How to Write a Digital Forensic Analyst Resume in 6 Steps

Updated June 10, 2023

Digital forensic analysts collect and analyze computer evidence used in various legal proceedings. Regardless of your related background and experience, having an effective resume for a digital forensic analyst open position can help improve your chances that the recruiter invites you to an interview. Learning how to write a digital forensic analyst resume can have a positive effect on your career. In this article, we discuss what a digital forensic analyst resume is and provide you with tips on writing one, actionable steps on how to write it, a template, and an example resume.

What is a digital forensic analyst resume?

A digital forensic analyst resume is a document that an aspiring digital forensic analyst can use to apply for a relevant position in the field. The main task of a digital forensic analyst is to gather and study data related to cyberattacks and other kinds of unlawful online activity, such as espionage, hacking, fraud, cybercrime, and the storing and distribution of illegal content online. They typically either work for Government organizations or private cybersecurity firms.

Tips on writing an effective resume for a digital forensic analyst role

Consider following these tips when writing your forensic analyst resume:

Read the job listing carefully. Before starting work on your resume, it may help to read the job posting and look for indications regarding what the hiring organization is looking for in a potential employee. This can help you select the skills and experiences you include in your resume, and the wording you use to describe them.

Make separate lists for soft and hard skills. The job of a digital forensic analyst requires a distinct mix of hard and soft skills. You can help the recruiter get a better understanding of your skill set by separating the two categories.

Be concise. Even if you have a long history in this profession and can expand on your previous job experiences and acquired skills, it's important to remember that effective resumes are usually one or two pages long. Try to be concise when listing your achievements and be prepared to discuss them further in your cover letter and potential job interview.

Proofread your resume. Before sending your resume, re-read it multiple times to make sure it's completely error-free. It may help to also ask someone else to read it, just to make sure you didn't miss any errors.

How to write a forensic analyst resume

Consider following these steps when writing your digital forensic analyst resume

1. Choose a format that suits you

Before starting work on your resume, you can select a format that properly showcases your experience and abilities. Most forensic analyst resumes follow a classic resume format. Some guidelines you can use are:

Save page space by including your name, phone number, and e-mail address in your resume's header, also making it easier for the recruiter to quickly access your name and contact details.
Choose a common professional font and make each resume section's font size slightly smaller than your name at the top of the page and slightly larger than the rest of the text.
Save your resume as a PDF if you plan on sending it via the internet, as this way you can be sure that it keeps its intended format regardless of the device the recruiter uses to open it.

2. Select an appropriate resume type

After deciding on the basic resume formatting guidelines, you can choose a resume type that properly emphasizes your skills, education, and career achievements. Some common types of resumes for digital forensic analyst roles are:

Chronological resume: This resume type lists your career achievements and educational milestones in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent role. This type can be effective if you have previous career success in digital forensic analyst roles or other related fields.

Functional resume: This resume type emphasizes your acquired skills instead of job experience and education. It can be effective if you think you lack the required experience for the role you're applying for, but you think that you can compensate with your skill set.

Combination resume: This resume type is a combination of the previous two and allows you to mix your career achievements, acquired skills, and educational milestones in whichever way you consider to work best for your situation.

3. Start with a resume summary

The resume summary section is two or three sentences and summarizes your career highlights, relevant skills, and desire to get the respective job. Job recruiters usually have large numbers of resumes that they have to analyze in relatively short time spans and offering a brief description of your credentials can convince them to keep reading yours. If you think you lack enough experience and achievements as a digital forensic analyst, consider replacing the resume summary with a resume objective section in which you briefly outline your career ambitions and how to role you're applying to can help you achieve them.

4. Include a job experience section

Depending on the type of resume you choose, your job experience section can either be above or below your skills section. You can include each relevant role in reverse-chronological order, starting with your latest job. You can also mention each job title, the employer's name, the time interval in which you've worked there, and a few relevant job duties and achievements.

5. Add a skills section

Your resume's skills section is typically a list of your relevant skills for the role. As previously mentioned, given that the role of a digital forensic analyst requires a distinct mix of soft and hard skills, it may be a good idea to make two separate lists. When selecting the skills for your lists, you can review the job ad and company website for insight regarding the technical and personal traits that they're looking for in a new employee.

6. End with an education section

Working as a digital forensic analyst generally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a related field, while some available roles also require a relevant master's degree. You can include them both in your education section, while also mentioning the name of your degree, the issuing institution, and the year of graduation. If you also hold relevant certifications, you can either list them in your education section or make a dedicated section.

Digital forensic analyst resume template

Consider using this template when working on your resume for a digital forensic analyst role:

[First name] [Last name]

[Phone number] I [E-mail address] I [City], [Province or territory]

Professional Summary

[Two to three sentences that highlight years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications, and achievements as a professional.]

Skills

[Category]: [Skill] I [Skill] I [Skill] I [Skill] I [Skill] [Skill]

Experience

(For the most recent role, list 5 experience items. For previous roles, list 3.)

[Job Title] I [Employment dates]

[Company Name] I [City], [Province or territory]

● [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

[Job Title] I [Employment dates]

[Company Name] I [City], [Province or territory]

● [Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

Education

[Degree and major] I [Name of school or university]

[City], [Province or territory]

Optional

[Certification name], [Host organization] - [Year completed or expiration date]

Forensic analyst resume example

Consider using this example as guidance when writing your resume:

Alexandra Ravanelli
123-456-7890 I aravanelli@email.com I Toronto, ON

Professional summary

Skilled digital forensic analyst with relevant experience in working for private security firms. Proven data collection skills and ability to thoroughly and effectively analyze large amounts of data to support investigations and legal proceedings.

Work experience

Digital forensic analyst, May 2018-Current
LLP Cybersecurity, Toronto, ON

Conduct various types of digital forensic analyses on behalf of the company's clients
Analyze and resolve client requests related to conducting cyber investigations
Provide expert advice on internet security systems and protocols
Assist with legal investigations and provide expert testimony in court when needed
Keep up to date with the latest developments in the forensic and cybersecurity fields

Forensic examiner, January 2016-April 2018
Moreau and Partners Corporation

Performed support tasks in investigations related to cybersecurity investigations
Used specialized hardware and software to extract relevant data from various devices
Assisted digital forensic analyst with preparing documents before providing expert testimonies in court