How to Build a Compelling Resume For Data Science Roles
According to a prediction by IBM, there are 2.3 million Data Science Jobs in the US, and this number is said to grow 28% by 2021. Companies today are hard-pressed to find good data scientists. Thus, building a compelling data science resume is highly essential. The skills present in your data science resume will vary depending on the job role and hiring company. However, there are a few common data science skills that are consistent across various job roles.
A sound understanding of Data Science concepts and knowing where to apply this knowledge to solve real-world problems is essential. Keep your data science resume short. This helps employers look through the resume with ease. Shorter and more concise resumes are more effective than an extremely lengthy one.
How to Format a Data Scientist Resume
Choosing the correct format for your data scientist resume is essential because it will help you showcase the skills that you wish to. One of the commonly used resume formats is the reverse chronological resume format. This format allows the recruiter to immediately see what value you are offering. The latest work experience is listed first. This format is ideal for anyone who has a lot of work experience.
If you have a weak work history but have a strong skill set, you can follow a functional resume format. It is recommended for individuals who may have a gap in their employment history. You can also choose a combination resume template if you wish to combine the advantages of both the data scientists’ resume formats.
Essentials of a Data Science Resume
- Resume Summary or Objective
- Work Experience
- Educational Qualification
- Certifications
- Skill set
- Awards & Certification
- Projects
- Publications
- Languages
- Choose the right format based on your experience
Writing a compelling resume summary or objective will catch the attention of the recruiters. It is possible to land a data science job with no prior experience. The key to landing a job as a fresher is to present yourself well, and a data science resume can be maneuvered to your advantage. As a fresher, choosing a functional layout for your resume will help you emphasize the skill set rather than work experience. You can highlight your skills that match the requirements of the hiring company. You can also showcase any internship work or voluntary projects that you may have worked on. Providing a link to your GitHub profile is a great way to allow the recruiters to learn more about the pet projects you may have worked on.
Pro Tip: Edit your data science resume based on the job you are applying for. Accommodate job requirements in your skillset, achievements sections.
If you are a professional, selecting the classic reverse chronological resume format is perfect as you can focus on showcasing your work experience rather than your skillset. You can highlight all your professional work experience as a data scientist.
How to show Contact Information in a Data Scientist Resume
The key to displaying contact information on your resume is accuracy. If you display the information in an incorrect manner, a recruiter wouldn’t be able to contact you. The contact information section must include the following –
- Full Name
- Title — Data Scientist (In this case)
- Email ID
- Phone Number
- Location (Optional)
Data Science Resume Header
The header in your resume is likely the first thing to be noticed by the recruiters. Ensuring that it offers an insight into your professional profile is essential to make it effective. Traditionally, your resume header should contain your full name and contact information, such as your email address or phone number. You can place your certifications or networking profiles next to your name, as this will help you stand out from the crowd.
If you have worked on projects, it would be ideal for placing the link to your Github or LinkedIn Profile or website in the header of the resume. Do not include your social media profiles, as they would not add much value to your application.
Data Science Resume Objective
A data science career objective is the part of your resume where you explain why you are suitable for the job role you are applying for. Assume that you are taking the most effective line from your cover letter. This line can be used as the summary or career objective in your data science resume. It acts as an insight into your professional journey and lets the employer know why you are interested in that particular job role. It also gives you a chance to show how your skills are unique compared to others.
An example of a summary for a fresher in Data Science:
Ensure that the summary is concise and specific to the job that you are applying to is important. As a professional with work experience, you can showcase your qualifications and help the employer understand why you are perfect for the job role. Hiring managers are always looking for professionals who are a good fit for the company. Customizing your resume objective or summary according to the company you are applying to can make a big difference.
Educational Qualification
Although education is a big part of building your career and resume, mentioning every detail may make the resume look cumbersome. Highlight the last obtained or latest educational qualification. In today’s world, online certificate courses also carry a lot of value. Especially when it comes to developing your skills in a niche sector or a specific domain, taking up online courses and including these in your resume will add immense value. It can also show that you are open to continuously upgrading your skills and obtaining more knowledge. Any certificate that is more than five years old can be considered an outdated certificate. Speaking of education, you can also take up the MIT Applied Data Science Program, a 12-week program. You will have access to live mentor sessions and live virtual sessions by MIT faculty.
Pro Tip: Don’t shy away from giving every detail regarding your work experience and achievements. Flaunt your achievements.
If you have received any awards or completed any certifications, you can also include these in your data science resume.
How to make your Work Experience Stand Out
A recruiter is interested to look into your past work experience. Thus, structuring your work experience in a way that stands out can be helpful in your job search. The best way to list your work experience is to as follows:
- Position Name
- Name of the Company
- Duration (Dates)
- Roles and Responsibilties
Talk about your achievements rather than day-to-day tasks. For example, if you are working on data streaming on a daily basis, rather than mentioning “data streaming” as a responsibility, you can say “Worked on data streaming processes that resulted in an 18% reduction in the redundancy”. This will help you showcase how your work impacted the organization positively.
Data Science Skills
You must be wondering what skills are required for data scientists. When you are creating your data scientist resume, there are certain skills that you must have! Here, we’ll be listing a few hard skills and soft skills.
Data Science Resume For Freshers
If you’re a fresher, you may not have a lot of past work experience to show on your resume. In this case, it’s best to highlight the data science skills and projects that you may have worked on. Here is a template that you can download if you are creating a data scientist fresher resume.
Data Science Resume for Experienced
As an experienced data science professional, it is important to showcase your data science skills and past work experience in a way that is easy to read for the recruiter. You can list the tools and techniques that you are well-versed in and ensure that you have a positive impact on the recruiter. If you have over four years of work experience, it is better to account for close to 70% of space on your resume.
Tips to Write a Data Science Resume
- Choose the correct combination of technical and soft skills depending on the role you are applying to
- Use bullet points rather than long paragraphs
- Use a direct and relevant career objective or summary
- Do not underestimate your work experience and shy away from getting into a detailed picture of your work experience
- Mention all your relevant achievements
- Present details in a concise manner and format so that it is easy to read
Reference: https://www.mygreatlearning.com/blog/data-science-resume/
