Data scientists like yourself don’t spend their days simply gathering and analyzing data—this job is much more nuanced.
Leveraging industry expertise and scientific methods, you meticulously analyze extensive datasets across various fields to identify key results and metrics crucial for a company’s success.
As you look through job descriptions and dream of your next position, we know the last thing you want to spend time on is polishing your data scientist resume and writing a cover letter. Luckily, we’ve eased the process by writing five data scientist cover letter samples equipped with handy tips and an outline. Coupled with our free cover letter builder, you’ll be off to a great start.
Copy this text for your Data Scientist cover letter!
7728 SW. Made-up St.
Monroe Township, NJ 08831
(123) 456-7890
January 23, 2023
Bonnie Wong, Hiring Manager
Best Buy
1000 W 78th St
Richfield, MN 55423
Dear Ms. Wong:
Best Buy has been my go-to company for the most reputable brands and innovative tech products for years, and I’d love to apply my strengths as a data scientist toward helping you continue to enrich lives through technology. With a bachelor’s in statistics and a strong background in machine learning, AWS, and Python, I can analyze complex data to bring your strategies to the next level and positively influence key decisions that will affect customers.
My 4 years spent working as a data scientist at Spectrix Analytical Services rewarded me with the ability to mine vast amounts of data and apply scientific methods to analyze them with objective-specific focus and solve real-world business problems. I extracted data from 6 scattered sources, crystallizing the massive information volume into answers for difficult questions that provided business-wide insight. My user-friendly solutions also improved agility and scalability in the form of a centralized system for one of Spectrix’s manufacturing partners that boosted product output by 13%.
I also collaborated with a team of 5 other data scientists and 3 project managers, using Python and knowledge of production line infrastructures to revolutionize an e-commerce algorithm that tailors featured products around key customer browsing data. The production recommendation engine that I helped my team create dramatically improved customers’ time on-page, increasing conversion rates by 15% and growing annual profits by $430K.
My enriching professional experience, effective communication, and ability to apply a human touch to technology have made me an expert at translating complex scientific data into highly legible and reproducible machine learning systems. Please reach out to learn more about how I can develop innovative applications to better serve Best Buy’s customers and community.
Thank you for your consideration,
Howard Irvin
Enclosures:
Resume
Application
Why this cover letter works
- What better way to introduce yourself to a company than by connecting with them as a customer? Howard takes it a step further by offering job skills that relate to the company’s mission statement.
- In your data scientist cover letter, establish a personal connection with the company and highlight that you’re already on the same page when it comes to their goals and values.
- Howard recognizes areas where his accomplishments align with the requirements in the job ad, and he details how they make him the ideal data scientist for Best Buy. He also uses many job description keywords and phrases that apply to his background.
- If you’re drawing a blank on how to relate to the company, you can always find examples to reference in their job listing or website!
- The tone and content of your data scientist cover letter should establish a strong link with the company’s values and demonstrate that your work is impactful.
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Copy this text for your Data Science Internship cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue
New York City, NY 10001
(123) 456-7890
November 20, 2023
James Smith
Google
123 Fictional Lane
New York City, NY 10001
Dear Mr. Smith:
The adoption of robust data-driven strategies to accelerate business growth and operational efficiency by numerous firms globally underscores data science’s influence. Driven by a profound interest in this captivating interface and in line with Google’s long-established reputation as a frontrunner in data technology, I’m thrilled at the opportunity to contribute my skills as a data science intern at Google.
An internship at mParticle brought my academic background in data cleansing to life. Using prominent tools like Pandas for data wrangling and Keras for addressing missing data proved to be rather potent in successfully handling a dataset comprising thousands of entries. This experience led to a better understanding of practical data-preprocessing techniques and meaningfully contributed to a significant 18.7% reduction in error rates in our predictive models.
My academic journey at Pace University enabled me to master numerous Python libraries, such as pandas and scikit-learn, which I deployed to tackle complex data analysis problems and develop predictive models. One highlight of my coursework was creating a prediction model as a part of a project, leveraging Python to increase the efficiency of hypothetical marketing campaigns.
Similarly, my knack for data visualization with tools like Matplotlib and Seaborn was instrumental in an NYC science fair project. The project revolved around social media’s impact on teenage mental health. My effective visualization of insights from a dataset of 1,200+ social media usage logs was notable, going on to secure 3rd place in the citywide contest.
I’m excited to join Google’s data science team, harnessing my passion for data science, technical skills, and penchant for delivering actionable insights to drive Google’s next wave of innovations. Thanks for your time and consideration, and I look forward to delving deeper into my qualifications in an upcoming interview.
Sincerely,
Sofia Kowalski
Why this cover letter works
- You remember that local science fair, right? How about that first-prize certificate, possibly for your data visualization project? It’s time to flashback to that feat and use it to dress your data science internship cover letter with victory.
- Take the case of Sophia’s triumphant application of Matplotlib and Seaborn, earning her third place in a local competition. But even as you relive a similar experience, the skills and tools used should be relevant to the role.
Entry-Level Data Scientist Cover Letter Example
USE THIS TEMPLATE
Copy this text for your Entry-Level Data Scientist cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90001
(123) 456-7890
November 20, 2023
Emma Johnson
Amazon
123 Fictional Lane
Los Angeles, CA 90001
Dear Mr. Johnson:
I’ve always been captivated by the sheer power of data. My inclination toward technology evolved into a passion for leveraging data to extract insights, armed with a Bachelor’s in computer science and a well-rounded exposure in statistical analysis, natural language processing, and more. I’m eager to apply my technical acumen alongside my teamwork skills to help Amazon navigate the data science landscape.
In my recent internship at a Los Angeles tech start-up, Sidebench, I relied heavily on predictive analytics and statistical analysis using tools like R and Python. My proficient data handling trimmed our model’s processing time by 13.7%. As part of a Scrum team, I successfully navigated convoluted datasets, eliminating over 34 hurdles that led to invaluable insights for our product strategy team.
I ventured into natural language processing in my senior year project at Loyola Marymount University. Using NLTK and spaCy, I built a sentiment analysis model on an extensive dataset of customer reviews, which enhanced review classification accuracy significantly.
This experience validated my ability to draw actionable insights from unstructured data.
Further, my cloud computing skills were put to the test in a local hackathon, where I implemented an AWS solution that enhanced data retrieval speed by 13.9%, accounting for our team’s commendable second-place finish. This exposure helped me understand how scalable cloud solutions can revolutionize data management in the modern age.
Eager to explore the robust data science discipline at Amazon, I’m confident that my vibrant mix of technical expertise and teamwork skills will contribute to your data-driven approach. Please feel free to contact me for more discussions on how I could be a valuable addition to your team. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Mia Petrov
Why this cover letter works
- If stranded about crafting a compelling entry-level data scientist cover letter, picture yourself making a grand entrance with an anecdote of a past internship experience.
- Talk about the company you interned at (Cue Sidebench), the responsibilities you shouldered, the skills and tools used (cue predictive analytics and Python), and the measurable impact you made (in this case, cutting a model’s processing time by 13.7%). Alternatively, shine your spotlight on a personal or school project.
Copy this text for your Senior Data Scientist cover letter!
172 NW Fable Ave.
New York, NY 12601
(123) 456-7890
January 23, 2023
Kelly Brown, Hiring Manager
GrubHub
9374 Wellington Street
Brooklyn, NY 11207
Dear Ms. Brown:
Who hasn’t loved GrubHub’s quick, reliable food delivery since the start of the pandemic? I’m one of countless customers you’ve reached, and I want to help streamline your business infrastructures with my software development, algorithm, and leadership skills. Restaurants truly do sit at the heart of communities, so as your next results-oriented senior data scientist, I’ll focus on growth and collaboration to bolster your teams’ success and customers’ satisfaction.
My master’s in computer science gave me a strong analytical and tech-based foundation for Python, SQL, and AWS—the skills that quickly became my passion during my decade of innovative growth at 2U. Using these tools, I analyzed the customer and industry data from a vast pool of disparate sources, identifying problems to solve and opportunities for improvement. After successfully optimizing user-targeted algorithms upon which countless digital courses hinged, I drove a 16% improvement in user feedback.
I also planned and conducted A/B testing to identify pain points and weaknesses in existing systems, distilling the volume of data I’d gathered via machine learning, user feedback, bounce rates, and customer retention statistics into understandable language and usable, efficient actions plans for 2U’s development teams. As a result, the company saw a reduction of 57 manual labor hours per month as well as a 14% increase in customer retention.
While my work has been exhilarating, I’m hungry for more complex challenges. As a self-directed senior data scientist who can make educated decisions in a fast-paced and ambiguous environment, I’m eager to leverage state-of-the-art machine learning to trailblaze new models and strategies. Thank you for considering me for this role, and I look forward to speaking soon about increasing GrubHub’s impact.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Santos
Enclosures:
Resume
Application
2 letters of recommendation
Why this cover letter works
- Jennifer connects with GrubHub through a globally unifying circumstance, concurring with the company’s emphasis on strategies that benefit its customers. She also demonstrates value with specific skills and phrases from the job description and website.
- Mention your technical and goal-oriented alignment with the company alongside any personal connection. Look for opportunities to show you’re the right person for the job—especially when applying for senior roles.
- Jennifer’s senior data scientist cover letter features concise yet informative paragraphs that exemplify key skills with indisputable quantifying metrics. She’s clearly examined the job description for current obstacles to highlight her history of solving similar problems.
- Read through the company site and data scientist job listing, and then provide examples of you meeting those requirements that show why you already belong there!
Copy this text for your NLP Data Scientist cover letter!
9070 Myth St.
Kennewick, WA 99337
(123) 456-7890
January 23, 2023
William Sanchez, Hiring Manager
Amazon
695 Elm Lane
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Dear Mr. Sanchez:
As a genuine people person fascinated by diverse cultures, I believe I offer the qualities and characteristics you’re looking for in your next NLP data scientist. Of course, people skills are a fraction of what’s needed, and I’m excited to apply my combination of customer and back-end experience towards tackling tough language problems and providing Amazon with elegant solutions.
During my previous stint at Avenica, I leveraged A/B testing and machine learning to build a sleek automated system that assesses the quality and credibility of user reviews. I collaborated with multiple teams, primarily with the software engineering and data analysis departments, to improve the accuracy and performance of MT models company-wide, which further boosted the efficacy of the new automated system. My diligence in this area improved review accuracy and reliability by 21%.
I also built bridges between client-side and back-end functionality, between customer and company. By collaborating with teams and synthesizing and streamlining large volumes of data, I broke down the language in Avenica’s customer-facing features to pinpoint areas of lesser relevance. Using linguistic, machine learning, and machine translation skills to improve relevance, I helped the company see a 14% increase in customer return rates in multiple countries.
I’m eager to offer Amazon my expertise in machine translation, Python, advanced troubleshooting, and multi-level collaboration to design data-processing workflows that will collect, analyze, and prepare vast natural language data sets. I’d love to connect soon to provide additional information on how my cross-functional data analysis and linguistic prowess qualify me to assist Amazon’s International Search team and community.
With sincere thanks,
Marc McGrath
Enclosures:
Resume
Application
Letter of recommendation
AI & Machine Learning professional certification
Why this cover letter works
- Since Amazon’s job ad emphasizes communicating with diverse people, Marc springboards from this before diving into his technical skills that answer Amazon’s call.
- Focus on technical and collaborative experience with more complex achievements when applying for a nuanced role like an NLP data scientist.
- Marc has a lot to cover for this advanced role, but he packs his cover letter with examples inspired by the job description, such as machine translation. He also works in language from the job description and website to exemplify communication skills that are imperative for an NLP data scientist.
- If the job description focuses more on hard skills (as it will for a data scientist!), then do the same while maintaining personality.
- Always do your research and pay attention to the focal points in the job description and company site; then, focus your NLP data scientist cover letter on defining traits from your research.
Data Scientist Resume
Need a resume to pair with your data scientist cover letter?
How to Write a Cover Letter for a Data Scientist
Keep these key themes in mind while you showcase your best qualities as a data scientist. First, study the job description and research the company to determine which of your achievements are most relevant. Then, proofread thoroughly for tone and accuracy to ensure you’re sending the right message.
Customize your data scientist cover letter to the job
Way too many cover letters leave recruiters nodding off by the end of the first paragraph. One of the best ways to keep your data scientist cover letter from sounding boring and generic is to research the company and pay attention to the job description. When you read through the website and job listing, look for specific needs or skills that stand out as strengths you have or things you’ve done before.
Fortunately, there’s plenty of scope available since the field is so broad, so look for tidbits like KPIs or testing systems that line up with your experience and achievements. Comb the company’s website for interpersonal values you can demonstrate in your cover letter—especially anything like collaboration, communication, or goals that reach across the globe. These will demonstrate your ability to think broadly.
Focus on a couple of data highlights
Data scientists are specifically known for their ability to assess massive amounts of data and hone in on the few points most relevant to their company. It’s imperative that you demonstrate this ability within your cover letter by picking a couple of career highlights to focus on and backing them up with key metrics.
Your cover letter should go beyond the bullet points in your data science resume, but you don’t have room to tackle the details of more than one big accomplishment per paragraph. So, pick whatever’s most impressive—and what lines up with the company’s requests—to keep your cover letter under one page.
When deciding what to write, ask yourself the following:
- What company-wide testing systems did you develop, launch and maintain?
- Did you vastly improve sales rates by gathering data via machine learning and translating the information into useful manufacturing improvement strategies?
- How did you use data integration to streamline business practices that reduce the company’s manual labor hours to this day?
Match your tone to the company
While customizing your data scientist cover letter to the job description and company values will build an excellent foundation for you to showcase your most glowing accomplishments, your cover letter needs a little more. You must convey a cohesive, positive message.
Ensure the feel of your letter is in line with the company culture where you’re applying. If you’ve checked all the boxes by personally connecting with company values and providing concise examples with metrics, but it still doesn’t feel right, circle back to the company website and job description to perfect your tone. Is the company culture more corporate and formal, or does it place more value on friendliness, personality, and community ethics?
Ensure the feel of your letter is in line with the company culture where you’re applying.
When you’ve settled on the right tone, dedicate time for revision:
- Eliminate all typos and grammatical errors, and even write a few different versions that highlight different accomplishments to see which ones work best.
- Revise, rewrite, and edit as much as you need to. You’ll thank yourself for it later when you get the response you’ve been waiting for!
Outline of a Data Scientist Cover Letter
There’s no need to stare at a blank screen; we’ve put together an outline for you, complete with examples that you can use to inspire your own cover letter.
How to start a data scientist cover letter
Your contact info: Include your name, address, phone number, and email address (along with your LinkedIn or other professional social media) if you’re using a cover letter template.
- Formatting: Leave your name out of your address anytime you use a block format.
Example
9070 Myth St.
Kennewick, WA 99337
(123) 456-7890
Date: This should reflect your exact submission date, e.g., January 5, 2023.
- Formatting: Write out the full date instead of shortening it.
Inside address: This one’s easy—it’s just the address of the person receiving your application materials. Always find and include their name, company and role, and address.
Example
Kelly Brown, Hiring Manager
GrubHub
9374 Wellington Street
Brooklyn, NY 11207
- Formatting: Each part of the address should be on its own line. Also, make sure you double-space between the inside address and greeting.
Greeting: Also known as the salutation, the greeting delivers a crucial first impression. As a data scientist, you’re a pro at digging and investigating, so put in the effort to find the name of the hiring manager or employer, and don’t even think about using generic, tired phrases like “To Whom It May Concern.”
Example
Dear Mr. Sanchez:
- Formatting: Don’t use a comma after your greeting—use a colon instead for professionalism. However, if the company is notoriously casual, a comma will do.
How to write your data scientist cover letter
Body: The body of your data scientist cover letter should include three to four paragraphs that show your interest, credentials and qualifications, and enthusiasm for future discussion.
Opening paragraph: Most cover letters are insufferably generic, so make sure yours shines. Review the following examples of opening paragraphs for data scientist cover letters to see how you can make yours attention-grabbing and effective.
Bad
I’ve had all kinds of experience as a data scientist, so you’d be crazy not to hire me! I can work with all kinds of people too, so I’d be a great team member at your company.
Why It’s Bad: Well, this opener is memorable—but not in a good way! It’s far too vague for a data scientist. The whole point of the role is the ability to condense vast datasets into clear points, and this applicant has done the opposite with vague sentences that provide no clear information. The language is also informal, and we see nothing that’s company-specific.
Good
Best Buy has been my go-to company for the most reputable brands and innovative tech products for years, and I’d love to apply my strengths as a data scientist toward helping you continue to enrich lives through technology. With a bachelor’s in statistics and a strong background in machine learning, AWS, and Python, I can analyze complex data to bring your strategies to the next level and positively influence key decisions that will affect customers.
Why It’s Good: This opening paragraph has it all—a personal connection with the company that leads to references and values from the company website. The applicant also follows up with a well-rounded set of qualifications, many of which are specifically called for in the job description, once again tying into the company’s goals.
Paragraphs 2-3: The body of your cover letter needs to substantiate your claims that hooked the reader in your starting paragraph. Each paragraph should hone in on one specific achievement from your experience as a data scientist, such as a testing system you created or a specific company KPI you improved with machine learning data.
Example
My master’s in computer science gave me a strong analytical and tech-based foundation for Python, SQL, and AWS—the skills that quickly became my passion during my decade of innovative growth at 2U. Using these tools, I analyzed the customer and industry data from a vast pool of disparate sources, identifying problems to solve and opportunities for improvement. After successfully optimizing user-targeted algorithms upon which countless digital courses hinged, I drove a 16% improvement in user feedback.
Why It’s Good: This paragraph is off to a strong start with metrics, specific skills, and personal qualities that all exemplify an excellent data scientist. And then the applicant does a beautiful job of concisely explaining how all these selling points tie into a single, results-driven achievement that’s parallel to one of the obstacles listed in the job description.
Closing paragraph: Finish strong with a sentence summary of how your values and qualifications align with what the company/organization needs. Lastly, give a call to action.
Bad
I love Best Buy and definitely would like working there. And as you can see, I’m qualified. Drop me a line for more information.
Why It’s Bad: Our bad Best Buy applicant is back at it again: At least they mentioned the actual company this time, but this closing paragraph is still too vague and informal. How are they qualified? Get specific!
Good
My enriching professional experience, effective communication, and ability to apply a human touch to technology have made me an expert at translating complex scientific data into highly legible and reproducible machine learning systems. Please reach out to learn more about how I can develop innovative applications to better serve Best Buy’s customers and community.
Why It’s Good: This is the ideal blend of personal qualifications and personality, language from the job description, and clear alignment with company values that we like to see. One glance at this paragraph tells you that this data scientist is already familiar with the company and role and is eager for advancement.
- Formatting: Single-space within each paragraph, but double-space in between paragraphs for readability.
How to end a data scientist cover letter
Signature: Thank the reader for their time if you haven’t done it yet, and use a professional close along with your real name.
Example
Thank you for your consideration,
Howard Irvin
- Formatting: If you’re presenting any hard copies of your data scientist cover letter, quadruple space, so you’ll have room to sign your name with blue/black ink.
Enclosure(s): This important piece to include in your cover letter signals the reader that more valuable information comes after the letter itself. A data scientist should always include their resume and application with their cover letter along with any professional letters of recommendation from previous relevant roles or certifications—especially when advancing to a senior position!
Example
Enclosures:
Resume
Application
Letter of recommendation
AI and Machine Learning Professional certification
- Formatting: Use the correct singular or plural form of “enclosure” depending on how many items you’re enclosing.
Is Your Data Scientist Resume Ready?
A data scientist like you has probably already synthesized all this information so you’re ready to go and start your cover letter right away. And while your cover letter should certainly be outstanding, you don’t want your resume template or information to pale in comparison. Plus, it’s easier to write your cover letter once your resume is complete!
Our resume tips and tools will help you succeed. If you have an old resume, what better time to refresh it? Check your resume for quality or write your resume from scratch if you haven’t started yet. If you’re sick of making decisions about your job documents, you can skip the search for the right template and edit this one here.
Data Scientist Resume
Need a resume to pair with your data scientist cover letter?
Doing your homework and putting in the extra effort to make sure that both your cover letter and resume are in peak condition will serve as the first step in demonstrating what you have to offer as a data scientist. Catching your potential employer’s attention means you’re a few steps closer to landing your ideal job!
Just like you turn large data sets into actionable insights, leverage data to show that you’re a skilled candidate. Talk about how long you’ve been a data scientist, your skills in things like statistics, data analysis, and machine learning, and the impact you’ve made. This is where you can expand on a particularly juicy metric from your resume, such as boosting product output or growing yearly profits.
Keep your cover letter concise and to the point. Study the data scientist job description carefully and find ways to connect to the company, be it through your background in exploratory data analysis or through your personal values. Include examples of these crucial connections, and try to wrap it all up in 300 words or less.
Cover letters always used to include an address, but this has largely been replaced by emails instead. However, you can include the company address if you wish. For your own address, the city and state will suffice. The same rule that applies to your job is important here, too—too much data can become nothing but clutter.
