The job market for data science role is more cut-throat than ever, with the recent layoffs and fresh-faced graduates flooding the field. Do you find yourself drowning in a sea of competition, desperately trying to land your dream job as a data scientist? You’ve likely sent countless cold emails or messages to recruiters, only to be met with radio silence. I know the feeling all too well when I just graduated from school and was looking for the first data science job many years ago.
That’s I decided to take a different approach. I sought out advice and worked on crafting emails that were not only effective, but attention-grabbing. And the results were remarkable. The response rate for interview skyrocketed, and I was landing an interview soon!
Now, I want to share my tips and tricks with you. The exciting news is that by using the techniques I’ve learned, my clients and mentees have reported a 40% increase in interview chances. If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level, keep reading. Remember that the ultimate goal is to receive a response from recruiter, which is a strong signal that you may be on your way to securing an interview.These insider secrets will help you craft compelling cold emails that grab recruiters’ attention and land your dream job!
Tip #1: Finding the Recruiter’s Contact Information
To reach out to a recruiter, use LinkedIn and a tool like Hunter.io. If you know the recruiter’s name, search for them on LinkedIn and take note of their name. Then, use Hunter.io to find their email address. In my experience, this method has been successful around 80% of the time.
Tip #2: Have Your Resume and Cover Letter Ready
Before you start sending out cold emails, make sure you have an up-to-date resume (must have) and cover letter (optional) ready. It’s a waste of both your time and the recruiter’s time if you don’t have these important documents prepared.
Tip #3: Create a Compelling Subject Line
Recruiters receive countless emails every day, so you need to make the subject line attention-grabbing. Including the recruiter’s name and briefly highlighting your qualifications for the job can pique their interest. Here is an example of the subject line “Jannier|UC Berkeley Engineer interested in Data Science @ Uber”
Tip #4: Keep the Email Content Concise and Short
Recruiters are busy, so it’s important to keep your email content concise and straight to the point. Introduce yourself, express your interest in the job, and highlight your relevant experience and also achievements. Be sure to attach your resume and keep your email to a few short paragraphs. Here is an example -
Dear Jannier,
My name is Collin and I wanted to reach out to express my immense interest in the Data Scientist -xx position at Uber. In my previous role at XYZ Company, I was responsible for [your past experience+ ending results]. I am confident that my skills in data analysis, machine learning, and programming would make me a great fit for this position. I am excited about the opportunity to bring my expertise to your team and contribute to the growth and success of [Company Name]. Please find my resume attached for your review. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Tip #5: Make Yourself Scarce
Recruiters are more likely to respond to a candidate who appears scarce. Let them know that you’re currently interviewing with other companies or have an upcoming interview. This will make them feel more urgency to respond to you and move forward with the interview process.
For instance you can mention this in the email, “I have an upcoming onsite-interview with the xx team at company XYZ next month, but I also wanted to interview with XX because of the company culture and function.”
Tip #6: Mention Any Connections You Share
Establishing a personal connection with the recruiter can set you apart from other applicants. Do your research by reviewing their LinkedIn profile and see if you have any commonalities such as attending the same university or knowing the same person. Mention the commonalities in the email!
For example, you could say “I noticed that we both attended the same university, and I was excited to see that you work for XYZ Company. A former classmate of ours, Jane Smith, speaks very highly of you.”
Tip #7: Follow Up
Don’t be afraid to follow up if you don’t hear back from the recruiter. Wait a few days after sending the initial email, then send a brief follow-up email reiterating your interest in the position and asking about next steps. If there is no response, wait for another 3–4 days and send emails again. This shows that you’re proactive and serious about the opportunity. Example would be, “Hi Jennifer, I wanted to follow up and express my continued interest in the Data Scientist — xxx role at Uber.”
Template You Can Use to Get Started Quickly:
First Email
Subject Line: Jennifer| UC Berkeley Engineer interested in Data Scientist @ Uber
Hi Jennifer,
My name is Collin, I noticed that we both attended the same university, and I was excited to see that you work at Uber.
I’m very interested in the Data Scientist — Marketing Ads role at Uber. I’m excited about the opportunity to bring my experience from XYZ company where I was responsible for creating predictive models which increased revenue by 2.5% and reduced operational costs by 1.5%. I have attached my resume for your review. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
Follow-Up Email:
Hi Jennifer,
I am super excited about Uber so wanted to follow up on my application for the Data Scientist role. As mentioned before I think I’d be great fit for the role because of my experience at XYC of creating predictive models, which resulted in a revenue increase by 2.5% and operational cost decrease by 1.5%. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
Conclusion
Congratulations, you’ve made it to the end of this article! To recap, when it comes to writing effective cold emails to recruiters, it’s important to first locate their email address and then utilize a template to quickly introduce yourself and get recruiter’s attention.
Our ultimate goal is to receive a response from recruiter, which is a strong signal that you may be on your way to securing an interview. Finally and most importantly, do not be shy to follow up! Now give it a try today and see how it can work for you!