Cracking the Machine Learning Interview — Resume
There have been massive layoffs in several big companies. Many data scientists and machine learning engineers lost their jobs. I’m so sorry about that. On the other hand, it is an opportunity for you to learn about the market, the skills in need, and to improve yourself. I was looking for a job just a few months ago. I have to do my regular work while preparing for interviews. See? Being laid off is not that bad. But I was also kind of lucky that there weren’t so many people looking for open positions.
Recently I became an interviewer. I read a few resumes every day, from the candidates I will interview. I spend about 10 minutes on each resume so that I know the candidate before the interview. I have different perspectives from recruiters, because I want to know deeper. I would like to share a few suggestions, to those who are striving to get a job.
- Tailor your resume to the specific job or company you are applying for.
You may not really update your resume for every company but I did go over my resume quickly before submitting it or sending it to a recuiter. Tailoring your resume to the specific job or company you are applying for can help demonstrate that you have the skills and experience they are looking for. A few things you can do: (a) identify key skills and qualifications listed in the job description and making sure they are prominently highlighted in your resume; (b) use the same language and terminology that the job posting uses to describe the desired qualifications and experience; (c) showcase relevant experience and achievements that align with the job responsibilities and goals of the company; (d) research the company’s mission, values, and culture to understand their needs and tailor your resume accordingly; (e) show how your experience and skills can bring value to the company and help them meet their goals. These items are also what you want to think about before your interviews.
2. Use action verbs and quantifiable metrics to describe your experience and accomplishments.
Using action verbs and quantifiable metrics when describing your experience and accomplishments can help make your resume more impactful and demonstrate your achievements. Action verbs such as “implemented”, “developed”, “analyzed”, “improved” etc. help to show the specific actions you took in your past roles. Quantifiable metrics such as “increased sales by 20%”, “reduced error rate by 50%”, “trained a model with 90% accuracy” etc. help to demonstrate the impact of your actions and the specific results you achieved. Using action verbs and quantifiable metrics can help make your resume more compelling and demonstrate your ability to achieve results in your past roles.
3. Keep your resume concise and easy to read, and make sure to proofread for any errors.
Keeping your resume concise and easy to read is important for making a good impression on potential employers. Here are some tips for doing so: (a) use a clear and simple format that is easy to scan and navigate. Use bullet points and clear headings to break up text and make it easy to find relevant information; (b) avoid using overly complex language or jargon that may be difficult for someone outside of your field to understand; (c) use a consistent font and formatting throughout your resume, and avoid using too many different font sizes or styles; (d) keep your resume to one or two pages in length, and only include the most relevant and important information.
Proofreading your resume is also important to ensure that it is free of any errors and is polished and professional. It’s a good practice to proofread your resume several times, or even ask someone else to read it and give feedback.
Finding a position is by no means easy, especially in the current situation. Show your strength to your potential employers and good luck!
