What does a Operations Research Analyst do?

Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decisionmaking, policy formulation, or other managerial functions. Day to day that includes work like present the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users and Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests.

What skills should a Operations Research Analyst put on a resume?

O*NET rates Mathematics, Complex Problem Solving, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Reading Comprehension among the most important skills for this occupation. Name the ones that are genuinely yours and show where you used them. A resume that lists skills you do not have is weaker than one that lists fewer.

What software should a Operations Research Analyst list?

Software recorded for this occupation includes A mathematical programming language AMPL, Amazon Redshift, Apache Hadoop, Apache Hive, and Apache Pig. Applicant tracking systems match on the exact product name, so write the tool as the posting writes it rather than describing it in general terms.

What other job titles cover Operations Research Analyst work?

O*NET records 40 titles for this occupation, including Analytical Strategist, Ops Research Analyst, Operations Research Scientist, and Ops Research Scientist. Searching only your own job title hides most of the openings you could apply to.

What qualifications does a Operations Research Analyst need?

In O*NET's survey of people doing this job, 43% reported their level of education as "Master's Degree". That is what current postholders reported, not a requirement any single employer sets.

Will this resume pass an ATS for a Operations Research Analyst role?

No tool outside an employer can tell you how that employer's system is configured, including ours. What you can control is that the resume parses cleanly, names the work in the words the posting uses, and does not claim anything you cannot back up.

Operations Research Analyst resume example

A resume for a Operations Research Analyst needs to show the work itself: formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decisionmaking, policy formulation, or other managerial functions. Day to day that means work like this: present the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users; define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests. Recruiters and applicant tracking systems both read for the tasks and tools this role actually involves, so the strongest resume names them in your own experience rather than describing the job in the abstract. Below are the tasks O*NET records for this occupation, the software and tools it uses, the titles it is advertised under, and the skills worth naming if they are genuinely yours.

Also advertised as

The same job is posted under many titles. Searching only your own job title hides most of the openings you could apply to.

Analytical Strategist
Ops Research Analyst
Operations Research Scientist
Ops Research Scientist
Researcher
Advanced Analytics Associate
Decision Analyst
Optimization Analyst
Ops Analyst
Ops Specialist
Ops Support Specialist
Research Tech
Sales Ops Analyst
Analytics Consultant
Business Analyst
Business Operations Analyst
Business Process Analyst
Decision Support Analyst

O*NET records 40 titles for this occupation in total.

What this work actually involves

Tasks recorded for this occupation, in O*NET's words. If your experience covers one of these, it belongs on your resume in your own words.

Present the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users.
Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests.
Perform validation and testing of models to ensure adequacy, and reformulate models, as necessary.
Prepare management reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions.
Collaborate with others in the organization to ensure successful implementation of chosen problem solutions.
Formulate mathematical or simulation models of problems, relating constants and variables, restrictions, alternatives, conflicting objectives, and their numerical parameters.
Observe the current system in operation, and gather and analyze information about each of the component problems, using a variety of sources.
Analyze information obtained from management to conceptualize and define operational problems.
Study and analyze information about alternative courses of action to determine which plan will offer the best outcomes.
Collaborate with senior managers and decision makers to identify and solve a variety of problems and to clarify management objectives.
Specify manipulative or computational methods to be applied to models.
Design, conduct, and evaluate experimental operational models in cases where models cannot be developed from existing data.

17 tasks are recorded in total; these are the most central.

Example bullets for this role

Built from this occupation's own tasks. The brackets stay empty on purpose: we will not invent a number for you, and a fabricated metric is the fastest way to lose an interview you had already won.

Present the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].
Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].
Perform validation and testing of models to ensure adequacy, and reformulate models, as necessary, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].
Prepare management reports defining and evaluating problems and recommending solutions, for [who or what it served], at [what volume].

Software used in this role

Recorded for this occupation by O*NET. An applicant tracking system matches the exact product name, so write the tool the way the posting writes it.

A mathematical programming language AMPL
Amazon Redshift
Apache Hadoop
Apache Hive
Apache Pig
Apple macOS
Bash
Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
Business Forecast Systems Forecast Pro
C
C++
Cisco IOS
Citrix cloud computing software
Claritas PRIZM NE

114 software entries are recorded in total.

Tools and equipment

The physical equipment this occupation is recorded as using. Worth naming when a posting asks for it by name.

Desktop computers
Laptop computers
Mainframe computers
Personal computers

Skills an ATS reads for

Worth naming only if they are genuinely yours. Keyword overlap is one input to a resume's score, not a verdict.

Power BI
Python
Salesforce
SQL
Tableau
Amazon Redshift
Hadoop
Apache Hive
Bash
C

What this job rates as most important

O*NET rates every skill for importance to this occupation. These are the highest rated, in order.

01Mathematics
02Complex Problem Solving
03Active Listening
04Critical Thinking
05Reading Comprehension
06Speaking
07Writing
08Active Learning
09Judgment and Decision Making
10Systems Analysis

Knowledge areas

The subject knowledge this occupation draws on, rated by importance.

Mathematics
Computers and Electronics
Engineering and Technology
Production and Processing
English Language
Design
Education and Training

What qualifications people in this job have

From O*NET's survey of people doing this work. This is what postholders reported, not a requirement any single employer sets.

43%Master's Degree
33%Bachelor's Degree
14%Doctoral Degree

What level this role is pitched at

O*NET places this occupation in “Extensive Preparation Needed”. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Common questions

What does a Operations Research Analyst do?: Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decisionmaking, policy formulation, or other managerial functions. Day to day that includes work like present the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users and Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests.
What skills should a Operations Research Analyst put on a resume?: O*NET rates Mathematics, Complex Problem Solving, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Reading Comprehension among the most important skills for this occupation. Name the ones that are genuinely yours and show where you used them. A resume that lists skills you do not have is weaker than one that lists fewer.
What software should a Operations Research Analyst list?: Software recorded for this occupation includes A mathematical programming language AMPL, Amazon Redshift, Apache Hadoop, Apache Hive, and Apache Pig. Applicant tracking systems match on the exact product name, so write the tool as the posting writes it rather than describing it in general terms.
What other job titles cover Operations Research Analyst work?: O*NET records 40 titles for this occupation, including Analytical Strategist, Ops Research Analyst, Operations Research Scientist, and Ops Research Scientist. Searching only your own job title hides most of the openings you could apply to.
What qualifications does a Operations Research Analyst need?: In O*NET's survey of people doing this job, 43% reported their level of education as "Master's Degree". That is what current postholders reported, not a requirement any single employer sets.
Will this resume pass an ATS for a Operations Research Analyst role?: No tool outside an employer can tell you how that employer's system is configured, including ours. What you can control is that the resume parses cleanly, names the work in the words the posting uses, and does not claim anything you cannot back up.

Related roles

Occupations O*NET records as closest to this one, and worth looking at if this search is not moving.

What this page cannot tell you

No tool outside an employer can tell you how that employer’s ATS is configured, including ours.
This page makes no claim about pay, demand or how many people hold this job. O*NET does not publish that here and we will not estimate it.
Keyword overlap is one input to a resume’s score, not a verdict on you. A resume that names skills you do not have is worse than one that names fewer.

If this is the job you are aiming at, the guide to tailoring a resume covers how to aim one posting properly, and building and exporting a resume here is free.

Occupation data from the O*NET 29.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. SpartanResume is not endorsed by USDOL/ETA.