business analyst cover letter examples

Becoming a business analyst requires a strong soft skill set. A business analyst cover letter is an opportunity to show employers that you have effective written communication skills in addition to analytical expertise.

Cover letters can also help you showcase how your skills could apply to a business’s needs. A cover letter provides a great way to summarize the most important elements of your business analyst resume.

Below, you’ll find out everything you need to include in your cover letter. You can also download our free template to save time when creating your letter.

When writing a cover letter for a business analyst position, show your hard and soft skills. Below are some tips you can use to display those skills:

Focus on important business analyst skills

Hard skills are specific abilities born from your expertise. For a business analyst, here are some general hard skills you should reference in your letter:

• Data analytics
• Proficiency with computers
• Research skills
• Developing use cases and diagrams
• Microsoft Excel and SQL

Take some time to look through our list of remote business analyst jobs to see what employers look for. Job posters usually show the most important skills businesses want at the top. An IT business analyst cover letter will highlight different skills than that of other kinds of analysts.

Show your contribution (not your team’s)

When talking about your hard skills, it’s best to explain how you applied them to specific jobs and situations. However, you should be careful to focus on what you brought to the team, not on what your team brought to the business.

If you can, describe your contribution with specific, measurable metrics. For example, a report along with suggestions for improvement you provided increased the efficiency of meetings by 20 minutes.

While the team’s contributions sound more impressive, employers don’t care what your ex-coworkers did — they want to hear from you.

Display your soft skills

Soft skills refer to your interpersonal skills. These days, the ability to communicate is paramount. Thankfully, a cover letter is the perfect place to start.

Cover letters provide an opportunity to display your written communication skills. Writing clear, concise, and focused information is crucial. After all, when you write reports and recommendations, those skills will come in handy.

Make sure each individual paragraph has a purpose. Typically, you’ll want this breakdown:

• The first paragraph should be an introduction.
• The second and third paragraph show your experience and education.
• The last paragraph affirms your passion for the field and business.

Use the hiring manager’s name

In your introduction, you might be tempted to rely on that “to whom it may concern” line. This line is too formal and won’t appeal to your potential employer. Instead, use the hiring manager’s name.

Referring to the hiring manager by name will draw their attention. Do some research to find out their name. If that’s not an option, saying “Dear Recruiter” works in a pinch.

Provide your reasons for applying

When applying for a job, employers often look for why you are applying. Your cover letter should answer that question.

Usually, the best reason for seeking a new job is that you want a better fit. The companies or positions you apply for should fill you with excitement and passion. If the positions you look at don’t make you excited, take a step back to reevaluate what you want.

Show your passion in the cover letter by sharing how you admire the company. If the company isn’t known for much, focus your passion on what you do. Passion is a big part of what draws employers to the best talent.

Writing a cover letter as a senior-level business analyst

When writing as a senior business analyst, the tips above still apply. However, you’ll need to make your points stronger.

Note that seniors in any position have 10 or more years under their belt. So it’s like writing a senior business analyst cover letter with experience. You can focus on your education as well, but only if it is compelling (like having an MBA).

People hunting senior analysts also look for excellent communication skills. Here are a few hard/soft skills you can share in your cover letter:

• Deep business understanding
• Strong leadership skills
• Managing client expectations
• Excellent technical skills

Soft skills are just as important as hard skills, if not more. Have a fellow analyst review your cover letter before you submit it. Another set of eyes can identify major errors.

Try to stay calm and collected, as you write best when relaxed. Once you get through with this, you can start doing research on business analyst interview questions.

Below is a quick example of a cover letter for a business analyst position. You should also download our free template for a more detailed version.

Now that you know how to write a cover letter for a business analyst position (senior or otherwise), you can use these newfound skills on us. Use the tips from this list to apply for one of our jobs at EPAM Anywhere.