A common resume challenge faced by a data science intern is effectively showcasing relevant projects and experience in a way that stands out amidst other applicants with similar backgrounds. Our guide provides detailed strategies for clearly articulating the impact and technical complexities of their projects, thereby enabling candidates to demonstrate their unique value proposition to potential employers.
- Incorporate data science intern job advert keywords into key sections of your resume, such as the summary, header, and experience sections;
- Quantify your experience using achievements, certificates, and more in various data science intern resume sections;
- Apply practical insights from real-life data science intern resume examples to enhance your own profile;
- Choose the most effective data science intern resume format to succeed in any evaluation process, including Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Optimize your data science intern resume format to pass the ATS and recruiters' assessments
You may be wondering just how much time you need to spend on designing your data science intern resume.
What recruiters are looking for is systematised content that is clear and coherent. Thus, your data science intern resume needs to answer requirements and why you're the best candidate for the role from the get-go.
Often, a clear layout consists of:
- Sorting your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your most recent and relevant roles. This is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals;
- Writing your contact information (e.g. personal phone number and email address) and your portfolio or LinkedIn link in your data science intern resume header. If you're wondering to include a photo or not, always make sure that it's appropriate for the country you're applying in;
- Use the basic, most important data science intern resume sections - your experience, education, summary, etc. Use your resume's real estate wisely to tell a compelling, professional story and match job description's keywords;
- Don't go overboard with the length of your resume. One page is absolutely fine if you happen to have under a decade of relevant experience.
Are you still wondering if you should submit your data science intern resume in PDF or Word format ? The PDF has a few more advantages, as it doesn't change the format and the text can't be altered upon application.
Format matters most when your data science intern resume is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS).
The ATS parses resumes, looking for specific keywords, skills or experience that match the job description.
P.S. We recently did a study on how the ATS works and were able to demystify three of the biggest misconceptions about how it assesses candidate resumes.
To pass the ATS evaluation, select any of the serif or sans-serif fonts. Popular choices that would help your data science intern resume stand out include Raleway, Exo 2, Montserrat, etc.
Most traditionalists go for Arial or Times New Roman, but it's often the case that many candidates choose these fonts, and you'd thus lose points on the uniqueness front.
The layout of a resume can differ by region – Canadian resumes may use a distinct format.
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If you don't happen to have that much relevant experience for the role, you could select a different format for your resume. Popular choices include:
- functional skill-based resume format - that puts the main focus on your skills and accomplishments;
- hybrid resume format - to get the best of both worlds with your data science intern experience and skills.
Data science intern resume sections to answer recruiters' checklists:
- Header to help recruiters quickly allocate your contact details and have a glimpse over your most recent portfolio of work
- Summary or objective to provide an overview of your career highlights, dreams, and goals
- Experience to align with job requirements and showcase your measurable impact and accomplishments
- Skills section/-s to pinpoint your full breadth of expertise and talents as a candidate for the data science intern role
- Education and certifications sections to potentially fill in any gaps in your experience and show your commitment to the industry
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Proficiency in data science tools and programming languages such as Python, R, SQL, and machine learning libraries.
- Evidence of practical experience with data analysis, including internships, projects, or participation in data competitions.
- Understanding of data manipulation and cleaning techniques to ensure data quality for analysis.
- Experience with data visualization tools and software such as Tableau, Power BI, or matplotlib in Python.
- Knowledge of statistical analysis, hypothesis testing, and modeling techniques relevant to data science.
Data science intern resume without experience: a walk-through guide
If you don't happen to have any relevant experience yet, you can substitute this with:
- Short-term gigs and stunts - like month-long internships, that you have done during your university days
- Contract work - be specific about the relevance and outcomes of each role you include
- Resume format that prioritizes your skills - the functional-skill-based format or hybrid format could work
- Research roles - feature those especially prominently if you've participated in a noteworthy project or your role was of utmost importance to the project's success.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Detail the size and complexity of the datasets you have managed or analyzed to demonstrate your ability to handle significant data volumes.
- Include any improvements in processing time or efficiency you contributed to, showcasing your ability to optimize data operations.
- Specify the percentage by which your insights or models increased accuracy, revealing your impact on predictive analysis.
- Document any cost savings achieved through your data-driven decisions, highlighting your contribution to the company's financial health.
- List how many data visualizations or dashboards you developed, to represent your skill in data interpretation and communication.
- Mention the number of machine learning models you've built and their operational use to show real-world application of your skills.
- Quantify the outcomes of your findings or recommendations, like how much they improved a business process or metric.
- Cite the number of projects you've completed or led as it showcases your project management and leadership experience.
Action verbs for your data science intern resume
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You can most certainly use color on your data science intern resume to highlight important information (e.g. headline, job titles, degrees, etc.) or add more personality (e.g. icons and different resume section headings). Just make sure you use up to two colors (primary and secondary), as too many different hues may make your data science intern resume seem too unprofessional or childish.
Balancing hard and soft skills in your data science intern resume
Recruiters indeed pay close attention to the specific hard and soft skills candidates possess. Hard skills refer to technical abilities or your proficiency in technologies, while soft skills are the personal attributes and qualities developed over your lifetime.
If you're unsure about effectively quantifying these skills on your resume, follow our step-by-step guide. It's crucial to first understand the key job requirements for the role. Doing so enables you to accurately list your:
- Hard skills in sections like skills, education, and certifications. Your technical expertise is straightforward to quantify. Most organizations find it sufficient to mention the certificates you've earned, along with your proficiency level.
- Soft skills within your experience, achievements, strengths, etc. Defining interpersonal communication traits in your resume can be challenging. Focus on showcasing the accomplishments you've achieved through these skills.
Remember, when tailoring your data science intern resume for the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), ensure that the skills you list match exactly with those in the job requirements. For instance, if the job listing specifies "Microsoft Word," include this exact term rather than just "Word" or "MSO."
Top skills for your data science intern resume:
Python
R
SQL
Pandas
NumPy
Machine Learning
Data Visualization (e.g., Matplotlib, Seaborn)
TensorFlow
Scikit-Learn
Tableau
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Communication
Teamwork
Adaptability
Attention to Detail
Time Management
Curiosity
Creativity
Analytical Thinking
The top 5 certifications for your data science intern resume:
- Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) - INFORMS
- Data Science Certificate - Harvard University
- Data Science MicroMasters - University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
- Professional Certificate in Data Science - Microsoft
- IBM Data Science Professional Certificate - IBM
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You can most certainly use color on your data science intern resume to highlight important information (e.g. headline, job titles, degrees, etc.) or add more personality (e.g. icons and different resume section headings). Just make sure you use up to two colors (primary and secondary), as too many different hues may make your data science intern resume seem too unprofessional or childish.
showcase academic background with education and certifications' sections
Listing your education and certifications should be a rudimentary part of your resume writing.
Including your relevant academic background - in the form of your higher education degree and niche-specific certificates - will prove knowledge of the industry.
For your education section:
- Start by including your degree, followed by start and graduation dates, as well as the institution;
- You could include relevant coursework, major/ minor , or GPA, only if your've just graduated from college or if this information would further support your application;
- If you have an "ongoing" degree,, you can still list it in case you think your diploma can impress recruiters or it's required;
Follow a similar logic for your certifications section by listing the institution, alongside dates you've obtained the certificate. For some of the most recent and relevant industry certificates , check out the next part of our guide:
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You can most certainly use color on your data science intern resume to highlight important information (e.g. headline, job titles, degrees, etc.) or add more personality (e.g. icons and different resume section headings). Just make sure you use up to two colors (primary and secondary), as too many different hues may make your data science intern resume seem too unprofessional or childish.
Recommended reads:
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Select a professional font for your data science intern resume (like Ruby or Montserrat) to ensure it stays legible.
Recommended reads:
Which one to use: a resume summary or a resume objective?
The data science intern resume summary or objective serves as a good introduction to your experience for recruiters.
Have you ever wondered which one (the summary or objective) will be more appropriate for your data science intern resume?
- If you are a less experienced professional, write a resume objective statement. The objective is about three sentences long and provides recruiters with information about your career goals, strengths, and achievements . It should basically denote how you see yourself in this particular role, and what is your relevant experience and/or know-how;
- If you happen to have plenty of relevant experience, select your most impressive achievements for your resume summary. The summary is no longer than five sentences and serves as a storytelling instrument - highlighting your greatest career wins . Don't forget to align your summary with the job requirements to ensure your resume stays relevant to the role, while passing the Applicant Tracker System assessments.
Read on for more information and examples of resume summaries and objectives from real world professionals.
Resume summaries for a data science intern job
- To leverage advanced proficiency in Python, R, SQL, and machine learning to assist in the development and optimization of data-driven strategies that propel the analytics capabilities of an established finance institution in New York.
- Seeking to utilize strong statistical analysis and predictive modeling skills to support the customer data insights team in a leading e-commerce conglomerate to enhance decision-making processes and customer experience.
- Aspiring to contribute innovative data visualization and algorithmic problem-solving abilities to enhance data infrastructure projects in a fast-paced tech startup located in Silicon Valley.
- Eager to apply an educational foundation in data science and hands-on experience from collegiate research projects to deepen the understanding and application of big data analysis for a healthcare provider in Boston.
- Aiming to bring meticulous data curation, data management expertise, and passion for machine learning to bolster real-time data processing and analytics systems for an energy sector leader in Houston.
- Intent on bringing a skill set encompassing data mining, AI development, and complex statistical analysis to the market research team of a globally-recognized environmental consultancy firm in Berlin, aiming for breakthrough insights on sustainability trends.
more relevant sections for your data science intern resume
Perhaps you feel that your current resume could make use of a few more details that could put your expertise and personality in the spotlight.
We recommend you add some of these sections for a memorable first impression on recruiters:
- Projects - you could also feature noteworthy ones you've done in your free time;
- Awards - showcasing the impact and recognition your work has across the industry;
- Volunteering - the social causes you care the most about and the soft skills they've helped you sustain and grow;
- Personality section - hobbies, interests, favorite quote/ books, etc. could help recruiters gain an even better understanding of who you are.
Key takeaways
- Your data science intern resume is formatted professionally and creates an easy-to-read (and -understand) experience for recruiters;
- You have included all pertinent sections (header, summary/objective, experience, skills, certifications) within your data science intern resume;
- Instead of just listing your responsibilities, you've qualified them with skills and the results of your actions;
- Within your data science intern resume, you've taken the time to align specific job requirements with your unique expertise, showcasing the value you can provide as a professional;
- Technologies and personal skills are featured across different sections of your data science intern resume to achieve the perfect balance.
