How To Build A Strong Machine Learning Resume

Why Is a Machine Learning Resume So Important When Looking for a Job?

Your machine learning resume introduces you to potential employers, and an effective resume is a baseline requirement for moving forward in any hiring process. Hiring managers will use your resume to swiftly assess whether you are eligible and qualified for a particular role. A properly structured resume will grab the attention of potential employers.

Your resume is also an opportunity to demonstrate how your skills and experience align with the unique responsibilities of the position in question. An eye-catching resume that succinctly conveys the value you will add to an organization could land you an interview — as long as you present the relevant information correctly.

Machine Learning Resume Components

Your resume is an opportunity to celebrate your accomplishments — just keep your wording concise. White space improves readability and makes your resume easy for a hiring manager to scan in a pinch. When organizing your resume, be sure to break down key information into the following sections:

• Education

If you’re angling for an entry-level machine learning role, you might not have much work experience under your belt. The education section of your resume will help fill your gaps in experience while simultaneously validating your technical skills. Whether you have a bootcamp certificate or a Ph.D., use this section to briefly discuss relevant coursework and impressive academic achievements.

• Skills

The skills you emphasize on your resume can determine whether your application advances in the hiring process. Consider tailoring your resume to the description of the role you’re applying for — employers want to see that your skills align with their needs. In the skills section, machine learning engineers should strive to convey proficiency with scripting languages, a robust understanding of machine learning concepts, and foundational knowledge of algorithms, statistics, and data processing.

• Experience

This section summarizes the hands-on work you’ve done and will help decide whether you move forward in the hiring process. This is your opportunity to discuss professional work experience, internships, volunteer work, and more. If your prior experience lies outside the field of machine learning, be sure to relate what you’ve done to the requirements of the job you’re applying for. That could mean highlighting a mastery of desirable soft skills, industry knowledge, and more.

If applicable, emphasize prior experience with GPU computing, data mining, Apache Spark, and the agile software development process. You’ll also want to demonstrate knowledge of natural language processing (NLP), deep learning, and associated tools and techniques.

• Projects

If you don’t have work experience, you can compensate with a robust compilation of projects. A strong projects section will validate your end-to-end technical skills, convey critical thinking abilities, and show your capacity to tackle real-world business problems. Strive to emphasize instances in which you built a working prototype and deployed that prototype to production. Also, be sure to build a narrative around each project that contextualizes the problem and communicates both your process and your motivations.

How To Build a Strong Machine Learning Resume

To create a machine learning resume that opens doors, you’ll need to:

Machine Learning Resume Tips for Different Career Stages

As your career advances, you’ll need to adjust your resume to reflect new experiences and credentials. Here are a few tips to boost your resume at every career stage:

Entry-Level Machine Learning Resume

Typically, an entry-level machine learning engineer has 0–4 years of experience. Someone at this career stage might have recently graduated from college or switched careers and pivoted into the field. Entry-level applicants who lack professional experience should emphasize end-to-end machine learning projects that have been deployed in production — hiring managers want to see execution capability.

Mid-Level Machine Learning Resume

Mid-level machine learning engineers have 5–9 years of experience. At this career stage, your specialization has likely narrowed to a particular focus. To stay relevant, add new credentials you’ve accumulated to update your skills — examples might include credentials that certify your ability to implement machine learning solutions in particular cloud-based environments like Amazon Web Services.

Senior-Level Machine Learning Resume

Senior-level machine learning engineers have 10+ years of experience in the field and are typically hired by large, multinational corporations. Senior machine learning engineers often lead the design, deployment, and scaling of data and machine learning infrastructure, and may collaborate closely with other departments like dev ops, data science, and product. In addition to emphasizing end-to-end expertise in ML pipelines, senior machine learning engineer resumes should also highlight prior managerial experience, as senior positions often are responsible for leading teams or departments.