumes of data and how to use advanced numerical and statistical techniques to produce quantitative inferences that have subjective and objective value. This is what I am referring to as technical computing skill. I am not saying that other types of programming skills will not be useful. But, if you have one year to prepare, in my opinion, this is a skill where you can invest your time to get the most benefit.

What type of skills will young Data Specialists need?

Christopher WooldridgeChristopher Wooldridge LinkedIn Profile

Director, Murray State University

In the surveys we have completed, there are some general reoccurring themes 1) pass a drug test, 2) show up on time, 3) be able to communicate (speak and write), 4) be able to think critically, and 5) tell the truth. In addition to those, the education and experience level of graduates is very important. This field continues to grow, and the competition for these positions will become more intense.

Those that can gain experience through internships and other experiential learning opportunities, while also working on an academic credentials, will have a head start for entry into this field. Both of those were considerations when Murray State University established the Masters in Economic Development as well as a certificate in ED to provide that credentialing for students in the region and beyond.

What technical skills for a Data Specialist stand out to employers?

Dr. Ferebee Tunno Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Arkansas State University

For people looking for a job in statistics (my field), it is essential to have knowledge of powerful software packages like R or SAS.

What soft skills should all Data Specialists possess?

Abraham WynerAbraham Wyner LinkedIn Profile

Professor of Statistics, University of Pennsylvania

They should be able to do basic statistical analyses on their own without running for help (summarize data, cross tabulations, basic visualizations and regression of one variable). Of course, they need to use Excel and have some programming skills so they can learn the particular tool on the job easily (if they have never programmed this is hard).

List of data specialist skills to add to your resume

Data Specialist Skills

The most important skills for a data specialist resume and required skills for a data specialist to have include:

  • Data Analysis
  • Data Entry
  • Data Collection
  • Customer Service
  • Data Management
  • Visualization
  • Patients
  • Data Lake
  • Data Quality
  • Project Management
  • Analyze Data
  • ETL
  • Statistical Analysis
  • SAS
  • Master Data
  • Excellent Interpersonal
  • Access Database
  • Java
  • SQL Server
  • Strong Analytical
  • Troubleshoot
  • Windows
  • Data Issues
  • HR
  • Math
  • SPSS
  • Salesforce
  • QC
  • SharePoint
  • Data Warehouse
  • Management System
  • Data Reports
  • ERP
  • HIPAA
  • Pivot Tables
  • QA
  • VBA
  • Data Integrity
  • GIS
  • Customer Data
  • Client Data
  • Computer System
  • Data Warehousing
  • HTML
  • Linux
  • CMS
  • R

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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