A data scientist cover letter is a job application document you should send alongside your resume to grab the recruiters’ attention and increase your chances of landing an interview. It helps you emphasize your qualifications relevant to the role that you didn’t highlight in your resume, and demonstrate your motivation and interest in the position.
In this article, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter using a proven format and structure. We’ll also give you expert tips and examples of well-written cover letters for data scientists you can use as inspiration.
Key Takeaways
A data scientist cover letter should be submitted with your resume to demonstrate motivation, additional qualifications, and willingness to go the extra mile.
Keep your cover letter to one page, three or five paragraphs, or 250–400 words.
When addressing the hiring manager, include their name if possible to personalize the letter and build rapport from the start.
When listing your qualifications, focus on quantified achievements and notable results over generic everyday tasks and responsibilities.
Include a call to action in the final paragraph to encourage hiring managers and employers to contact you or review your resume.
When discussing your skills, make sure to include a strong blend of hard and soft skills, demonstrating both technical competence and interpersonal prowess.
2 Strong Data Scientist Cover Letter Examples
First and foremost, let’s start this comprehensive guide by giving you two complete data scientist cover letter examples to give you an idea of what the final document should look like:
Entry-Level Data Scientist Cover Letter Example
Let’s start with an example of a data scientist cover letter with no experience, applying for a junior position:
Experienced Data Scientist Cover Letter Example
Now, here’s a complete example of a cover letter for a data scientist with years of work history:
What Format to Use for a Data Scientist Cover Letter
The best format to use for a data scientist cover letter is the standard business letter format, which follows a specific section order that goes as follows:
Standard Business Letter Format
Your contact information
Date of writing
Contact details of the hiring manager
Formal salutation
Cover letter body text
A thank-you note with a call to action
Sign off with a signature
Structuring your letter this way makes it more concise and readable, and visually prioritizes the information recruiters should see first. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to showcase your most prominent qualifications and accomplishments related to the role without repeating the contents of your resume.
Apart from the proper format, there are several other things your cover letter should ensure. Let’s take a look at the table below:
Element | Best Practice |
|---|---|
250–400 words, 3–5 paragraphs, no longer than one page | |
Font and Size | Professional fonts (Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri), 10–12 pt |
Margins | Uniform margins of at least 1 inch |
Line Spacing | 1.0 or 1.15, with extra spacing between paragraphs |
Text Alignment | Left-aligned or justified |
Design | Simple, minimal design with limited color and no heavy graphics |
7 Key Sections Every Data Scientist Cover Letter Should Have
The best way to learn how to write a cover letter for a data scientist is by going through each section it needs to contain, so let’s see what they are.
#1. Heading
The heading of your cover letter needs to contain your contact and the recipient’s contact details, as well as the date of writing.
When adding your information, make sure to include at minimum:
Mandatory Header Details
Full name
Accurate job title
Phone number
Professional email address
You can also include your mailing address, Linkedin, and your portfolio link.
With the recipient’s contact details, include their name, position in the company, company’s name, and address.
Let’s see that in an example:
Cover Letter Header Example
Jason Michael Data Scientist 1643 Saints Alley Tampa, FL 33614 813-494-4673 jasonmichael@example.com linkedin.com/ln/jasonmichael
Tampa, 05/11/2025
Cindy Harrison Hiring Manager Horizon Analytics 1043 Chestnut Street Tampa, FL 33602
#2. Salutations
Salutations should be brief, polite, and professional. It’s common to use “Dear” followed by the hiring manager’s name.
Avoid generic salutations, like “To Whom It May Concern,” as they signal a lack of research and care for your application. You should always try to find the recipient’s name through the company’s website, LinkedIn page, or details on the job ad.
If you research the company but absolutely can’t find the name, you can use the recipient’s job title (e.g., “Dear Hiring Manager”) or address it to a specific department.
#3. Introduction
Your introduction to a data scientist cover letter needs to be concise and communicate which role you’re applying for. Also, this paragraph should highlight one or two of your most notable and relevant qualifications.
The goal is to grab the hiring manager’s attention with your key strengths (accomplishments, for experienced data scientists, or skills and knowledge of data science, for junior professionals) and convince them to keep reading.
Here’s a good example of a cover letter introduction:
Introduction Example
I am applying for the role of senior data scientist at Horizon Analytics. I have more than seven years of experience delivering data-driven insights to drive business decisions. Notably, I led a team of five data scientists to optimize ordering processes, boosting order output by 7%. I believe I can replicate these results in your organization.
#4. Qualifications and Accomplishments
Your qualifications and accomplishments relevant to the job represent the main body of your cover letter, and its most critical section. Instead of just listing abilities, duties, and responsibilities, make sure to connect them to your achievements and results. Don’t forget to use numbers to quantify your efforts.
Here’s what that should look like:
Qualifications and Accomplishments Example
In my previous role at Apex Inc., I developed a comprehensive demand forecasting model in Python to reduce inventory costs by 21%. Furthermore, I utilized Pandas to conceptualize and implement efficient data analysis pipelines, reducing the manual effort required by 80%.
#5. Motivation for Applying
Emphasize your motivation for applying to this company in particular. This can help distinguish you from the competition, demonstrate your cultural fit, and show genuine interest in the role and the organization.
The best way to do this is to mention something specific about the company that shows you’ve been following its work and team. Here’s an example of that:
Motivation for Applying Example
I am excited to join Horizon Analytics due to your innovative approach to scalable analytics. My experience of leveraging data to deliver actionable advice would allow me to provide immediate value to your organization.
#6. Call to Action
A brief call to action (CTA) at the end of your data scientist cover letter is the best way to capitalize on your writing and maximize the chances of receiving a response. Use a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to invite you for an interview, review your data scientist resume, or check out your portfolio.
Don’t forget to couple a CTA with a thank-you note to show appreciation for the reader’s time before you end your cover letter. Let’s see what that looks like in practice:
Call to Action Example
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to discussing how my background and portfolio align with your long-term goals.
#7. Conclusion & Sign Off
Conclusion and sign off should be short and cordial, much like the greeting. There are many ways to politely conclude the letter (e.g., “Best regards” or “Sincerely”), after which you should include your name.
Here’s an example:
Conclusion & Sign-Off Example
Best regards, Jason Michael
4 Tips for Writing an Outstanding Data Scientist Cover Letter
Let’s wrap up this comprehensive guide with four expert tips that will help you avoid common cover letter mistakes and make your document perfect:
Tailor your cover letter to every role. Every role that you apply for has different requirements. That’s why you should always modify your cover letter to emphasize your skills and qualifications that are most relevant to that position.
Emphasize your impact on businesses. The best way to impress hiring managers and employers is to show how you can contribute to their organizations. That’s why you should go beyond listing your qualifications and emphasize your ability to improve efficiency, reduce cost, increase revenue, and influence decision-making.
Balance hard and soft skills. Data scientists need strong technical competence, but they also need to convey their findings to non-technical stakeholders. In addition to hard skills (e.g., machine learning and data wrangling), you also need to demonstrate your collaboration and communication skills, and other interpersonal abilities.
Proofread meticulously. Even a simple typo can raise red flags and shift the hiring manager’s focus away from your qualifications. More than that, attention to detail is an essential soft skill for data scientists, making it critical to diligently proofread your cover letter before submitting it.
Build a standout data scientist cover letter without the stress!
Use our cover letter builder now!Final Thoughts
Employment for data scientists is on an upward trend, with an expected growth of 34% over the next decade. While that amounts to about 23,400 new openings each year, the competition can be fierce due to the high median pay. That’s why it’s vital to write a compelling data scientist cover letter and submit it alongside your resume.
Remember to keep the letter brief and to focus on extraordinary accomplishments over everyday duties. If you want to maximize your chances of success, you can use Resume.co’s cover letter builder that features an AI writing assistant and expertly crafted cover letter templates to make the writing and designing process a breeze.
Data Scientist Cover Letter FAQs
#1. Can I use a template for my data scientist cover letter?
Yes, you can use a template for your data scientist cover letter. That way, you’ll speed up the writing process while ensuring that your document has optimal structure and all the necessary information.
#2. How should I address my cover letter?
You should address your cover letter by using the recipient’s name (e.g., Dear Mr. Smith). If you don’t know the name of the recipient, you can use their professional title (e.g., Dear Hiring Manager). Avoid generic greetings, such as “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam.”
#3. How should I include my skills as a data scientist in my cover letter?
You should include your data scientist skills in your cover letter by connecting them with relevant achievements. Make sure to use numbers and percentages to quantify your efforts. This adds measurable value to your abilities and makes them concrete in the eyes of recruiters.
