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Research Analyst skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

7 min read

Quoted Experts

Stephen A. Matthews Ph.D.,

Pooyan Kazemian Ph.D.

To be a research analyst, you need a mix of both hard and soft skills on your resume that demonstrate your effectiveness in streamlining business. For hard skills, you'll need a strong understanding of data analysis, experience conducting or managing research projects, and you'll need to show your mastery of data collection and data analysis. Those hiring you will also want to know that you are well acquainted with business procedures.

When it comes to soft skills, research analysts in general need to be strong communicators in order to portray their findings and suggestions well. They also need to ensure that they are client-focused by demonstrating their commitment to fulfilling client needs. Customer service is a surprisingly important skill for research analysts.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical research analyst skills. We ranked the top skills for research analysts based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 6.3% of research analyst resumes contained data analysis as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a research analyst needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 research analyst skills for your resume and career

1. Data Analysis

Here's how research analysts use data analysis:

Prepared data analysis for completed test records/ participants along with assisting in the preparation and refinement of audit work programs.
Provided data analysis summarizing research activities and results, and transplant outcomes analysis for IRB submissions and insurance re-certifications.

2. 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 research analysts use data collection:

Managed the execution of primary research projects from questionnaire development, supervised data collection and data tabulation, and prepared reports.
Redesigned data collection forms used by the director services contractor to submit service delivery information required by the federal funding agency.

3. Research Projects

Here's how research analysts use research projects:

Completed series of research projects which allowed company to redesign suture packaging, eliminating waste which created significant savings.
Managed qualitative and quantitative research projects, as well as writing and editing reports utilizing primary and secondary data.

4. PowerPoint

Here's how research analysts use powerpoint:

Assisted economists in preparing PowerPoint presentations, vulnerability monitors, economic outlook assessments, and staff reports for their respective countries.
Provide Russian language translation support and specialized assistance * Produce written reports and PowerPoint presentations in support of customer requirements

5. Market Research

Market research is a collective effort to collect information related to a consumer's needs and wants. It is a systematic approach that involves recording and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data. Market research helps a business to identify a target market correctly and identify the gaps in potential consumer's expectations.

Here's how research analysts use market research:

Conducted and analyzed qualitative and quantitative market research for national advertising clients of The Martin Agency and other leading advertising agencies.
Market Research project experience includes Market Sizing and Forecasting, Customer Segmentation, New Product Concept Testing, Customer Satisfaction-Importance Analysis.

6. Python

Python is a widely-known programming language. It is an object-oriented and all-purpose, coding language that can be used for software development as well as web development.

Here's how research analysts use python:

Performed data extraction and statistical analysis of legal texts using custom designed and developed Python code.
Performed statistical analyses on environmental data using Python and R statistical packages.

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7. 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 research analysts use data entry:

Processed third party authorizations and customer address and telephone update requests through daily data entry.
Performed data entry into spreadsheets and database of information located online for various computer products.

8. Statistical Analysis

Here's how research analysts use statistical analysis:

Employed quality control procedures, including statistical analysis of index levels, used to ensure integrity of data that was disseminated.
Performed statistical analysis and econometric modeling on project supporting the Social Security Administration on improving their modeling techniques regarding payment outcomes.

9. Healthcare

Healthcare is the maintenance or improvement of a person's health by the diagnosis and treatment of a person's injury, illness, or any other disease. Healthcare is a basic necessity of human life and is the responsibility of the country's government to ensure that each person gets healthcare. Providing healthcare is the job of certified health professionals that includes doctors, surgeons, nurses, and other physicians. Pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, dentistry, therapy, and health training all come under healthcare. Healthcare plays a vital role in the country's economy and its development.

Here's how research analysts use healthcare:

Determined prior authorizations for medication, Researched questions and clarified issues with patient claims and collaborated with pharmacies and healthcare provider.
Persuaded Board of Directors and senior management to implement proposals for out-of-the-box innovation that influence innovation in healthcare and wellness initiatives.

10. 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 research analysts use sas:

Developed software to readily obtain information from several internal company sources for troubleshooting metering/billing problems using SAS and Visual Basic.
Developed statistical models using SAS to forecast various indexes to support the mortgage-backed securities derivatives trading operations

11. Visualization

Here's how research analysts use visualization:

Authored and delivered presentation introducing Tableau to the advertising sales team, allowing exposure to improvements in data visualization.
Launched data visualization with Tableau environments.

12. Research Data

Here's how research analysts use research data:

Traveled to elementary schools to collect qualitative research data for use in a national study over early childhood language development.
Designed new preparedness research frameworks, preparedness research data systems in alignment with currently addressed national and state research agendas.

13. 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 research analysts use analyze data:

Manage and analyze data collected from biological, psychological, sociopolitical, and clinical aspects of substance use and related behavior.
Worked cohesively and collaboratively with other team members to effectively analyze data from various energy assets and meet project deadlines.

14. SPSS

Here's how research analysts use spss:

Leveraged SPSS to determine statistically insignificant correlation between consumers' nationalities and price expectations on certain goods.
Conducted statistical and regression analyses to determine relationships between advertising rates and market penetration using SPSS

15. SQL

Here's how research analysts use sql:

Managed SQL Server customer complaint database; developed reports documenting quality and complaint trends.
Developed an algorithm in SQL queries based on specialty pharmacy claims for early patient identification to increase enrolled members and revenue.

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What skills help Research Analysts find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on Research Analyst resumes?

Stephen A. Matthews Ph.D.

Liberal Arts Professor of Sociology, Anthropology, Demography and Geography Director, Graduate Program in Demography Faculty Director, Graduate Programs in Applied Demography Editor, Spatial Demography Associate Editor, Mathematical Population Studies, Pennsylvania State University

Our program is too broad and complex to answer this in any meaningful way (see my opening paragraph). I hope our Ph.D. graduates have both soft skills (e.g., people skills, communication (writing/speaking), team science/work skills, critical thinking skills) as well as the technical skills (e.g., data analysis, data visualization, data ethics, IRB experience, etc.). As mentioned, I also hope they are flexible and adaptive vis-a-vis other perspectives (interdisciplinary outlook).

What hard/technical skills are most important for Research Analysts?

Pooyan Kazemian Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Operations, Case Western Reserve University

It can vary based on the specific position/industry, but a working knowledge of mathematical modeling, optimization, statistical analysis, machine learning, and programming languages such as R and Python are fundamental technical skills needed for most OR Analyst positions.

What Research Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Ben Brown

Professor, Ohio State University

Always the soft skills of holding a conversation and working with people, regardless of the pandemic.

What type of skills will young Research Analysts need?

Michael Ettlinger

Director, University of New Hampshire

Analytic, communications, and political skills are all sought after. A graduate need not be highly skilled in all three to be successful. Still, even a pure public policy analyst will be more successful if they understand the political environment with which their analysis will interact and effectively communicate their research. Similarly, a communicator, or one who operates mostly in the political realm, may not need to be able to do high-level analysis. Still, they need to understand research and tell useful comments from the lousy study.

What technical skills for a Research Analyst stand out to employers?

Sya Kedzior Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Towson University

The ability to understand technical or complex scientific processes and communicate that information with the public is one of the most attractive skills for an entry-level worker to possess. Many employers may not have staff skilled in the latest GIS technologies or social media trends. While the ability to use last year's software or network via Instagram might not seem particularly novel to recent graduates, these are skills less likely to be found in the workforce of even 10 years ago. Geographers are particularly well prepared for today's workforce because they've often had coursework across the "hard" and social sciences, along with training in technical skills (usually GIS or quantitative analysis) and written and oral communication skills. Another skill in high demand today is data collection and analysis. I often talk with potential employers who want to hire people who can develop and administer a public survey, and then analyze and write up the results. That requires understanding human behavior, public communication, and different forms of data analysis. But, these are skills that can be developed in perhaps only a few classes as part of a major or minor in Geography and other cognate fields.

What soft skills should all Research Analysts possess?

Dr. DeQuan Smith

Assistant Director, Graduate Education & Career Connections, Morehouse School of Medicine

Adaptability, collaboration, learning agility, emotional intelligence, creativity, interpersonal communication, growth mindset, focus mastery, and innovation.

Do you want to know more?

List of research analyst skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a research analyst resume and required skills for a research analyst to have include:

Data Analysis
Data Collection
Research Projects
PowerPoint
Market Research
Python
Data Entry
Statistical Analysis
Healthcare
SAS
Visualization
Research Data
Analyze Data
SPSS
SQL
Customer Service
Data Management

Strong Analytical
Real Estate
Project Management
Stata
Research Studies
Research Findings
Financial Statements
Research Reports
Literature Reviews
Quantitative Research
Quantitative Data
R
Qualitative Data
Government Agencies
Qualitative Research
Research Support
Financial Analysis

MATLAB
Nielsen
Business Development
Primary Research
Quantitative Analysis
Financial Models
Pivot Tables
DOD
Due Diligence
In-Depth Research
Survey Data
Equities
Media Research
Research Results
IRB

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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