11+ Data Scientist Skills That Will Make Your Resume Stand Out

Data scientists wield the power of numbers, algorithms, and insights like mystics. You work from the backline to transform information, bring order to chaos, and help businesses reach their full potential. However, when it comes to demonstrating your data scientist skills to potential employers, you feel perplexed.

So, how do you showcase your ability to unravel valuable mysteries hidden within convoluted data sets? What are the most in-demand data science skills in the world of resume-building? And how do you stand out among the competition and prove to recruiters that you’re the best person for the job?

Stick around, and we’ll teach you all that and much more. We prepared a comprehensive guide that will help you discover everything you need to know about highlighting your skill set as a data scientist. Let’s get started!

Why Are Data Scientist Skills Important For Your Resume?

In essence, data scientist skills allow individuals to extract valuable insights from data sets in order to make informed decisions. These skills are highly important in today’s data-driven professional world as they help data scientists handle information and impact business outcomes.

Many businesses are looking for professionals with these skills, including:

This list offers just a couple of examples, but in reality, data scientists add value to any company that has to deal with large volumes of data. However, even with such high demand for competent data scientists, breaking into the industry is becoming more challenging than ever.

So, when you’re looking for a new job, it’s imperative to get ahead of the competition as quickly as possible. The best way to do that is to optimally demonstrate your data scientist skills on your resume. That’s one of the easiest ways to increase your employability and improve your chances of getting an interview that might lead to you landing a job.

Still, not every skill you have is equally important to hiring managers. Moreover, showcasing them involves more than just creating a list on your data science resume. So, keep reading to find out how to add data scientist skills to a resume and what some of the most sought-after abilities are.

How To Add Data Scientist Skills to Your Resume

Being a data scientist, you know that understanding information is only half the job; you also need to be able to present it to others in a clear and digestible manner. The same principle applies when you’re adding unique skills to your resume. Being competent isn’t enough; you want to convey your expertise to recruiters.

There are two basic rules that will help you achieve that:

The easiest way to ensure you’ve included relevant data scientist skills is to read the job ad and research the company. Data science is a vast field, and not every position needs the same skill set. Hiring managers will generally be more interested in candidates who display the abilities needed for the role in question.

The second step involves substantiating your abilities. While it’s important to create a concise skills section in your data scientist resume, you also want to validate them. The easiest way to do that is to add your skills next to appropriate achievements in the resume summary and work experience sections of your resume.

Here’s an example of a candidate emphasizing their database management skills:

7 Data Scientist Skills To Include in Your Resume

When you start reading a job ad, you’ll likely find a long list of data scientist skills and responsibilities. However, it’s often hard technical skills that recruiters first want to see, so let’s check out some of the most popular ones.

#1. Programming

Programming plays a crucial role in the entire data science workflow. Data scientists use these skills for everything—from data collection to cleaning, analysis, and visualization.

Moreover, programming is one of the most in-demand entry-level data scientist skills that allows professionals to streamline their efforts and increase their efficiency. Actually, it can  be downright impossible to work with large datasets without using programming frameworks and libraries.

Data scientists often need to implement complex algorithms and work with statistical models to extract insights. They also usually need to modify their work and make sure it integrates into specific systems—and all this usually requires programming skills.

Programming is also one of the most important and highly specific technical skills required for data scientists. Knowing the specific language the job ad asks for can be mandatory to apply in the first place. Thus, having proficiency in multiple programming languages is a great way to increase your employability.

#2. Mathematics, Statistics, and Probability

Mathematics, statistics, and probability represent the theoretical foundation for data science. In-depth knowledge of mathematics helps professionals understand the structure of information and relationship within sets of data.

On the other hand, statistics and probability are essential when it comes to building models. By using these data scientist skills, professionals can identify trends, create accurate predictions, and make informed decisions.

Data scientists use these skills when designing experiments or conducting A/B tests. Statistical knowledge is also vital when it comes to creating these experiments and analyzing their outcomes. Moreover, comprehensive knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and probability allows data scientists to effectively communicate their findings through visualization, too.

#3. Data Wrangling

Data wrangling (also known as data munging) is a circular process of gathering, assessing, and cleaning data. It’s a critical skill for data scientists, as it helps them ensure the reliability and usability of data.

In many cases, raw data can contain errors and inconsistencies. In those cases, data wrangling is necessary to identify and handle any potential issues. From there, it’s possible that data needs to be transformed to conform to specific requirements, which is another data-wrangling process.

Another application for this skill comes when data scientists work with information from multiple sources. In those instances, they might need to use data-wrangling techniques to combine different datasets and optimize them for analysis.

#4. Database Management

Data scientists usually work with large quantities of structured and unstructured data. That’s why they need to be adept at database management to organize, store, and retrieve data while ensuring its integrity.

In addition to storing and retrieving data from specific datasets, database management also involves integration across different sets. Furthermore, data scientists adept at database management are familiar with the necessary mechanisms to secure data and protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.

Lastly, professionals with strong database management skills can improve the efficiency of the entire organization, helping anyone who uses data to store and retrieve it optimally.

#5. Machine Learning and Deep Learning

Machine learning and its subfield, deep learning, are becoming increasingly prevalent in data science. Skilled professionals can use machine learning techniques to create algorithms that can make predictions and uncover patterns faster and with higher accuracy than humans.

Machine learning algorithms excel when working with large sets of complex data. They can extract convoluted insights that can be difficult or downright impossible to find using traditional techniques.

Another use for machine learning and deep learning is in creating personalization systems. For instance, data scientists can create personalized recommendations for users who visit e-commerce websites.

#6. Data Visualization

Data visualization is a crucial data scientist skill, as it allows professionals to communicate their findings. By creating charts, graphs, and other forms of visualization, they can convey valuable details to non-technical audiences.

For instance, data scientists can use visualization to present data to stakeholders in a clear and digestible manner. In turn, that will allow stakeholders to make informed decisions more efficiently. Furthermore, by combining data visualization with storytelling, data scientists can influence decision-making and drive action.

On top of that, data scientists use visualization to enhance their own understanding of information. It’s not uncommon for a simplified visual representation of a complex collection of data to improve a person’s understanding of it. So, with clear visuals, one can spot patterns, trends, and relationships more easily.

#7. Cloud Computing

Cloud computing refers to accessing and using computing services over the internet instead of solely on local infrastructure. Since more and more businesses are moving to the cloud, cloud computing is becoming one of the most sought-after skills for data scientists.

Cloud computing allows for unprecedented elasticity and scalability when it comes to handling intensive tasks and workloads. There’s no need for upfront investment in hardware or infrastructure to do highly demanding work.

Data scientists skilled in cloud computing can also effectively collaborate with others from different locations in real time. They can share information, communicate with colleagues and stakeholders, and contribute to effective teamwork.

5 Soft Data Scientist Skills For Your Resume

Data science is a highly technical field. However, to succeed in the workplace, you also need a strong collection of interpersonal abilities. Let’s check out some of the most sought-after soft skills for data scientists.

#1. Communication

Communication skills enables collaborative work, which is particularly important for data scientists, who are generally part of interdisciplinary teams.

Additionally, strong communicators can convey complex findings and intricate data in a simple and easy-to-understand manner to colleagues, managers, stakeholders, and clients. That improves problem-solving and decision-making while bridging the gap between technical and non-technical individuals.

#2. Problem-Solving

Problem-solving skills allow data scientists to use insights gathered from examining data to tackle complex challenges and find optimal solutions. Data scientists can use these skills at every stage of their workflow.

For instance, during the initial exploration of data, a professional will use problem-solving skills to discover inconsistencies or find missing values. Then, they can continue using these abilities while formulating ideas and hypotheses based on research and analysis.

Problem-solving skills are also used when designing experiments (e.g., for A/B testing), selecting appropriate algorithms, optimizing and improving performance, performing RCA, and so on.

#3. Collaboration

Collaboration helps data scientists leverage their knowledge and experiences to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams. Since data scientists often work with individuals from various fields (e.g., engineers, data analysts, business stakeholders, etc.), they need to consider multiple viewpoints and work together toward a solution.

For instance, data scientists can work with engineers and managers to access and prepare data. Then, they can collaborate with other data scientists to perform analysis and modeling. Finally, they can engage with stakeholders to communicate and present their findings.

#4. Attention to Detail

Precision and accuracy are paramount in a data-driven business world, making attention to detail an essential skill for data scientists. Even a minor oversight can result in misleading findings that have serious consequences for the organization.

Attentive data scientists meticulously examine the data for any inconsistencies. They know the importance of cleaning and preprocessing data before analysis. On the other hand, attention to detail is just as important when it comes to modeling, evaluating metrics, and examining results.

By highlighting these skills on your resume, you show potential employers that you can minimize errors, work accurately, and help them make impactful decisions.

#5. Continuous Learning

The ability to continuously learn enables data scientists to stay updated with advancements in the field. It helps them learn new programming languages, adapt to evolving technologies, and quickly master modern methodologies.

Data science is a rapidly evolving field, making this skill a hidden gem in resume building. Candidates who can demonstrate their ability to continuously learn also highlight flexibility and diligence. They show that they are at the forefront of the field, able to regularly acquire new abilities and knowledge and adapt to changing demands.

Data Scientist Resume Example

Use this example

Closing Thoughts

And so we reach the end of this data-driven adventure! You’re now armed with new insights and knowledge that will help you in your resume-building endeavors.

As you embark on your job-hunting journey, remember that relevant technical skills can make or break your job application. However, don’t forget that your interpersonal skills can be just as crucial. After all, everyone loves a communicative and collaborative colleague with strong problem-solving skills!

On a final note, don’t forget to demonstrate your abilities. Be humble but precise and confident. Show recruiters the actual results, and you’ll be well on your way to an interview. Best of luck, and may your resumes be as optimized as your algorithms!