How to Make Your Data Science Resume Sparkle

Are you aiming to build a career in the thriving field of data science? If so, one of the first steps is to create a powerful resume that can help you land interviews. Unlike standard resumes for business, liberal arts, and graduates in other disciplines, data science students need to focus on a few unique strategies to help their resumes stand out from the rest.

In data-intensive fields like data science, having an attractive, eye-catching document is particularly important. Further, it’s essential to be specific about educational achievements, like degrees, specialized coursework, and post-graduate projects. Other components of a winning resume include a high-resolution photo of yourself, an in-depth list of relevant job experience, and short explanations about your general and technical abilities. Before enlisting the assistance of a professional writer, gather all your information and make sure you cover the following bases.

Formatting & Experience

Use a functional yet attractive format that includes a photo and general statement in the top horizontal segment, separate blocks for “Education” and “Experience,” and sidebar areas that encompass general and technical capabilities. For the all-important experience portion of the document, list previous jobs and internships in reverse chronological order, with the most recent ones at the top. Don’t embellish your accomplishments but use action words to describe what you did in each position. Make every word count.

Relevant Educational Achievements

Getting a college degree in a subject that is related to data science is the best way to lay the foundation for a long-term career in the industry. The field is specific enough that people should focus from the very beginning. Consider majoring in subjects like IT, programming, statistics, accounting, and others. Financing a four-year course of study can be as challenging as the academic side of the coin. Applying for Going Merry scholarships is an excellent way to start.

Fortunately, there are reputable all-in-one platforms from which candidates can search and apply for scholarship awards. Using those kinds of sites is a smart way to save time and streamline the entire process of finding money for school. Never assume that scholarships are only for academic all-stars and sports standouts. They aren’t. Instead, awards routinely go to everyday applicants who take the time to apply for all scholarships for which they meet the basic criteria. It’s a numbers game, and those who play it that way will find the most success. Use any money you get to cover a portion of school expenses or the entire cost of college, depending on how much cash you end up getting.

High-Res Photo & Personal Statement

There’s no longer any controversy about photos on resumes. But it’s not worth including one unless you can embed a high-quality version. Color or black and white is okay if the resolution is high enough to deliver a recognizable image. Don’t use a passport-style pose. Instead, dress in business attire, smile slightly, and only use a headshot. Considering having your hair styled or cut about a week before sitting for the photo. Add three or four sentences next to the photo at the top of the document. Use the space to describe your overall career goals.

General Skills List

In the General Skills section, list common skills that hiring agents look for in the data science field. Include any of the following that you understand well enough to honestly say you can perform data visualization, deep learning, statistical analysis, data preparation, machine learning, pattern recognition, database management, algorithms, and similar general skills. If you use both a general and technical skills section, place the general ones first, as most employers are interested in your overall understanding. If they feel the need to dig in a little further, they can move down to the tech listing.

Technical Section

If you have enough technical skills to fill a small block of space on the one-page document, set the area off from the above-mentioned general skills. Include all programming languages you know and list them by their official names. Plus, be sure to include software, operating systems, databases, servers, programming languages, and similar tools in the tech section. Don’t be wordy or include where you learned the skills; just list them. If an employer makes it to this level of detail in your resume, then you are likely to receive a call to interview.