How My Resume Strategy Landed Me In The 0.1% Accepted Applicants — Here’s The Ultimate Guide
The secrets to acing your resume for Data Science jobs in Tech
Just three years ago I landed the internship of my dreams at Spotify. Fast forward to today, I’m a full-time Data Scientist with them and I couldn’t be happier!
Getting in wasn’t easy though. I applied to their internship program for many years and I was rejected all three years. The year I got accepted, I had applied to 6 of their internships and only got an interview for one.
When you apply to Tech the hardest part is passing the resume screening process. In my case, I was only one of sixty interns chosen out of more than sixty thousands of applicants (no exaggeration!).
Those are the odds you’re facing when you apply to any big name in Tech. Sadly, these roles are the definition of competitive.
So the question is — how do you actually pass this freaking screening phase when you’re competing with just every other person claiming to be a Data Scientist?
You need to stand out — and for that, you need a strategy!
One of the most crucial yet underrated steps to succeed is acing your resume — your CV.
That’s the only thing you can control when it comes to whether or not you’ll land an interview to the job of your dreams.
But crafting resumes for Tech doesn’t follow the usual rules because you first need to convince a machine that you’re the chosen one.
You have to think outside of the box, or you can follow the path of those who succeeded in getting in — like me hehe.
Together, we’ll dissect the exact resume that opened the gates of Spotify for me. We’ll demystify part by part what made my application stand out in a pool of tens of thousands of applicants, and I’ll even tell you a secret I learned after I joined!
Something to keep in mind!
When job-hunting, you want people to do more than just stand out in front of your shop. You want them to drool so much over it that they just can’t resist going in.
Your window — or resume, is the only thing standing between you and the recruiter. Your resume is a facade of who you are and what to expect from you. That’s why it’s so important that you invest time into crafting an eye-stopper of a window.
Note — Please keep in mind that while these tips have been instrumental in my personal success and I’m sharing them for that reason, success is multifaceted. Factors such as skill, timing, and even luck, which are often beyond our control, play a significant role. So consider these tips as guidelines or stepping stones for optimizing what you can control in your own journey rather than a foolproof formula for success.
Part 1— The Header
The header of your resume is often one of the most underserved and underrated places in your window. It’s a great place to showcase your aspirations and what you’ll bring to the table (and of course your personal info, but that’s a given).
This sets the tone for the rest of the resume.
So how to craft a killer header?
The secret; make sure it’s tailored to the company you’re applying to.
It’s important because it shows:
- You’re not using a one-size-fits-all approach.
You’re going the extra mile because you care, and if you do, they’ll sense it, and they might also go the extra mile to consider your application! - You’ve researched the company and understand its culture and values.
A lot of these Tech companies are not just looking for competent people. Anybody can code. At this point, one of the main things that will set you apart boils down to how well you can fit into the company culture!
Here are 2 things you should do:
- Narrow down 5 companies you really want to get into. Research the company’s mission and values. Align your objective with them.
- Avoid generic statements. Ensure the objective is clearly defined and is always tailored to the specific role and company you’re applying to.
The goal is not to invent yourself a new persona, just dig into who you are already and see what is it that fits with this company. If you can’t find anything, maybe it’s not the right place for you.
Don’t forget the obvious — your contact information
When crafting your contact info, keep these things in mind:
- Your header must be clean and minimalistic. Only provide essential contact information without overcrowding.
- Instead of a full address, you can just include city. It’s enough for most Tech companies today.
- Include your phone number. A lot of recruiters call the applicants they’ve shortlisted.
- Don’t forget to link your resume to a LinkedIn profile and a portfolio or GitHub. It’s always a smart move, especially in the Tech industry. Make sure any linked profiles or portfolios are up-to-date and professionally curated.
- Avoid using casual email addresses, stick to more professional-sounding ones.
Part 2 — Experience
If there is one major thing I remember from all those resume coaching classes it’s this:
- Use Action Words — Starting points with verbs like “led”, “developed”, “designed”, etc., gives a dynamic feel to any experience. Make sure you do the same when it comes to your own experiences!
- Numbers Speak Stories — Instead of just listing roles and responsibilities, it’s crucial that you support your achievements with quantifiable data. This is a major plus. In my case, I only had internships but I still did my best to include some numbers.
Always ask yourself: “What impact did my role have on the project or company?” The goal is to showcase result-oriented work.
Optimize your resume with this tactic:
- Research LinkedIn profiles of employees in your target role at the desired company.
- Mirror the skills and keywords they use on the description of their job to align with what the company values.
- Look into yourself for similar skills you already own and make sure you highlight them.
Why is this a game-changer?
Keep in mind, the initial screening is usually automated with machines scanning for keywords relevant to the role. That’s why tailoring your resume to include these keywords is so important. You improve your chances of passing this machine’s filter to reach a human recruiter.
Once you do, you also need your resume to resonate with non-tech HR folks by using language similar to the job description.
Part 3 — Education
Note — If you don’t have experience like I did then this should come before your experience section.
Let’s get this straight. Tech companies don’t care about where you did your schooling. I’ve seen so many people in FAANG and other top Tech firms come from the most unheard-of colleges.
This section is not so much about whether your window is displaying Chanel or Dior, but whether you’re selling top quality products — regardless of the brand name.
How do you prove your education is quality-worthy?
- Highlight relevant coursework. This doesn’t mean listing all the maths or programming courses you’ve followed, no. It means citing only the courses where you learned skills relevant to the ones required for the job you’re applying to! Again, curation is key. This is especially useful for internships where real-world experience might be limited.
- Highlight any honors or distinctions, if any. This shows academic excellence, or just excellence. You won’t be penalized for not getting prizes, but it helps if you did.
Tech companies value continuous learning. Highlighting relevant courses and projects showcases dedication to the field.
How can you do that?
Sign up to relevant online courses and certifications. Then highlight any direct applications of your learnings, which brings us to the next section.
As you progress in your career, focus more on real-world experience and less on academic achievements.
Part 4 — Projects
This section won’t matter so much if you already have prior experience in data science. The goal would be to integrate these projects into your experience section.
However, if like me at the time, you barely have any, then this section is the killer spot of your window. That’s where you display the trendiest of what you have in store!
Here’s how to highlight your projects
- Tailoring — I won’t stop repeating it. The goal is to showcase the skills needed for the job, and it applies to each and every section of your resume. Your window needs to scream that you’re the ONE! So make sure you only highlight the projects that align with the kind of work or skills needed for the job.
- Detailing — Each project has a brief description, technologies used, and outcomes. This provides a comprehensive view.
- Displaying — Adding direct links to your projects on your resume is a great way to show what you did exactly. It’s a low-hanging fruit, so take the bite!
Finally, avoid overcrowding this section. The goal is to showcase your ability to apply skills in real-world scenarios.
Regularly work on side projects to add more value to this section.
Part 5— Skills
The main thing to remember when showcasing your skills is literally to show it — don’t tell!
If you have the facts, you won’t have to say anything.
I’ve seen way too many resumes, especially of early-careers saying stuff like “good communication and leadership skills”. Just because you explicitly state it doesn’t mean it’s true. If you give no supporting evidence that you are a good communicator and team-player — it might as well be fluff.
That’s why it’s so important to show those skills implicitly throughout all of your resume. Instead of saying “good leadership skills”, try replacing it with “led a team of 5 people on a project etc…”. At least now you have more credibility, and people know what you mean by leadership skills.
Then you have the technical skills. Here’s what you can do about those.
- Showcase your proficiency through projects and experiences. Just like I did before.
- Instead of a long list, you can add a skills section where you categorize your technical stack. Listing and categorizing them makes it easier for recruiters to match you with the right role.
- The skills listed are pertinent to tech roles. No one cares that you master the Microsoft Suite for Data Science roles. The key is to list all your relevant coding stack but in the order based on the job description. Prioritize!
Part 6— Interests
Remember how we said Tech companies are not just looking for competent people, but also those that fit into the company culture?
This section might seem like it doesn’t matter so much, but I’ve seen a lot of people on this side — those already in the company you’re interested in — care about this part.
It might come as a surprise to you, but between two equally skilled candidates, the type of interests they have weigh in more on the decision.
Why? Simply because the people recruiting you will be the ones working with you. It matters to them to work with people they can get along with!
Your interests section need to show that you’re not just about work/studies but that you actually have a life beyond those. Tech companies appreciate well-rounded individuals who bring diverse perspectives.
I play the violin, so I made sure it was the first thing on the list in my extracurriculars. Why? Because I was applying to a music company.
Then I just mentioned all the other core topics of interests that define who I am. Doing this adds colors to your window, it makes it more attractive!
Design & Layout
Here’s the finished product. Overall, you want to add personality to your resume. This means choosing your own style of presenting things, colors, fonts and so on.
Recruiters spend less than one minute at best skimming through your resume. The goal is to make it as easy-to-read as possible for the recruiter.
When it comes to the design, you want to keep these things in mind:
- Keep it clean & organized — The resume should not be cluttered. There’s enough white space for readability. A clean and organized design reflects a structured way of thinking — this is essential in tech roles.
- Consistent formatting — Consistent in the use of fonts, bullet points, spaces and bolding. I’ve seen so many resumes being all over the place in terms of these elements. This is important because it shows that you have an eye for detail — another essential skill for tech roles.
- Keep it short — For an internship, a one-page resume is the max. You can go over if you’re applying for a full-time job!
Ideally, try to get some feedback on your resume. Other people might catch on inconsistencies you could have overlooked.
My ultimate secret
When I joined Spotify, I discovered that one of my colleagues had personally selected my resume from a stack of others. So I jumped on the opportunity to ask him why he chose me for the role.
His answer? I had a dual background in both Business and Data Science, and it mattered to him because the best Data Scientists he knew wore this double hat. He saw that potential in me.
The lesson from this? Emphasize your business acumen alongside your Data Science skills. Tech companies value people who can leverage their data to further their business goals.
What can you do if you don’t have this B-background?
- Take online courses in Business Fundamentals — Platforms like Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning offer courses in business basics, finance, marketing, and strategy. Focus on courses that provide a general overview of business principles.
- Read Business-focused books and publications — Books like “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries or “Good to Great” by Jim Collins can provide insights into business strategies and thinking.
- Participate in Business case competitions or hackathons — These events are often interdisciplinary. They can provide you with hands-on experience in solving business problems with a data-driven approach.
The goal is to complement your technical expertise in Data Science with Business know-how and have clear evidence to show for it on your resume.
Recap
Here’s what to keep in mind when designing your resume:
- Tailored & creative approach — To stand out, your resume needs to be customized for the specific role and company to which you’re applying.
- Relevancy of your experience — Only highlight the experiences/projects that are relevant to the position you’re applying to. No one cares you placed first on the Titanic Kaggle project if you’re applying to Meta.
- Balance of soft & hard skills — There should be enough evidence to indicate team collaboration, leadership, and other soft skills, on top of your technical stack.
- Business and Technical skills for the win — Your experiences/projects should speak for your ability to balance out business objectives with technical expertise.
- Formatting matters — Be mindful of the design of your resume, it should be well-organized, easy-to-read and consistent. Your story needs to flow naturally from top to bottom.
- Show, don’t tell!
Keep in mind that other elements come into play in deciding whether you’ll be selected for an interview or not → Things like: luck, timing, whether the recruiter had breakfast that day or not, and more.
It’s particularly for this reason why you have to give your all to optimizing the things you can control.
Sometimes, you may need to go beyond doing this. Three years ago when I was a student, I applied to this highly competitive and really cool Data Science internship in Tech that I really wanted (not Spotify).
Spoiler alert: I got rejected. Twice. But I still got the internship. How? Networking saved me and I tell you exactly how in the article below ⬇
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Completely unrelated, but I’m trying this thing of sharing one my favorite songs of the moment cause why not? I’m a DS at Spotify after all hehe
Is it obvious I’m still not over the end of Attack on Titan 😭?
