Data Scientist Job Sites:

When starting your job search for Data Scientists roles, you might feel overwhelmed with preparing necessary materials like your resume and portfolio, or trying to sift through hundreds of job listings. Knowing the steps to take in your job search, how to prepare, and how to navigate the application and interview process will help you to find a job that matches your skills and career goals. The following sections provide tips and best practices to help you in your data science job search. 

Consider Your Career Path

Before starting your job search, determine the career path you would like to pursue. Do you see yourself stepping up the ladder at a large corporation? Would you prefer to work for a nonprofit or government agency? Think about what field or industry catches your interest. Also, consider your preferred work style. Some people prefer to work in an office full-time, others enjoy remote work, and still others like a hybrid model. Some Data Scientists work for a single organization full-time while others freelance. Knowing what you want out of your data science career will help determine the types of jobs you are looking for.

Decide Your Work Location(s)

Next, determine where you want to find a job. If you are seeking remote opportunities, this may not apply to you, but carefully research an organization’s remote work policy to be sure it is not actually a hybrid position that has been mislabeled on a job site, and to check if mostly-remote positions require travel to a company headquarters or office, and if so, how often. If you are looking at hybrid or in-office positions, consider if you want to find jobs in the area you currently call home or if you are willing to relocate for the right job. If you are willing to relocate, what cities are you willing to relocate to? Also, consider the average Data Scientist salary for the area and how that compares to the cost of living. 

Top cities for Data Scientists include:

• Silicon Valley, CA
• Raleigh-Durham, NC
• Toronto, VA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, D.C.

Know Alternate Data Scientist Job Titles

If you only search for job positions labeled “Data Scientist,” you will likely miss several promising job opportunities. Alternate Data Scientist job titles include: 

• Machine Learning Engineer
• Data Engineer
• Data Science Instructor
• Big Data Analytics Consultant

The requirements for these job titles may differ based on the position's duties and specialization. For example, a Machine Learning Engineer will primarily focus on improving machine learning processes, testing machine learning processes, and using machine learning to help organizations meet their objectives. By reading several job listings for different titles, you can learn what the general responsibilities of each job title involve. This will help you determine which job titles to watch for in your job search.

Set Job Alerts on Popular Job Listing Sites

Rather than having to manually browse every job listing website and conduct new searches each day, you can set up email alerts with job sites based on keywords and other criteria. This not only saves time but also helps to ensure you don’t miss out on listings buried beneath new posts or advertised posts. 

Popular sites for data science job listings include:

• Indeed
• LinkedIn
• Google Jobs
• Glassdoor
• Stack Overflow
• Startupers
• Amazon Jobs

If you find the job alerts sent to you are not matching the type of job you’re searching for, or that you want to get more leads, or wish to decrease how frequently you are emailed, you can change your job alert settings and search criteria. Do keep in mind that if you opt to receive job alerts less frequently, you may not be aware of a new job posting for several days, which could cost you the advantage of being among the first applicants.

Create a Professional Resume

When creating a professional Data Scientist resume, there is essential information every resume should include. You have the option of structuring your resume in different ways depending on where you wish to place emphasis. Your resume is one of the most crucial parts of your job application and often determines whether you will get a call from a recruiter. Formatting a professional resume will help to ensure you are considered for a Data Scientist role.

Every data science resume should include:

• Your name and contact information (phone number, email address, URL of your LinkedIn profile, and your digital data science portfolio
• A career objective/summary

• Education, awards, certificates, and certifications

• A measurement of your impact (for example, stating “I improved efficiency by 50%” as opposed to only saying “I improved efficiency.”)
• Programming languages, data science tools, and other skills

You can choose from three resume structures: reverse-chronological, functional, and combination. The reverse-chronological is the most common resume structure. You start by listing your most recent professional title and list additional jobs from most to least recent. Most people choose this style of resume, and it is the one recruiters are most accustomed to seeing. A functional or combination may throw a recruiter off, however, if you wish to emphasize your skills rather than your work experience, this format can work well.

Write a Professional Cover Letter 

Your cover letter lets the Hiring Manager understand your interest in the position, how your skills and experience relate, and reveals your personal and professional story. Before writing your letter, planning its structure with an outline can help you keep your writing clear and concise. Use the following as a general structure for your cover letter: 

1. Name and contact information in the heading. 
2. Add the date. 
3. Include the organization’s name and address. 
4. Greet the Hiring Manager by name and title. 
5. Introduce yourself. What is your professional story?
6. Explain your skills and qualifications. Be sure to mention any skills and qualifications specifically outlined in the job description.
7. Explain your recent accomplishments and projects, including those in your portfolio.
8. State what interests you about the available position and how you will benefit the team.
9. Thank the Hiring Manager for taking the time to review your application. State that you look forward to discussing the job further. You may wish to include your contact information again at this stage.
10. Sign the letter with your name.

Review Your Data Science Portfolio

Your portfolio provides proof of your skills and experience. To create an effective Data Scientist portfolio, aim for a balance of code-based and content-based projects and various projects to show what you can do. When planning your portfolio, consider the following structure:

1. An introductory statement of who you are and what you do.
2. Include further information about yourself and your experience.
3. Include your contact information.
4. Include three or four of your very best projects.

Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Consider LinkedIn as your digital resume. Include your job experience, include a professional headshot as your profile picture, connect with professionals in your field and people who you have worked with before, and fully fill out each section of the profile including your skills, education, and experience. LinkedIn can serve as a way to connect with recruiters and network virtually with others. You can also use LinkedIn to look for job searches, in which case your profile may act as your resume.

Research the Organization and Tailor Your Application

While you should have a cover letter, portfolio, and resume to work off, you will want to tailor these to each job you apply for. This does not mean reworking each of these from scratch, but rather tweaking them to highlight the specific skills and experiences highlighted in the job description. This will help your job application to stand out and show that you are a qualified candidate for the position. Taking the time to tailor your resume, portfolio, and cover letter to the job also shows recruiters that you take the time and consideration needed to put forth your best work.

Practice Interviewing

Participating in mock interviews and practicing responding to common interview questions can help you be prepared when a real interview comes your way. Interviews can be nerve-wracking for anyone, but practice and preparation can boost your confidence so that you can focus on conveying your skills and experience. The more at ease you are during an interview, the more the recruiter can see your true personality and professionalism, as well, which will help to determine if you’re a good fit for the team. You can practice interviewing with a mentor, fellow students, or a trusted professional.

Get feedback.

When preparing to start your job search, a mentor’s feedback can prove invaluable. Whenever possible, have a mentor offer feedback on your resume, portfolio, cover letter, and interview skills. Noble Desktop’s Data Science Certificate program includes one-on-one mentoring sessions that provide the opportunity to receive personalized feedback from an industry expert. 

Learn the Skills to Become a Data Scientist at Noble Desktop

If you are looking to start a new career in data science, you might think the only way for you to become a Data Scientist is by enrolling in a four-year university or pursuing other costly and lengthy educational options. However, there are many alternative methods available to help you transition into a data science career, including data science bootcamps and certificate courses designed to help working professionals gain the skills needed to obtain an entry-level job as a Data Scientist. Exploring in-person and live online data science bootcamps and certificate programs can help you find the class that meets your career goals, budget, and schedule. The first step to finding the class that fits your needs is to understand the differences between in-person classes and live online classes. 

In-person data science classes meet in a traditional classroom setting at a physical location. In-person classes have the advantage of providing all necessary equipment, such as computers and software, and allowing students to network with local professionals such as your classmates and instructor. You also have the advantage of learning from an expert instructor face-to-face. The primary drawback to in-person courses is the extra time and money required to commute to the physical learning location. Live online data science classes offer many of the same benefits as in-person classes, including the ability to learn in real-time from an expert instructor. You can also collaborate with classmates, and you have the advantage of learning remotely. 

Noble Desktop offers several different in-person and live online data science classes that can help you start a career as a Data Scientist. The Python for Data Science Bootcamp teaches students foundational programming concepts and how to handle different data types, use conditional statements to control the flow of a program, use Scikit-Learn, Matplotlib, Numpy, Pandas, and other Python libraries and tools. Noble’s Data Science Certificate program and Data Analytics Certificate program provide a deep dive into the topics and skills essential to launching a career in data science or data analytics and offer one-on-one mentorship and job search assistance. All Noble Desktop classes provide students with hands-on experience, flexible financing options, setup assistance, a free retake, small class sizes, and real-time guidance from an expert instructor.

Learn more about Noble Desktop’s in-person and live online data science classes.

You can also learn more about data science careers and data science learning options with Noble’s free Data Science Learning Hub.

Key Takeaways

• When preparing for your job search, start by considering your career path. 
• Set up job alerts using keywords and job titles so you can be among the first applicants and never miss a job opportunity that aligns with your interests. 
• Create and polish job application materials including your resume, cover letter, and portfolio. 
• You can receive comprehensive training to become a Data Scientist through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.