Sample Data Scientist Cover Letter and Advice from HR Pros
This Data Scientist sample cover letter is here to give you ideas and inspiration to complete your application and get the job you’ve been dreaming about. Right down below, you will see a full sample cover letter. And further down, we will go over each section of the sample cover letter, explaining each part in more detail.
Cover letter header
The header is the simplest part of your cover letter — but this doesn’t make it any less important. As it’s the easiest section to write, it’s a good way to get yourself started if you feel like you are stuck with the main sections.
Your header should include your full name and relevant credentials, such as CAP, CCA, CCP, DASCA, SDS, PDS, etc. You can add your home address or, alternatively, just the name of your city. Add the preferred way in which you’d like to be contacted: your phone number, email address or both. It's also recommended that you include a link to your account on professional social media — LinkedIn, GitHub, etc. It’s also a good idea to add the current date as this will show that the cover letter has been written recently.
Cover letter greeting
It’s best if you start your cover letter by addressing the hiring manager by name. If you can find the name of the person you are sending the application to (via the company’s website, LinkedIn page, etc.), use it in your cover letter greeting. If you are addressing the hiring manager by their last name and they are a female, it’s best to use Ms. instead of Mrs. or Miss.
If you can’t find the name, you can start the letter with something like “Dear Hiring Team” or “Dear Hiring Manager”. It’s best to avoid “To whom it may concern” as this form of address is considered to be outdated.
Cover letter introduction
In this section, you should get the HR manager interested in reading the rest of your cover letter and looking at your CV. Start with your best features and key qualifications and mention why you believe that you are the perfect candidate for the posted job offer. Emphasize the skill set that you already have and how it aligns perfectly with what the company is looking for.
Cover letter middle paragraphs
After a powerful introduction, go on to explain in more detail what practical value you can bring to the team. Here, you should show that you are well aware of all the responsibilities and tasks of being a data scientist and will be able to handle them. A good idea here would be to provide examples from your previous positions in the same role that demonstrate your skills and professionalism. You can present the most telling examples as a bulleted list so they “jump off” the page.
Avoid using vague language and generic phrases. Instead, give specific examples and references to show why you are the right person for the job. It’s a good place to explain what has driven you into the profession and what you love most about your work. You can also briefly touch on your career plans and what you are looking to gain from the experience of working for this company.
Keep this section of your resume short and to the point — just two or three paragraphs. Focus on the most important information and leave the generalities out of it.
Cover letter conclusion and sign-off
This is the part for a call to action. You can once again point out why you consider yourself to be a good candidate for the job. Then, you can add when you will be available to start or when you can come out for an interview. Mention that you will be waiting for feedback on your resume. Make sure to thank the hiring manager for their time in reading your letter.
Cover letter signature
For signature, you can repeat the same information you’ve used in the header. Or, you can add an additional way to contact you. Just like in the header, start with your full name and credentials.
We hope our guide has been helpful. If you are looking for more information on how to perfect your application, check out our Resume Writing Tips and Examples.
How can we help?
Registered Users have an access to creating, editing, viewing and storing of up to 2 documents (1 resume, 1 cover letter).