7 Steps To A Kickass Data Science CV

In this post you're going to learn how to update your Data Science CV to get the Data Science job of your dreams in 7 kickass steps - even if it's your first Data Scientist job!

For several years now I've been receiving emails from our data ninjas asking me the same question over and over: "What do I need to do to get my dream Data Science job?"

My answer has always been something along the lines of:

What I never said was "perfect your Data Science CV".

And that was a mistake, because - even though we're all about the technical stuff here - the technical stuff doesn't matter if your CV doesn't even get read.

So I'm going to correct that mistake.

Let me introduce you to a friend of ours - Kristen Kehrer of the Data Moves Me blog.

If you hang around Data Science groups in LinkedIn you may have heard of her already, but if not, she is someone that you ought to be following.

Kristen has created a video course called Up-Level Your Résumé, and she takes you through the 7 most important steps to getting that highly-paid Data Science job you've had your eye on.

Let me briefly take you through the 7 steps to updating your Data Science CV before I hand you over to Kristen...

Step 1 - The Layout of Your Data Science CV

Have you ever heard of ATS, the Application Tracking System? Nope, me neither.

Well, as it turns out, the ATS is used to automatically manage applicants and their resumes. It reads your CV and extracts relevant information, like your contact details.

Here's the thing, though. If your contact information is in the wrong place on your resume, it won't be read and your application will be automatically rejected.

Gahhhh!!!!

You don't want that.

Kristen teaches you exactly where to put all the important information so that your CV won't get rejected.

Think about that for a second. Getting this right means that your CV gets through and your competitors get rejected!

Those other guys might have hugely impressive skills on their Data Science resume, but they get thrown right out, while you get in!

Trust me - having this crucial information is worth the course entry fee all on its own!

Step 2 - Your Data Science CV Tagline

What is the first thing that gets read in a Data Science CV? The summary at the top.

What is the purpose of the summary? To showcase your prodigious talents? Highlight your education and experience?

Nope.

The purpose of the summary is to persuade the reader to continue reading.

The reviewer might have 200 Data Science resumes to read, and if your opening line is a snore-fest, they simply won't read more.

Their purpose at this stage is to reject as many applicants as possible so they don't have to read 200 CVs!

Kristen teaches you to use a tagline rather than a summary, and shows you exactly what to put in there, what to leave out and how to structure it.

That's another 80% of applicants rejected, and you're still standing!

Step 3 - Your Data Science Resume - Skills

Now that you've got that killer tagline and the reviewer wants to read more, here's where you get the chance to persuade him that you really do have the coding and modelling skills to be an effective and efficient Data Scientist.

If you're like the rest of us, you won't have all the Data Science skills in the world, so how do you showcase your skills (and lack of) to show that you're a great candidate for this job?

This is what Kristen focuses on in this lesson. She will teach you how to match your skills and experience to the Data Science job description, even if some of your skills need a bit of a brush-up. Better still, she shows you how to explain how to make an area where you're lacking sound positive rather than as a weakness or a deficit.

Step 4 - Your Data Science Resume - Experience

One of the most important skills that defines a Data Scientist is the relevant domain experience they have. It's just fine and dandy having logistic regression skills in business, but if you're applying for a job as a medical Data Scientist, they're going to want to know that you really do know your onions in the medicine department, and not just in business.

Kristen helps you match your experiences specifically to the domain in which you're applying, and teaches you how to add value to the Data Science job post by focusing on the benefits of your experiences rather than on their features.

So instead of saying 'I do logistic regressions', you should say something like 'I created a predictive model that increased efficiency by 68%, resulting in yada yada yada...'

You see the difference? 'Course you do...

Step 5 - Your Data Science CV - Education

You have an education, right? And some experience. But what counts as 'experience'? And is experience worth more than an education? So should you put education above experience in your Data Science CV? And how much importance - and therefore space - should you give each of education and experience?

Kristen teaches you how to get the balance just right, and gives you insights into what employers are looking for.

Step 6 - Match LinkedIn To Your Data Science CV

You've got a nice, shiny Data Science CV that is trimmed perfectly to that Data Science job you're targeting. You send it off, then wait. And wait, and wait. You never get a reply.

Oh dear, something's gone wrong!

Maybe the reason is because the reviewer took the time to look at your LinkedIn profile and saw that it paints the picture of someone completely different to the person he sees in the CV.

In this lesson, Kristen shows you exactly how to edit your LinkedIn profile so that it matches your job application - giving you a real advantage over all those other schmucks who didn't do it!

Step 7 - Your Data Science Personal Statement

It doesn't matter how good your Data Science CV is, it's a statement of the past. And you know what they say... the past is not a guide to the future!

Ultimately, a prospective employer wants to know what you can do for them now and in the future. This is where your Data Science personal statement or cover letter comes in, and it's probably more important than the CV (although if you don't get the CV right, they won't even read the cover letter).

The Data Science personal statement is the clincher and is what persuades the reviewer to pick up the 'phone and invite you to an interview.

In this lesson, Kristen goes through the most important details of your working life and teaches exactly how to structure your Data Science cover letter, how much detail to go into, what extra information should go here, keyword density and much more.

Youe Data Science CV - Bonuses

That's not all, because throughout the course, Kristen has made it really easy for you by creating all sorts of cheat sheets and documents to help you with every aspect of building the perfect Data Science CV for that perfect Data Science job.

As you go through the lessons Kristen gives you:

And if that wasn't enough, you'll also get:

Your Data Science Resume - Summary

All in all, I think this is a great course to help you update your Data Science resume, and I strongly recommend it if you're looking to level up your career and get the highly paid Data Science job that you deserve.

Go and check it out now!