Data Scientist
Cover Letter Sample

A data scientist must be able to interpret and communicate data, starting with their own background info. Learn how to write an impressively quantified data scientist cover letter with our downloadable sample and writing tips.

September 10, 2024

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Data Scientist Cover Letter Template

Be sure to format your cover letter correctly to ensure it’s easy to read and looks professional.

Copy-paste Data Scientist Cover Letter (Text Format)

Entry
Mid
Senior

FIRST AND LAST NAME

Email: your.email@email.com

Phone: (123) 456-7891

Address: Street, City, State

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[456 Company Address]
[Company City, State XXXXX]
[(XXX) XXX-XXXX]
[hiring.manager@gmail.com]

Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I’m writing to apply for the Junior Data Scientist position at TechNova Analytics. As a recent graduate with a Master’s in Data Science from State University, I’m eager to apply my skills and knowledge to real-world challenges in your innovative team.

Throughout my academic journey, I’ve developed a strong foundation in statistical analysis, machine learning, and data visualization. My coursework has equipped me with proficiency in Python, R, SQL, and various data science libraries and tools. I’m particularly excited about the prospect of applying these skills to drive data-informed decisions at TechNova.

During my studies, I completed several projects that showcase my abilities:

Developed a machine learning model to predict customer churn for a telecom company, achieving 85% accuracy
Created a natural language processing tool to analyze sentiment in social media posts, presenting findings at the university’s data science symposium
Collaborated on a team project to build a recommendation system for an e-commerce platform, improving click-through rates by 20% in simulations

I’m intrigued by TechNova’s recent work in predictive analytics for sustainable energy consumption. This aligns perfectly with my interest in using data science for positive environmental impact. I’d be thrilled to contribute to such meaningful projects.

I’m excited about the opportunity to grow as a data scientist at TechNova Analytics. Your commitment to continuous learning and your collaborative work environment are exactly what I’m looking for as I start my career. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my skills and enthusiasm can contribute to TechNova’s data-driven innovations.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

September 23, 2021

[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[341 Company Address]
[Company City, State, xxxxx]
[(xxx) xxx-xxxx]
[hiring.manager@gmail.com]

Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Manager’s Name],

I was pleased to learn of the available Data Scientist position at [Company name] posted on [website]. With my Master of Science in Statistics and four years of experience managing data-related solutions under my belt, I am confident I will be a valuable asset to your team.

In my current role as a Data Scientist at Microsoft, I have been afforded the unique opportunity to spearhead a project focused on big data processing. This project has allowed me to drastically expand my predictive analytics and behavior analysis capabilities. Through my management, the project has produced substantial profitable results for Microsoft. I am well versed in deriving viable solutions to complex business problems through big data analysis and management.

During my position with Hewlett Packard, I worked extensively with machine learning and data mining techniques to infer marketing insights and forecast sales. I was responsible for using data visualization techniques to increase the usability and accessibility of data for the sales and marketing departments. Working closely other departments allowed me to hone my interpersonal skills and the ability to present complex technical information to non-technical personnel.

It would be a pleasure to learn more about [company]’s expansion plans and provide further insight into how my highly developed data analytic abilities, experience managing large data sets, robust predictive analytics, and machine learning skills can help your company achieve these results. Some notable contributions to my previous employers include:

Conducted a data regression analysis of the relationship between company stock prices and industry trends, achieving a 15% more accurate prediction of performance than previous years
Used predictive analytics such as machine learning and data mining techniques to forecast company sales of new products with a 95% accuracy rate

Thank you for your time and for considering my candidacy for this position. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future to schedule an interview.

Yours truly,
[Your Name]

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[456 Company Address]
[Company City, State XXXXX]
[(XXX) XXX-XXXX]
[hiring.manager@gmail.com]

Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I’m writing to express my interest in the Senior Data Scientist position at Quantum Insights. With over a decade of experience pushing the boundaries of data science, I’m excited about the prospect of bringing my expertise to your cutting-edge team.

In my current role as Lead Data Scientist at TechForge Solutions, I’ve spearheaded projects that have redefined how our clients leverage data for strategic decision-making. A few key accomplishments include:

Architected a real-time fraud detection system using advanced machine learning techniques, reducing fraudulent transactions by 73% and saving our financial services clients an estimated $50 million annually.
Led the development of a predictive maintenance model for a major manufacturing client, increasing equipment uptime by 28% and slashing maintenance costs by 35%.
Pioneered the use of deep learning for natural language processing in our sentiment analysis tool, improving accuracy by 40% and expanding our market share in the social media analytics sector.

My approach combines rigorous statistical methodology with innovative machine learning techniques. I’ve consistently stayed ahead of the curve, recently integrating quantum computing principles into our data processing pipeline, resulting in a 5x speedup for our most computationally intensive tasks.

At Quantum Insights, I see an opportunity to push the boundaries of what’s possible in data science even further. I’m excited about the prospect of collaborating with your team of renowned researchers and contributing to groundbreaking projects that have real-world impact.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my experience and vision align with Quantum Insights’ mission to revolutionize decision-making through advanced analytics.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Average data scientist salaries in the US

The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data is presented based on the top states by downloads in the USA.

Top 10 states by average data scientist salary

State	Salary / Year
Washington	$162,730
California	$155,450
District of Columbia	$148,170
Massachusetts	$139,670
Maryland	$135,370
New York	$133,450
Virginia	$132,230
New Jersey	$131,800
Hawaii	$124,530
Oregon	$124,060
National Average	$124,590

4 Cover Letter Writing Tips for Data Scientists

1. Research the company

data scientist computer with data — List your technical achievements.

Hiring managers love to see proof that you’ve researched their company in your cover letter. Highlighting your research shows you’re genuinely interested and know how to take initiative.

There are many resources with information about your target employer you can reference in your cover letter:

StackShare: You’re applying to be a data scientist, so it makes sense to research the company’s tech stack. Search for the company you’re applying to on StackShare (or similar sites) to find out about the technology stacks it uses.

The company’s website: A company’s website likely includes all the information it wants potential employees to know about its values, products, history, and structure.

Annual report: If you’re applying to a publicly traded company, its annual report should be available online. Reading a company’s annual report is an excellent way to gain a comprehensive overview of the company’s operations and financial position from the preceding year, as well as its upcoming goals.

Social media: Browsing the company’s LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages is a great way to learn more about its personality and upcoming goals.

Here’s an example of a candidate who connects research about the company’s upcoming expansion to the skills they possess that will help fulfill this goal:

It would be a pleasure to learn more about [Company]
‘s expansion plans and provide further insight into how my highly developed data analytic abilities, experience managing large data sets, robust predictive analytics, and machine learning skills can help your company achieve these results.

2. Restate quantified bullet points from your resume

To immediately grab the hiring manager’s attention, use metrics to display the tangible results of your data science work. The easiest way to get those metrics on your cover letter is by using the quantified bullets from your resume.

Copy the bullet points that reference data like changes in time, percentages, and dollar amounts from your resume’s work experience section.

Adding hard numbers puts you petabytes ahead of the competition who only reference broad skills and vague accomplishments on their cover letters. Notice how the above cover letter is immediately strengthened by including the candidate’s quantified resume accomplishments:

Some notable contributions to my previous employers include:
Conducted data regression analysis of the relationship between company stock prices and industry trends, achieving a 15% more accurate prediction of performance than previous years
Used predictive analytics such as machine learning and data mining techniques to forecast company sales of new products with a 95% accuracy rate

3. Don’t rely on spell check

Employers use your cover letter as a beta test of your attention to detail, thoroughness, and observation skills. Submitting a cover letter with errors could make you fail that test because 49% of hiring managers throw out cover letters that contain spelling errors.

Think of your cover letter as a critical data set — you’d never hit submit without refining the set with different data filtration techniques to identify queries, redundancies, and fragmentation. It’s only logical that you’d treat your cover letter with the same care.

Using special characters can cause formatting errors. For example, although spelling resume with accents in your cover letter isn’t a mistake, it could cause the hiring manager to have problems viewing your application.

Unfortunately, running a simple Word spell check on your cover letter just won’t cut it. Word’s spell check overlooks many errors — awkward wording and misused homophones, for example. To reduce the margin of error, have a colleague or professional editor proofread and critique your cover letter.

4. Finish your cover letter with a call-to-action

data scientist numerical data — Highlight your analytical skills.

End your cover letter by:

thanking the reader for their time
politely requesting an interview

Expressing thanks is important because it emphasizes that you have interpersonal skills to complement your technical skills. Asking for an interview is essential because it indicates you’re seriously interested in working for the company.

Here’s a closing paragraph that shows the candidate’s confidence and eagerness to continue with the application process:

Thank you for your time and for considering my candidacy for this position. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future to schedule an interview.