Types of resumes for data science aspirants

Employment growth for data scientists is predicted to be 35% between 2022 and 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Moreover, an average of 17,700 jobs annually for data scientists are projected over the next ten years. However, to help you grab a lucrative job opportunity in data science, you need a well-defined resume that can help distinguish you from other candidates.

But it might be tough to decide which resume format is best with so many options available. Let’s dive into data science resume types and highlight data science CV formats.

What are the different types of resumes?

There are several data science resume types, each designed to highlight different aspects of your skills and experience.

1. Chronological resume

When you have a chronological resume, the most recent job history is listed first. Recruiters or hiring managers prefer this resume format because it offers a clear view of your career, highlighting both growth and dedication. The structure of a chronological resume includes the following:

• Header: Grab the recruiter’s attention by mentioning your name, number, address, e-mail ID, and LinkedIn profile.
• Career overview: Provide a summary of your experience and demonstrate your expertise.
• Work experience: Highlight your work experience with the latest one on the top.
• Education: Similar to work experience, mention your most recent degree in the beginning.
• Additional sections: Add the skills, certifications, rewards, or volunteering projects to enhance your chances of landing a job.

2. Functional resume

If you have had gaps in employment but have consistently been upgrading your skills, or if you have limited job experience, a functional resume may be the right fit for you. This format places a strong focus on your skills and qualifications, making it ideal for new grads, freelancers, or consultants with different project experiences. Here is an overview of what should be included in a functional resume:

• Header: This is the same as for a chronological resume and includes the candidate’s name along with their contact information.
• Objective: Start this off with a short statement that summarizes your career goals; describe how you would like to be utilized within the function you are applying for.
• Summary of skills: This comprises the meat of a functional resume. Emphasize your major skills and qualifications under this heading, as this will underline your knowledge and what you will bring to the job.
• Work experience: Relevant work experience should be mentioned. Highlight only those positions that will demonstrate your level of skill and achievements.
• Education: Mention your educational qualifications, starting with the highest earned.
• Other skills: As with a chronological resume, include other skills, abilities, or projects that may demonstrate your level of ability more completely.

3. Combination resume

It incorporates elements of both functional and chronological formats. It offers a balanced emphasis on both your work experience and your acquired skills. This format favors people who have diverse work experiences and those who wish to start a new career. This also helps in explaining gaps in employment. The following is a brief outline for a combination resume:

• Header: Identify yourself with your name and contact information.
• Summary: Fast glance into the professional life, focusing on major accomplishments and career pursuits.
• Work experience: Describe previous work experience by outlining positions held in the past and emphasizing responsibility, contribution, and impact made on previous employers.
• Skills: Mention the top hard/soft skills to show relevance against the industry/role type that you are targeting.
• Education: List your qualifications, starting with the highest.
• Other sections: This is where other relevant areas are brought out, including certifications, projects, and volunteer work, which really makes a resume very catchy and full of content.

4. Infographic resume

This format adds graphical elements, charts, and other visual effects to the traditional resume approach in a way that brings flavor from your personality to life on the page. Infographic resumes work well when trying to make a memorable impression in an interview, for a website, on social media, or email applications. They must have sections like a job summary, skills, experience, and education.

• Keep the design simple and clean, and use black-and-white icons and images for ease of printing and clarity in general. Do this if you are a creative professional working on the showcasing of your own design acumen.
• Bring forth a visually striking CV that will help you stand out from the competition.

5. Targeted resume

A targeted resume is one that has been tailored to meet the requirements of a particular job. This approach is most effective for people who are career-focused, applying for very competitive positions, or even seeking advancement in a particular field.

The benefits associated with using a targeted resume are:

• The resume is finely tuned for the requirements of the data science job desired, which appeals to hiring managers.
• Clearly show your alignment for the role to maximize the opportunity of securing a data science interview.

Resumes for data science professionals

Data science professionals’ resumes can vary based on their level of experience. Let’s explore the resume for different stages of the data science career in detail.

• Entry-level data scientist/Recent graduate

Your resume should emphasize your passion for data science, your core competencies, and your ability to contribute to the position. Both technical and soft skills are important, so don’t forget to highlight those skills. 

Make sure to include your educational background and any relevant projects, internships, work experiences, or certifications that demonstrate your skills.

• Mid-level data scientist

Highlight your experience, key achievements, and areas of expertise. Mention the technical skills you have mastered, such as big-data technology and more sophisticated machine learning tools.

Provide a detailed description of your work experience by emphasizing projects where you had significant contributions. Add the projects you worked on, highlighting the technologies utilized, difficulties encountered, and results obtained. Make sure to list your degrees or additional certifications related to the field.

• Senior-level data scientist/data science manager

This resume is for an advanced job role where you need to emphasize your leadership qualities, strategic impact, and expertise in data science. Demonstrate leadership, strategic thinking, team management, advanced technical skills, and significant contributions to the business through mentoring and influencing strategic initiatives.

Describe large-scale or high-impact projects you’ve led. List your degrees and include any executive-level or specialized certifications that demonstrate advanced expertise. Mention any publications, patents, or industry recognition. Highlight any contributions to the field, such as open-source projects or keynote speaking engagements.

Key elements to highlight in a data science resume

It is important to tailor the resume and add all the necessary information to create a lasting impression on the recruiter. We have curated a list of key elements that must be highlighted in a data science resume.

• Professional summary/objective: If you are a professional, write a brief statement about your background, achievements, and expertise, but if you are a fresh graduate or diploma holder, show your interest and potential for contribution.
• Technical skills: Mention the relevant technical skills in programming, machine learning frameworks, big data technologies, and data visualization tools. Add some soft skills that are growing wider, such as creative thinking and communication.
• Experience: Describe your responsibilities, achievements, and key projects. This constitutes problem statements, strategies, resolutions, tools, and methodologies used.
• Education: State your qualifications in chronological order, citing relevant coursework and certifications.
• Achievements and awards: Mention all the awards received, publications, research papers, or any other important contribution to one’s field.

Conclusion

As a first step towards a data science career, you can enroll in a data science program. At Online Manipal, the prestigious Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) offers online MSc in Data Science. Designed by expert faculty, the comprehensive curriculum of the program helps learners acquire advanced skills and knowledge in data science. Online Manipal also provides 100% placement assistance which includes resume building.

The best resumes for data science aspirants are those that reflect their skills, experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm for the role in a clear and precise way. The above-mentioned types of resumes can help you create a compelling resume, effectively present your qualifications, and stand out in the competitive field of data science.