It is safe to say that the job is quite demanding and is designed for candidates with a large array of knowledge.
We know that you've got what it takes to land a great data science job, but what can you do to impress the hiring managers?
In order to be successful in your job search and get callbacks from hiring managers in data science companies, you're going to have to write an effective data scientist resume sample.
We've written this article specifically for data scientists that want to enhance their application and make it perfect! We'll be guiding you through all of the relevant elements for writing a strong cover letter.
Data science is one of the most popular new fields in various industries. Businesses are seeking professionals in this field for many different reasons. Companies are going digital, and a great way to create new databases and data sources is through a competent data scientist.
The median annual salary for data science positions is around $103,000 (United States Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Additionally, data scientist jobs are increasing in demand. The employment of data science experts is projected to grow 15 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Searching for a data science position and actually finding an open vacancy has never been so easy. But there IS a catch. Due to the rise in demand for data science workers, there has been a considerable increase in the candidate pool as well.
In order to beat the competition and get ahead of the candidate pool, you're going to need a great data science resume. Our Data Scientist Resume Example below is here to help with that!
How to make a Data Scientist Resume
There will be many cover letters going to the same hiring managers at the same companies that you've applied for with your own data scientist resume. This can be quite tricky for someone that doesn't know how to write a proper data science resume.
Fortunately, we're here to show you how you can make your resume stand out and get noticed!
First things first, we're going to need to establish some building blocks in your data analyst resume, upon which we'll be laying down our content and professional information.
The first thing we'll be focusing on is how to apply a proper layout and resume format to your data science resume.
These two factors are extremely crucial because they determine how the data scientist resumes are going to look and how easy to follow the text will be.
The layout of the Data Scientist Resume
Writing good data science resumes isn't just about showing the hiring manager your knowledge of creating data regression models.
While being able to show your abilities and experiences effectively is extremely important in data science resumes, it is just as important to present this information in an understandable, logical, and good-looking way.
A great way to showcase your data science resume effectively is by giving the application a proper layout, also known as a resume template.
Separating the content into sections is an excellent way to create a more informative, logical data science resume!
Here are all the important data science resume sections that we'll be covering in this article:
- Contact Information
- Professional Objective / Professional Summary
- Work Experience Section
- Education Section
- Skills Section
- Additional Information
The structure of the Data Scientist Resume
The second essential building block for your data science resume is going to be the structure of your application.
Making sure that the content appears sectioned out logically is one thing, but making the text appear easy to follow and understandable is another issue entirely.
In order for the structure of text and information in your cover letter to appear logical and comprehensive, we recommend using the reverse chronological structure format for your content.
In addition to formatting your resume, there's another way we can give your data science resume more structure!
Start with Contact information in the Data Scientist Resume
Because of the fact that the candidate pool will be large for most data science jobs, it will be up to you to show the hiring manager how you can benefit the company and persuade them that you're the best person for the job.
However, before you can do all that, you're going to need to show the company how to get in touch with you.
The contact information section will be your opportunity to provide all of the necessary data about your contact details.
We recommend using Arial or Times New Roman style and font size 14 - 16. Your name is the title of your CV.
Afterward, be sure to provide your job title, physical and professional email address, followed by your LinkedIn account or any other relevant website link.
Example of a good header & a bad header from a sample Data Scientist Resume
Data Scientist
2823 Victoria Street Northbrook, IL 60062
WillieRGeorge@dayrep.com
224-688-0381
https://moosehall.com/
Willie R. George
Data Scientist
2823 Victoria Street Northbrook, IL 60062
WillieRGeorge@dayrep.com
224-688-0381
https://moosehall.com/
This header for the contact information needs to be larger (remember to make your name appear larger than the rest of the text!)
Is a photo required in the Data Scientist Resume?
Once you've started writing your data scientist resume sample, you might be wondering whether or not you should include a photo in your cover letter?
While it might not seem obvious, we don't recommend adding a photo to your data science resume. There are several reasons for this.
The first is that your resume is going to be heavily focused on including as much relevant information as possible. You'll be trying to match your skills, experiences, and education to the job description through the application. This will be the main focus.
The second reason why you shouldn't include a photo is that it's going to take up important space on your resume space and compress other, more important sections of your application.
For more examples of data science resumes and see how you can cram a lot of information in , check out our resume builder here!
Professional summary for Data Science Resume
Before we get into the work experience section of your data scientist resume sample, we're going to be focusing on another very important section - the resume summary or resume objective section.
It is known that a hiring manager looking to fill data science positions gets bombarded with applications every day. A recruiter will only spend up to 10 seconds on each resume.
Sometimes, applications just get scanned by word processing programs during the hiring process without a hiring manager even looking at them.
Because of such a short amount of time a data science resume has to impress the reader, you'll have to include a section that depicts your best skills, experiences, and knowledge in just a few seconds.
This section can be written in two ways:
The data scientist resume summary is a great option for a senior data scientist resume. More experienced candidates can write about their highest accomplishments, work experiences, and skills in this section.
The data scientist resume objective is the better option for a junior data scientist resume. An entry level candidate can write about their career motivation for applying to the company, on top of their top data science skills and relevant experiences.
Professional Summary Data Scientist Example
Experienced Senior Database Administrator with 10-year background in database design and administration. Experience modeling and storing data, developing enterprise architecture, and designing data collection methods. Skilled at ascertaining valuable business intelligence from complex datasets. Highly proficient in machine learning software and Python programming languages. Quick learner with ability to solve complex problems. Strong collaborator, team-oriented, and outstanding oral and written communication skills.
Resume Objective Example
Experienced management professional with a can-do attitude. Passionate about analyzing data to gather meaningful insights using MS Excel, SQL, Tableau and Python. Being in a multinational environment, I like working with diverse teams and learning from their perspectives in order to achieve a greater result, together.
Work Experience in the Data Scientist Resume
After writing the introductory resume summary or objective section, we'll be changing our focus to effectively putting your relevant data science experience on paper.
The best way to write about your professional experiences with data mining, data visualization, data management, and other data science projects is by implementing a work experience section into your resume.
The work experience section is designated for talking about your work history and time spent on relevant projects that are related to data science. You'll have to go into detail about your professional experiences and job descriptions.
Making sure that the work experience section is written well is essential to the success of your data science resume.
Describe your professional experiences on your Data Scientist Resume
In order for the application to be effective, the work experience section has to be fleshed out and written comprehensively.
You'll be writing an in-depth job description for all relevant work experiences and data science projects that you can fit into this section. Start by writing just one data scientist job description and then write a few more and pick the best of the bunch.
In order for the content to appear good, don't forget to apply the chronological format to each data scientist's job description. Place your most recent work experience at the beginning of the section.
Additionally, make sure to use bullet points on each job description. Each bullet point is going to talk about a specific, key duty or accomplishment you've had during previous employment.
In order for your resume to appear even more professional, start each bullet point that talks about your experiences with an action verb, such as implemented, organized, analyzed, etc. Action verbs make the text come off as more impactful.
Examples of professional experiences for an entry-level Data Science candidate
House 2 Home Bank
09/2014 - Present
-
- Experience using Microsoft Excel, Word, Google Sheets.
Ensured tests are completed in accordance with project deadlines.
Created process flow maps for RPA processes using Microsoft Visio.
Importing data from Excel 2013 spreadsheet into Oracle SQL Database.
Examples of work experience for a Senior Data Scientist
House 2 Home Bank
09/2014 - Present
-
- Collaborated with database architects and administrators to outline client system limitations for capacity and load for machine learning models and processing projects.
Ensured figures and calculations were correct on all documents and posted items with proper coding.
Recommended change to operations based on assessment of business intelligence information.
Education in the Data Scientist Resume
A proper data science resume is more than just stating how you've worked on machine learning models; you'll have to show the recruiter more than just your work experience in order to be considered for a data science position.
As a data science graduate, you're going to have to show your academic credentials on the resume successfully in order for your application to be considered for review.
You can show your academic background through the education section!
The academic section is a perfect way to showcase your knowledge and expertise in the data science field that stems from schooling and relevant coursework rather than work experience.
Should you start with education or work experience as a Data Scientist?
In case you're wondering how to go about writing your academics section for your resume and where to place it, we've got you covered!
We're here to answer the age-old question, what came first - the education or the work experience section?
The layout you'll be going with is entirely dependent on the level of experience you hold.
For a senior data scientist resume, we recommend going with the experience section first because a seasoned data science professional will have more work history information to put into the application. The work experience will be the main focus.
For entry level data scientists with little to no experience in the field, it's recommended to start with education. This layout will be more effective if the candidate doesn't have a lot of work experience.
How to properly list your education in a Data Scientist Resume?
If you're wondering how to go about writing a data scientist resume sample academic section, look no further! We've got you covered.
As we've mentioned before, you'll need to showcase your academic credentials in this part of the application.
There are a couple of essential elements you're going to have to keep in mind when writing the section. The most important key points for writing this section are as follows:
- For maximum clarity, write the information about your school and degree in the following order: the name of the degree, name of the school you attended, graduation date, and additional information afterward (i.e., relevant courses, GPA, extracurriculars).
- Write your highest form of education first. If you have a master's and a bachelor's degree, then write the information about your master's degree first.
- Don't forget about the chronological resume format!
- If you wish to add additional information about your academics, do it with a bullet point. For example, you can mention relevant coursework or GPA through bullet points after writing the information about the school.
- Only include your GPA if it's higher than 3.6.
Example of the education section of a Data Scientist Resume
Education
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
American University of Sharjah
2011 - 2015
-
- Relevant Coursework: Language-Specific Programming and Data Structures, Hardware Design and Operation, Networking and Web Technologies
GPA 3.72
Skills to put in the Data Scientist Resume
Now that you've successfully written the education, work experience, and resume objective / summary sections in your data scientist resume, it's time to shift our focus to another crucial section of the application.
If you find yourself unable to fully explain or showcase your specific technical skills and soft skills, there's no problem! You can write all of your relevant skills in one section - the skills section.
The skills section is an excellent way of highlighting all of the relevant skills that are necessary to have as a data scientist.
This part of your resume is going to be very simple; you'll be listing all of your job-related skills in the skills section with bullet points.
What are the main skills sought for in a Data Scientist Resume?
As a data scientist, most of the job posts are going to require a wide range of skills and abilities from you. Indeed, data science involves a lot of different fields and knowledge.
Data scientists are very versatile; they are proficient in technical skills as well as soft skills. Having data wrangling software knowledge as well as proper interpersonal skills is essential.
We know that you got what it takes, so here's a list of our recommended skills and abilities you can include in your data science application:
- Agile methodology
- Vision system programming
- Microsoft SQL
- Thermal Cycling
- Analog and digital electronics design
- The Mathworks MATLAB
- PLC Energy management systems
- Strong presentation skills
- Communication skills
- SAS
- Microsoft Office
- Python
- PHP
- C++
- Javascript
Additional Headings for your Data Scientist Resume
If you're an entry-level data science candidate without a lot of experience to put down on a resume, or you just want to enhance your application, you might be wondering what to add to your resume to make it look even better.
A great way to increase the effectiveness of your data scientist resume would be to add more sections! More content means more relevant information about your skills and abilities.
Adding in more information about your expertise can further show a hiring manager how much you can benefit the company because an additional section might separate you from the rest of the pack.
Computer skills and certifications in a Data Scientist Resume
As we've mentioned earlier, it is necessary for you as a data scientist to possess various skills and knowledge of different software programs. It is crucial that your resume shows the recruiter that you possess these skills in a confident, plausible way.
Indeed, not only does your resume need to show the recruiter that you know how to predict real estate prices and work with advanced analytics professional SAS programs, but it also needs to provide proof of expertise!
A great way to give credible proof for your knowledge and experience with data science programs, tools, and other skills is by including a certificates section in your resume.
If you're wondering which certificates are worth including in your application, we've got you covered! Here's a list of some of the best certificates to go for:
- SAS Certified Data Scientist
- Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
- Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst
- Open Certified Data Scientist (Open CDS)
- Tensorflow Developer Certificate
- GCP Microsoft Professional Program Certificate
Languages in a Data Scientist Resume
If you're at a loss for content in your application and want to fill out the resume page completely, yet effectively including information about yourself is highly recommended.
However, you can't just add any kind of information to your resume; it has to be relevant to the job description that you are applying for. Therefore, writing information that directly enhances your credentials as a data scientist is always the best option.
A great way you can add information about yourself without having to talk about random personal facts is by adding a language section.
The language section offers an insight into your abilities to communicate with people. Knowing multiple languages is always a plus as you can talk to people of different cultures and nationalities. The recruiter is going to notice that.
Make sure to specify the level of proficiency you have with a language. For example, write English native or Spanish intermediate.
The language section is especially beneficial for jobs requiring you to know a specific language or just be multilingual.
Summary: Key Points for Writing a Perfect Data Scientist Resume
An effective resume is going to showcase your data science skills in an impactful and persuasive way. We've talked extensively about every single section and element that goes into writing a great application.
So let's recap everything we've talked about so far!
Whether you're an expert data scientist or a Certified Professional Résumé Writer, we recommend following these tips for a great cover letter:
- Your contact information section should include your name at the very top, as well as contact details such as email, work phone number, physical address, and job title.
- Whether you're writing a resume objective or summary, be sure to keep this part of your resume short and sweet. Mention your top skills, experiences, and accomplishments, as well as your career objective.
- Use a bullet point for every time you're listing your experiences, accomplishments, and skills.
- Make your work experience and skill section stay relevant to the job requirements you'll be applying for.
Frequently Asked Questions for a Data Scientist Resume
What should a data scientist put on a resume?
As a data scientist, you'll have a lot of responsibilities in your position, not to mention a requirement for skills and technical knowledge of data software. You might have experience with both data mining and data visualisation, but if the job description specifically asks for data visualization, make sure you include that word in your resume.
Because each data analyst job offers much in the way of experience and responsibilities, try to focus your resume on showcasing the skills, experiences, and accomplishments you've gained through data science experience and education.
How do you write data science skills on a resume?
In order for your data scientist resume to be successful, you're going to need a proper layout and format for your text and resume content.
Making sure the text is written clearly and comprehensively is important, just as making the content related to the job requirements of the job you are applying for!
How do you write a perfect data science resume?
In order to write the perfect data science resume you’ll need to make sure that the layout and structure of the cover letter are properly fleshed out.
Additionally, the content itself needs to be organized, well-written and directed to the job posting.
For more examples of effective resume layouts, templates and tips, check out our customized resume builder by clicking here!