Data Scientist Resume Guide: Samples, Cover Letters, and Pro Tips

7.4 seconds

That's how long a recruiter typically spends reviewing a data science CV before deciding whether or not to move forward with a prospect. 

You have less than 10 seconds to make a good impression while applying for a job as a data scientist.

You will need an impactful, targeted, succinct, and straightforward resume. We'll show you exactly how to make it in this blog post. We'll look into

• How do you write a data science resume?
• What skills should a data scientist put on a CV?
• What is data scientist objective in CV?
• What is a good fresher data science resume?
• how to put data science projects on resume?

What is the Correct Format for a Data Scientist Resume?

Proper organization of data pleases everybody including the hiring managers.

When creating a resume for a data scientist position, it's crucial to avoid chaos and present information in a clear and concise manner. Otherwise, it can cause confusion and make the recruiter consider another candidate. Therefore, it's important to be aware of the proper usage of resumes and present your skills and experience in a structured and organized way.

1. Use the reverse-chronological format to make your most recent achievements shine.

2. Pick professional resume fonts such as Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman, and Verdana.

3. Set line spacing to 1 or 1.15 for excellent readability.

4. Keep font size 11–12 for the contents and 13–14 for headings.

5. Length: a one-page resume is the best choice. Be selective and fit all relevant information on one page.

6. Save your data scientist resume in a PDF format with the right naming convention, not like 123.pdf

Key Components in a Data Scientist Resume

Your data scientist application must include the following resume sections

Your full name and contact information

Make this seamless and give only functional contact.

1. It's better to have the name and contact in the top-left corner of the document.

Resume summary or objective

In this section, including a personal profile highlighting your experiences is preferable. Combine this with your career goal and passion in this field.

1. Your professional history should be told in this part; paragraphs with whole sentences are preferable to a list of bullets.
2. Describe the number of years you have worked.
3. Give details about the sectors, jobs, and functions you have experience with.

Work experience

Work experience is more crucial than theoretical knowledge in the data science field.

1. If you just graduated, be careful to mention any internships, side projects, or contributions you may have made to open-source software. If you're an experienced data scientist, take the time to explain your professional background adequately.
2. Put your professional background in reverse chronological order, with your most recent job at the top. Name the company, your designation, and the duration of your employment.
3. Add the assignments you completed regularly.
4. Present your results; if you have generated measurable outcomes, mention them. For example: "I developed a Python page production prediction engine that reduced the loss on crude oil profits by 22%." If any, include awards and recognitions for your achievements.

Tip: Each achievement should be proven with numbers. Without numbers, everything you say, be it a project result or your achievement, would sound hypothetical.

Education

Several data scientist jobs generally need you to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, statistics, or related fields. However, given the skill and supply gap, hiring managers understand that candidates without a formal degree but hands-on experience are more important.

1. Keep this section concise and clear.
2. Include the year of graduation.
3. If you’re a fresh graduate, mention the subjects you’ve studied that are relevant to the job you’re applying to
4. If you have a certification or have completed an online course in data science or related subjects, make sure to include them as well

Tip: You can quickly gain hands-on experience by joining a professional data science course

Skills

A data scientist has many technical skills like R, SQL, Python, Scikit-Learn, TensorFlow, Keras, XGBoost, LightGBM, Hadoop, Spark, Tableau, Matplotlib, Seaborn etc. So, here are some pointers you should always keep in mind.

1. Write only the relevant ones to the job posting in your data science resume.
2. Along with the technical skills, mentioning such skills is essential - Hypothesis Testing, Experimental Design, Time Series Analysis.

Extra Data Scientist Resume Sections

After finishing the primary resume part, it's time to spice up your data scientist resume for a job.

These sections really can have an impact! You can stand out among the hundreds of data science applicants.

1. Licences and certificates: Virtually all data scientists have a degree, but not all have a certificate in Python, Java, data engineering, Agile project management, and other subjects. For example, you can easily get certified online with a professional data science course.

2. Volunteering: Around 80% of Indians believe charities positively impact their communities & lives. Volunteering can teach you valuable skills like compassion and empathy, which are helpful when working with different stakeholders.

3. Languages: Always list the proficiency level, such as Advanced, Intermediate, Fluent, etc. Its better to denote graphically.

4. Memberships: Professional associations such as The International Society of Data Scientists are an excellent place to start networking, learn about developments in the industry, and even discover attractive job offers.

5. Interests: Relevant interests are somehow connected to your field. For example, you may work on independent projects on GitHub, write a blog about big data, or create fascinating infographics in your spare time.

Data Scientist Resume Samples

Here are some templates/examples for data science resume for freshers, mid-level data scientist resume, and experienced data scientist resume, that might help you write your data scientist resume. These examples might also help with data science projects resume and data science skills resume.

Entry-level data scientist resume

This is a data science fresher resume who has just graduated and probably did an internship. Mainly 0-1 years of data science experience.

Mid-level data scientist resume

This data science resume has around 2-5 years of experience.

Senior-level data scientist resume

This data science resume has extensive experience, like 10-20 years.

Data Science Resume Cover Letter

Though it is thought like a thing of the past, writing one can considerably increase your chances of landing that dream job.

1. Ensure your cover letter follows the proper format, the same as your data scientist resume.
2. Greetings to the recruiting manager. You should begin your cover letter for a data scientist.
3. Make a solid first impression to capture the recruiter's interest.
4. Put your credentials forward in the next paragraph.
5. Show how your abilities can contribute to the company's success.

So, here is a sample that might help you.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State ZIP Code]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]

[Hiring Manager's Name]
[Company Name]
[Company Address]
[City, State ZIP Code]

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the Data Scientist position at [Company Name]. With a strong foundation in data analysis, machine learning, and statistical modelling, I am eager to contribute my expertise to your team.

In my previous role at [Previous Company], I developed a predictive maintenance model that reduced downtime by 20%. Proficient in Python, R, and SQL, I have a proven track record in translating technical findings into actionable insights.

I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the innovative work at [Company Name]. I am confident that my skills and experience align with your team's goals and vision.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my contributions can benefit [Company Name]. Please feel free to contact me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address] to schedule an interview.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Key Takeaways

Great! You are done! 

Let's sum up how to write a successful data scientist resume

1. Put your most recent accomplishments first by arranging them in reverse chronological order.
2. Compare your qualifications to the job advertisement's key terms.
3. When describing your professional experience, highlight your most notable achievements.
4. draws attention to your academic accomplishments in the section about education.
5. Include a couple more parts to demonstrate your edge over the other applicants.
6. Boost your resume with a data scientist cover letter to increase your chances.