Data engineering is one of the most lucrative and versatile fields in the tech industry. The data-centric world makes data engineering an in-demand subject not just in the United States but across the globe.
If you are a data engineer who is looking for a job, you don’t need to rush. You can take your time and apply for the most attractive positions as long as you can craft the perfect resume and cover letter.
In this article, you are going to learn how to design a data engineering cover letter and resume to grab the attention of hiring managers. It contains everything you need to know, from the importance of a cover letter to a step-by-step guide to creating your own. You will also find powerful samples that you can use as templates. If you aren’t an expert yet, check out this article on how to become a data engineer.
Data Engineering Cover Letter Guide
Your cover letter is your first opportunity to show a prospective client that you are the right candidate for the job. If your data engineer cover letter is captivating, the hiring manager will be more interested in reading your resume. Below are some things you should consider to write the perfect cover letter.
Why Does Your Data Engineering Cover Letter Matter?
According to Zippia, there are currently more than 7,390 data engineers in the United States. This amount doesn’t account for new data engineers who have yet to find gainful employment in the industry.
The field is highly competitive, so you need to do whatever you can to stand out during the job application process. If your cover letter doesn’t command respect, you may not get a chance to interview even if you have the required skills and experience. The presentation of your data engineering cover letter and resume is just as important as the skills you are showcasing.
While the resume deals specifically with your skills and experience, the cover letter requires a more personal touch. It is your introduction to the hiring manager. You need to tell the reader who you are and why you believe that you are an ideal fit for the data engineering position in question. It also gives the reader a glimpse of your writing skills.
Essential Components of Your Data Engineering Cover Letter
What should your data engineering cover letter contain? Contrary to popular opinion, cover letters should not be generic. You shouldn’t use the same cover letter for all your job applications even if they are all for data engineering roles. However, some key points should appear on every data engineering cover letter. Some of these points are listed below.
- Introduction. What is your name? Why are you writing this cover letter? What do you hope to achieve and why do you think you are a good fit for the job? Try starting off with an interesting fact about yourself that relates to the job.
- Contact details. You need to write your contact details at least twice in your cover letter. One should be in the header and the other one should be in the conclusion. Make sure to have at least two contact options, such as a phone number and an email address. You can also add a link to your LinkedIn profile.
- Data engineering sales pitch. A significant part of your cover letter should be dedicated to showcasing your data engineering skills. Don’t hold back when it’s time to talk about your skillset, as this is a chance to boost yourself. However, don’t pad your cover letter with skills you don’t have.
- Essay structure. Your cover letter should be structured like a regular essay. This means that it should have an introduction, body, and a conclusion, in this order. It makes the information easier to digest by the reader.
- Compelling conclusion and call to action. Your closing paragraph should be two or three lines summarizing the entire letter. It should also have a call to action that urges the reader to check out your resume or reach out to you directly.
5 Tips for Writing a Strong Data Engineering Cover Letter
When you are writing a data engineering cover letter, your primary goal should be to stand out from other applicants. You can’t achieve this by putting minimal effort into writing. The five tips below will help you write a job-winning cover letter for data engineering jobs.
- Mention the company and position. Each cover letter has to be written for a particular company and position. So, it is important that you mention the name of the firm and a few details about the position you want. This way, the hiring manager will know that you read and understood the job description before applying.
- Keep it relevant. Maybe you’ve worked in the hospitality industry as a waiter or you’ve worked in construction as a builder in the past. These are great experiences but they should not be included in your cover letter if you’re applying for a job as a data engineer. Your cover letter should only contain data engineering-related positions. You can add other details to your resume when it is time to write about your work history.
- Watch your grammar. As a rule of thumb, you need to keep the language of your cover letter clear and concise. This isn’t the time to use big and fancy words or prove your language skills to your reader. However, you still need to ensure that you use proper grammar. If you’re not comfortable with the content, you can get a professional writer to proofread it for you.
- Use a professional font. The gold standard for data engineering cover letters is Times New Roman. This font is as professional as it gets. If you do not like Times New Roman, you can use Arial, Courier New, or Calibri. These are all great options for professional cover letters and resumes.
- Don’t go beyond one page. No hiring manager wants to read a three-page cover letter. If you stick to the most important information only, your cover letter should not be more than 500 words. This is approximately one page with the standard font style and size.
Data Engineering Cover Letter Example
If you still aren’t sure how your data engineering cover letter should look, the sample data engineer cover letter below should help.
Data Engineering Cover Letter Sample
November 19, 2021
Miss. Carolina .H. Zuni
Hiring Manager
Data Engineering for All
No 5 Main Street
Springfield, MA, USA, 67890
Dear Miss Zuni,
My name is Frank Miller and I am a big fan of Data Engineering for All. I am applying for the senior data engineering role because I have over 10 years of technical experience and I believe that I am the perfect candidate for this position. Python, SQL, and R are just a few of the programming languages I have mastered for data engineering over the years.
During my professional career, I have used Hadoop, Spark, and MongoDB for data collection, storage, and analysis. Thanks to my knowledge of software engineering, I have created five enterprise-level database management systems from scratch. If you give me a chance, my experience with data science and data engineering will make me an indispensable member of your team.
Please reach out to me at (+1) 8407-5213 or at FrankMiller@gmail.com.
Thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Frank Miller
Data Engineering Resume Guide
Your data engineering resume is an important part of the job application process. It contains similar information as your cover letter but with more precise details. It allows the hiring manager to get a glimpse of your professional career and your qualifications.
Why Does Your Data Engineering Resume Matter?
If your cover letter is captivating, your hiring manager will want to learn more about you and this is where your resume becomes handy. As a data engineer, your target audience will most likely be employers in the tech industry. Even if it isn’t, you need to make sure your resume looks technical and is relevant to data engineering.
Your resume tells your prospective employer where you studied, where you’ve worked, and what projects you’ve completed as a data engineer. It also outlines your most relevant skills. Like your cover letter, it is important that you do not garnish your resume with skills or experiences you do not currently have. Some hiring managers go the extra mile to verify your information when they are considering you for a position.
Essential Components of Your Data Engineering Resume
The components of your data engineering resume are similar to the components of any other resume. However, it should be tailored to a specific role.
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- Header. The header of your resume should contain your name, address, email address, and professional brand page. If you have a website, a link to your website should be added. If you do not have one, a link to your GitHub project page should be added.
- Technical and non-technical skills. On the skills section of your resume, you should add a good combination of technical and non-technical skills. Technical skills include things like SQL, Python, R, Java, Scala, or any other useful data tool you have mastered. Non-technical skills can be communication skills, problem-solving skills, and other key soft skills.
- Education. A list of your educational accomplishments should be added to this section. If you have a bachelor’s degree in a field that isn’t data engineering, you should still add it to your resume. You should always add your bootcamp experience if that is where you studied data engineering. Add start and end dates to each education program.
- Professional experience. If you’ve ever worked in a professional setting before, it is important that you add your job experience to your resume. Experts encourage job seekers to list their jobs chronologically. Start with your first job and work your way up to your current or most recent job experience.
- Projects and certifications. If you have any data engineering certifications, you should add them to your resume. It also helps to add a list of your successful projects along with a link to said projects. If you already added a GitHub link, you don’t need to add it again.
5 Tips for Writing a Strong Data Engineering Resume
While you are writing your data engineering resume, keep in mind that many other candidates will be applying for the same job. Follow the tips below to make sure that your resume isn’t just like every other one.
- Create an exceptional objective statement. Every data engineering resume needs an objective statement. An objective statement is a short description of the skills you have and what you can bring to the table if you are employed. Use your technical and non-technical skills to explain why you would be a good fit for the job.
- Make sure you list in-demand skills. When you are making a list of your skills, make sure you list the ones with the highest demand first. If you are yet to learn about data engineering technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence, this might be the right time to master them.
- Add some stats. There is nothing more interesting to data engineers than quantifiable results. So, throw in some statistics when you are describing your accomplishments in the world of data. This is an example of what we are talking about: “While working as a junior data engineer at Facebook, I managed to reduce latency by 15 percent”.
- Expose your technical expertise first. Technical skills should be highlighted as many times as possible on your resume. Apart from the skills section, look for other opportunities to brag about your technical skills. You can mention a few skills with each job experience.
- Ask a mentor to proofread. If you have a data engineering mentor, you can ask them to help you proofread your resume. Someone with experience in the industry might be able to provide valuable and actionable insight.
Engineering Resume Examples
There are two examples below. One is a sample of the structure while the other is a sample template you can customize.
Data Engineering Resume Sample
Header
Frank Miller
Data Engineering for All
No 5 Main Street
Springfield USA 67890
(+1) 8407-5213
FrankMiller@gmail.com
GitHub.frankmilla.com
Objective
I have more than 10 years of experience in data engineering and about 15 years of tech experience. Among other duties, I have specialized in developing relational database management systems for over five years. I am confident that my dedication and experience will make me a valuable asset to Data Engineering for All.
Education
University of California-Berkeley
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science 2005 – 2009
Carnegie Mellon University
Master of Science in Big Data Engineering 2011 – 2013
Work Experience
Remote part-time IT Scientist, CSI Systems, Manhattan, NY 2007 – 2012
- Monitored and secured internal information technology systems
- Oversaw system upgrades to maintain network security and prevent possible bridges
- Developed a system diagnostic software that led to a 7% increase in functionality in one year
Data Engineer, The Data Guru, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, CA 2014 – Present
- Developed database management systems from scratch
- Embraced a leadership role, training and supervising junior data engineers
- Developed a world-class database management fraud detection system that reduced expenses by 20% in three years
Technical Skills
Python
Java
SQL
C++
Azure
Sybase
Hadoop
Oracle
Non-technical skills
Leadership
Communication
Problem-solving
Working under pressure
Collaboration
Certifications
Google Professional Data Engineer
CCP Data Engineer Certification (DE575)
Senior Big Data Engineer
References available on request
Sample Data Engineering Resume Template
Header
[Insert your name]
[Insert your address]
[Insert your telephone number]
[Insert your email address]
[Insert your GitHub link]
Objective
[What are your accomplishments and why do they make you a good fit for the data engineering position in question]
Education
[List your degrees and certificates]
Work Experience
[Where have you worked? How long did you work there? What were your contributions during that time? List all relevant experiences]
Technical Skills
[Technical skills that make you a better data engineer]
Non-technical Skills
[Soft skills that make you a people person]
Certifications
[A list of all your data engineering certifications from entry-level to senior certifications]
Data Engineering Resume Template Resources
- Indeed. Indeed is one of the most reliable resources for data engineering resume templates and cover letters. All you have to do is find one you like and fill in the blanks with your details.
- Zety. Zety is another reliable place to find job-specific templates. It has different template styles and patterns for data engineers.
- Enhancv. This is an online resume generator with several data engineering templates that you can use for your job applications.
Importance of a Data Engineering Cover Letter and Resume
Your data engineering cover letter and resume are crucial for the job application process. It is your first opportunity to tell the hiring manager about yourself before a potential interview. If your cover letter is interesting, the hiring manager will read your resume, and if they are impressed with your resume, they will invite you for a job interview. Make sure you put in maximum effort in creating both documents.
Data Engineering Cover Letter and Resume FAQ
What Should Be Included in Both Cover Letter and Resume?
Your contact information, name of the company you are applying to, work history, education history, technical skills, and non-technical skills should be in both. You should give the hiring manager reasons to choose you over other candidates applying for the same role. Also, it helps to add data engineering projects and certifications to your resume. It should all be written in a professional font.
Do Your Cover Letter and Resume Need to Match?
No, your cover letter doesn’t always need to match your resume. You can use one resume to apply for several jobs but you should use a new cover letter each time you are applying for a job. Cover letters must be tailored to the company in question but you don’t need to mention the company name in your resume. The only companies you should mention are the ones in your work history.
What Is the Difference Between a Cover Letter and CV?
A cover letter is a brief introduction to your professional career aimed at telling a prospective employer why you should be considered for a position. A resume, or CV, is a document that describes in more detail your professional career over time. It contains specifics that aren’t traditionally found in cover letters.
What Do Employers Look for in a Cover Letter?
Employers want to see skills, enthusiasm, and any other information that will help them gauge your sustainability for the job. They also want to know if you know enough about the job description and the company in question. Make sure you follow the proper cover letter format. Most importantly, hiring managers despise generic templates.
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