How to Write an Effective Data Scientist Cover Letter and Resume

In today’s data-driven world, data scientists are among the most highly respected experts in the tech industry. This interdisciplinary field relies on scientific algorithms, methods, systems, and processes to extract, store, and manipulate structured and unstructured data. These experts are in high demand in the United States and other parts of the world. 

If you are a data scientist who has yet to join the labor market or you’re looking for a career change, you are going to need an excellent cover letter and resume. This is your complete guide to creating a data scientist cover letter and resume for your next job application. It contains everything you need to know including sample cover letters, sample resumes, and a ready-to-use template. 

Data Scientist Cover Letter Guide

Before you start writing a data scientist cover letter, you need to understand the intention behind a cover letter. Data science cover letters are job application documents consisting of key details explaining why a hiring manager should give you a job. A cover letter supplements your resume by going into more detail about your key qualifications.

Why Does Your Data Scientist Cover Letter Matter? 

There is no doubt that data scientists are currently in high demand. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 22 percent rise in the demand for these experts between 2020 and 2030. To take advantage of this high demand, more people than ever before are learning data science in universities and bootcamps. 

With a professionally written cover letter, you can stand out among hundreds of applicants seeking the same data scientist position. Your cover letter is a gateway to your resume and a perfect opportunity for you to make a good first impression.

Apart from flaunting your technical skills, a data scientist cover letter gives the hiring manager some insight into your personality. It stimulates their interest and encourages them to learn more about you. If your cover letter isn’t good enough, there is a chance that your application will be thrown out before your resume is opened. 

Essential Components of Your Data Scientist Cover Letter

While every data scientist cover letter should be unique and tailored toward the company and job position you are applying for, there are some key components you should always include. These components make up the structure of the cover letter. 

• Contact information. Contact information is key for every type of cover letter, not just data science cover letters. Make sure you add your name, telephone number, email address, professional LinkedIn profile, and GitHub profile. If you don’t have a GitHub link, you should add another link to your portfolio. 
• Introduction. Cover letters should always have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. You should state your name in your introduction and give the hiring manager some background professional information. Your introduction should be semi-formal with a personal touch. You don’t want to sound mechanical or generic. 
• Professional qualities. The body of your letter should aim to answer some of these questions: Why are you a good fit for this job? What technical and non-technical skills have you acquired over the years and how would they combine to help you excel if you are given a chance? Do you know about data visualization, big data analytics, and business intelligence? What is your data science specialization? 
• Company and job details. In the body, you should mention the name of the company you want to work for and give some details about the job you want. It is also important that you mention the name of the hiring manager for a personal touch. It shows that you’ve done thorough research and know exactly what you’re after. 
• Conclusion. Your conclusion should be compelling and should come with a call to action. First of all, remember to thank the reader for their time. Repeat why you think you will be a good fit for the job and let them know that you will be waiting for their call or email. 

5 Tips for Writing a Strong Data Scientist Cover Letter

Almost every cover letter submitted to the hiring manager will have the same structure and components as yours. You need to go the extra mile to make your cover letter better than everyone else’s. The tips below should help you achieve this goal. 

1. Be enthusiastic. If you write your cover letter with enthusiasm, you will show your prospective employers that you are excited about the position and would give it your all if you get the chance. Use words like eager, keen, amazing, and fantastic. 
2. Be confident, not arrogant. Hiring managers want to employ data scientists who are confident in their skills. If you are a newbie, you may not be confident. However, if you are an experienced data scientist, you may just be too confident and run the risk of appearing arrogant. Arrogant employees aren’t known to command respect in the workplace. 
3. Avoid fluff. In writing, fluff refers to padding up your content with unnecessary filler that adds no value. You should avoid this in your letter by sticking to the most important points and staying away from repetition except for necessary emphasis. 
4. Don’t list outdated skills or tools. The data industry is one of the most rapidly evolving industries in the world today. Hiring managers are looking for people with in-demand and up-to-date skills. Cover letters are already very short, so don’t waste space by mentioning outdated technologies or tools that don’t improve your candidacy.
5. Avoid negativity. You may be tempted to complain about a previous employer or mention a negative experience you had in the industry. However, your cover letter isn’t the place to air any grievances. Focus exclusively on what makes you a good candidate for the job at hand.

Data Scientist Cover Letter Example

You should keep your cover letter short and straightforward. The sample below is a guide to help you write a compelling data science cover letter. Feel free to make yours longer if you have enough meaningful information to add. 

Data Scientist Cover Letter Sample

November 20, 2021

Miss. Anita Johnson 

Anitajohnson@gmail.com

Hiring Manager

Data Science Corporation

No 5 Hive Street, Montgomery Street, Silicon Valley, CA, USA 09857

Dear Miss Johnson, 

My name is Jane Doe and I am excited to apply for this role. With my vast experience in data modeling, data visualization, statistics, and data analytics, I am confident that I am the best fit for this job. 

I have a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Data Science but my goal is to continue pursuing professional development. Apart from my technical skills and experience, I consider myself a leader with exceptional communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. 

I believe that machine learning and artificial intelligence are the future of data science and I have dedicated time to explore this field. I currently have a machine learning and artificial intelligence certification along with data science certifications. 

If you give me a chance, I will play my part in ensuring that Data Science Corporation makes the best data-driven decisions. Thank you for your time and I look forward to reading your reply soon.

Sincerely,
Jane Doe 

Data Scientist Resume Guide

A data scientist’s resume is a formal job application document that showcases your education, skills, professional experience, and other related qualifications. You can impress hiring managers with a high-quality resume and increase your chances of getting invited for a job interview.

Why Does Your Data Scientist Resume Matter?

Your data science resume matters because it helps the hiring manager determine if you are a good fit for the position. The structure, style, and occupational details on your resume will go a long way in determining if you deserve the first interview. If your resume is not properly crafted, you may appear less qualified than you are and lose a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

To make an even more compelling data science resume, you need to attach it to a cover letter. Combined, both documents must reflect your strengths as a data scientist. You can use it to show the hiring manager that you are excited about the job offer and determined to make the best out of it if you are offered the position. 

Essential Components of Your Data Scientist Resume

The following components of a data scientist resume are must-have features that help structure and bulk up the document. You’d better include these on your resume if you want to be considered for an interview. 

• Contact information. Your contact information is vital because it is the first thing a hiring manager will look for if they want to invite you for an interview. This section should include your telephone number, email address, LinkedIn profile, and GitHub link if you have one. 
• Personal statement. Your personal statement is an introduction to your resume. It is also called an objective statement or professional summary. Think of your personal statement as your sales pitch for your services. Mention the skills you feel qualify you for the data science position. It can be a combination of technical and non-technical skills. 
• Education. List your university degrees and other post-secondary education. For each entry, include the name of the school, the name of the degree, and the dates you attended. 
• Professional experience. A vital part of your resume is your work history. Hiring managers in the data science industry prefer to employ people who already have professional working experience. If you are applying for an entry-level role, add any internships or apprenticeships that you have done.
• Skills and certifications. There should be sections in your resume dedicated to your technical and non-technical skills. Make sure you list the most relevant skills first. You also need to list your data science certifications. 

5 Tips for Writing a Strong Data Scientist Resume

To ensure that your resume stands out from every other one submitted to the hiring manager, follow these five tips: 

1. Be honest. Don’t try to get an edge by lying about your job experience, skills, education, or anything else. Even if you get away with lying and get hired, the company will eventually find out when you are unable to do what you said you could.
2. Include quantifiable results. As a data scientist, you should be both good with and passionate about numbers. To convey this in your resume, make sure that you include achievements from previous roles measured in quantitative terms. State by what percentage your work helped improve a company’s bottom line or how you helped a firm predict sales with a certain accuracy rate.
3. Add high-demand skills. Start by listing the most in-demand skills first. High-demand programming languages include Python, SQL, and R. Tools that any data science resume should feature are Hadoop, Spark, Tableau, and MongoDB. You should also mention your machine learning and artificial intelligence skills. 
4. Don’t be flashy. There is nothing wrong with adding some color to your resume, but the best ones stick to black and white. If you must add color, it should be restricted to the headings and divider lines. Your goal should be to keep your resume simple and free of clutter. Use professional font style and size. 
5. Proofread. When you finish writing your resume, you need to proofread it thoroughly to make sure there are no grammatical errors. No hiring manager will take you seriously if your resume is full of typos and other grammatical mistakes. 

Data Scientist Resume Examples

The samples below should give you a clearer picture of what a data scientist’s resume should look like. One is a complete resume sample and the other one is a template that you can fill in with your own information. 

Data Scientist Resume Sample

Jane Doe 

(+1) 8407-5213

danejoe@gmail.com 

GitHub.danejoe.com

Personal Statement 

Over the last five years, I have built a solid reputation as a data scientist who specializes in machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence. Apache Hadoop is my go-to software for distributed data storage and processing. I also have excellent leadership skills due to my extensive experience in team building and management. 

Education

Columbia University, New York City, NY

Master’s in Computer Science – Machine Learning

2013 – 2015

University of California, Los Angeles, CA

Bachelor of Science in Data Science 

2008 – 2011

Work Experience

Data Scientist

The Data Science Republic, San Diego, CA

2015 – Present 

• Supervised data migration from traditional to cloud-based database management systems with less than 1% obstruction or data loss 
• Developed software for data recovery   

Remote Data Analyst

Computer Management Systems, New York City, NY 

2010 – 2015

• Collected, stored, and analyzed data which was used to offer actionable insights 
• Designed a data management software that improved overall DBMS performance by 20%

Technical Skills

Hadoop 

Spark 

Oracle

Python

Azure

Sybase 

Java

JavaScript 

SQL 

Non-technical Skills

Leadership

Time management 

Communication 

Problem-solving 

Working under pressure 

Collaboration

Conflict resolution 

Adaptability 

Certifications 

IBM Data Science Professional Certificate 

Google Data Machine Learning

SAS Certified Data Scientist

Data Science Council of America (DASCA) Senior Data Scientist (SDS)

MongoDB Certified Developer

References available on request 

Sample Data Scientist Resume Template

[Full name]

[Phone number]

[Email address]

[Portfolio link]

[LinkedIn profile]

Personal Statement
[One or two sentences about your career goals and what you’re seeking from the job you’re applying for]

Education
[School and location]
[Degree and major]
[Dates]

[School and location]
[Degree and major]
[Dates]

Work Experience
[Position]
[Company and location]
[Dates]

• [Responsibility]
• [Responsibility]
• [Responsibility]
• [Responsibility]

[Position]
[Company and location]
[Dates]

• [Responsibility]
• [Responsibility]
• [Responsibility]
• [Responsibility]

[Position]
[Company and location]
[Dates]

• [Responsibility]
• [Responsibility]
• [Responsibility]
• [Responsibility]

Technical Skills
[Skill]
[Skill]
[Skill]
[Skill]
Non-technical Skills
[Skill]
[Skill]
[Skill]
[Skill]

Certifications
[Certification]
[Certification]
[Certification]

Data Scientist Resume Template Resources

• Enhancv. Since 2014, Enhancv has built a solid reputation as one of the best places to find customizable resume templates for data science and many other professions. 
• Monster. Monster is a job resource website that provides data science job listings as well as cover letter and resume templates. All templates can be downloaded for free. 
• Beamjobs. Beamjobs has great resume samples and templates based on over 1,000 real-world data science resumes. There are templates for entry-level, intermediate, and senior data scientists. 

Importance of a Data Scientist Cover Letter and Resume

Crafting an impressive cover letter and resume is vital for people seeking data science positions. These documents might just be what stands between you and your dream job. Before an interview is granted, hiring managers use cover letters and resumes to gauge your abilities and see if you are a good fit for the company.

Data Science Cover Letter and Resume FAQ