Business Analyst Cover Letter Guide & Tips

This article will examine the art of writing a Business Analyst cover letter. It will also include some tips for drafting a professional, attention-grabbing cover letter, as well as some examples of strong cover letters that can be used as templates.

How to Write a Business Analyst Cover Letter

A cover letter is the aspiring Business Analyst’s chance to explain to an employer why they are not only well-suited for the job but why they’re the candidate most suited for it. A strong cover letter plays an integral role in the job application process. It can be considered as a supplement to a strong resume. Together, these two documents showcase an applicant’s most notable work experience, educational endeavors, professional achievements, and job-specific skills, such as training with Excel or SQL. 

An attention-grabbing cover letter in business analytics is specific. It highlights an applicant’s most relevant or timely skills and training, with an eye toward those most valued by the employer. At the same time, it offers a more personal introduction than can be provided in the resume. It leaves the hiring committee wanting to learn more about the applicant.

What to Include in a Business Analyst Cover Letter

Those working on Business Analyst cover letters may consider adding the following components:

A heading

One way to establish consistency in a job application package is to use the same font, style, and headings on each submitted document. For example, the heading used on a Business Analyst’s resume can also be used on their cover letter, as well as other supplementary materials. This also ensures that if the cover letter is separated from the resume, the hiring committee will still know which applicant’s letter they are reading. 

The heading should be at the top of each page. It should include the applicant’s full name, email address, and phone number. In addition, some applicants choose to include a link to their LinkedIn profile or website. 

Customization

As its name conveys, a cover letter is a letter. If possible, it should be addressed to the hiring manager by name. While some job applicants may be tempted to write a generic cover letter, and then tweak it slightly when submitting it to different Business Analyst positions, most hiring committees will easily spot the tactic. Instead, a cover letter is an applicant’s chance to impart their passion and excitement for the position. It must be unique to that organization and that specific position. It’s essential, therefore, for those writing business analytics cover letters to research the company to which they are applying and tailor their cover letter to the skills found in the job description.

Most recent professional responsibilities

One of the most important requirements for being a successful Business Analyst is to remain up-to-speed on any current technological and business advancements. The cover letter provides an opportunity for a Business Analyst to discuss their most recent employment and any opportunities it afforded them to stay current on business and technological developments. The applicant may discuss their prior dealing with managers, technicians, and clients, or any new processes they helped bring into the organization.

Education/professional qualifications

Although the resume lists a Business Analyst’s educational and professional history, the cover letter provides an opportunity to expand on these topics. For example, if an applicant completed a particularly useful course during MBA studies, the cover letter can be used to explore what skills were learned, as well as how they have made the candidate more qualified for the current position. 

Call to action

The final component of a strong business analytics cover letter is a conclusion paragraph that includes a call to action. In this paragraph, the job applicant often thanks the recruiter or hiring committee for spending time reviewing their application. In addition, this paragraph also often includes a call to action in which the applicant expresses that they look forward to hearing back from them at their convenience about an interview. 

5 Business Analyst Cover Letter Tips

Include a strong opening

The job market can be quite competitive for Business Analysts. In order for a hiring manager to notice a qualified Business Analyst amid hundreds of applications, it’s important to begin the cover letter with a strong, attention-grabbing introduction. This is a good chance for the applicant to highlight their qualifications, experience or skills. For those who are new to business analytics and don’t have extensive professional experience, the opening paragraph can detail a brief discussion of an applicant’s excitement about the company and position, and provide details about their education and business-related skills.

Focus on the cover letter

Hiring managers sometimes read hundreds of cover letters for one job posting. They are much more likely to stay engaged with a cover letter that is short, direct, and clearly written. One page is usually more than enough space to write a strong cover letter. Instead of listing every business-related achievement since undergraduate study, an aspiring Business Analyst should instead choose one or two projects that highlight the position’s requirements. The more an applicant can draw connections between the work they’ve completed and how it directly benefitted their organization, the more effective their cover letter will be. If possible, numbers, data, and key performance indicators can be included to support any accomplishments mentioned in the cover letter.

Be specific

It’s effective when writing a business analytics cover letter for the applicant to specifically (and briefly) describe any skills, training, education, and achievements they have acquired that other candidates may not have. Instead of using general statements such as “I am a team player” or “I learned many helpful skills during my undergraduate study,” it’s better to show specifics. How was the applicant a team player? How did their teamwork contribute specifically to their prior employer’s success? And, what specific projects were completed during undergraduate work that helped the applicant acquire business skills? Adding quantifiers to help anchor these statements is an effective way to discuss prior academic and professional contributions.

Proofread

Business analytics requires attention to detail. So too, does writing a successful cover letter. However, it can be difficult for a writer to spot errors in their own work. For this reason, it’s imperative to reach out to others to proofread the letter to ensure it’s completely free of any grammatical, spelling, or stylistic errors. 

In addition to proofreading the cover letter for grammar, the applicant should also double-check that they have spelled the hiring manager’s name correctly and that they have the exact name of the business or organization. Misspelling the employer’s name can disqualify an otherwise strong cover letter.

Don’t be afraid to make it personal

The cover letter is the Business Analyst’s chance to let their personality come across to the hiring committee. Although it should remain professional in tone, expressing passion for the field of business analytics, as well as excitement about the organization, can distinguish an applicant from those in the pool who have drafted generic cover letters. 

The cover letter should be viewed as a supplement to the resume, as well as a means to extrapolate on the points covered there. In some ways, a cover letter tells the story, whereas a resume presents basic, bare facts. 

Get Started Learning Business Analytics by Enrolling in Hands-on Classes

Business analytics is currently an in-demand profession around the U.S. For those who are interested in breaking into this field, courses are currently available for students looking to brush up on their business and analytic skills. Noble Desktop’s Business Analyst Certificate is a great learning option for any aspiring Business Analyst. Relevant tools and skills such as data analysis, Excel, Tableau, and SQL are covered in this program. Those enrolled in this intensive course can elect to study online or in person in Manhattan. This class comes with the option of a free retake for learners who wish to revisit course material. 

Noble also offers a Data Analytics Certificate that covers core skills for aspiring Business Analysts or Data Analysts, such as statistical analysis, data visualization, and business intelligence. 

In addition, a great resource for finding business analytics classes close to home is Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. It can be used to search more than 250 live online and in-person business analytics courses currently available in topics such as SQL, PowerPoint, and Excel for Business, among others.