How to Structure Your Resume for Data & Tech Roles

If you’re applying for roles in data science, analytics, or machine learning, your resume needs more than just the right keywords, it needs the right structure.

Recruiters often spend only a few seconds scanning a resume. If your most important sections are buried, they may never see your strongest qualifications. The structure you choose can make the difference between getting shortlisted or getting overlooked.

Why resume structure matters

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and hiring managers both respond better to resumes that are clear, relevant, and easy to navigate. But the ideal structure isn’t the same for everyone. A student with academic projects, a career switcher from another field, and an experienced professional in the industry each need to highlight different things to stand out.

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Using the same resume layout no matter your background.

• Placing less relevant sections (like unrelated work history) above more impactful ones.

• Making education the first section when your work experience should lead.

• Hiding achievements in bullet points that aren’t easy to skim.

Key factors that shape your resume structure

While every application should be tailored to the role, your starting point depends on:

1. Career stage:

   • Students and recent graduates should showcase projects and education at the top.

   • Experienced professionals should lead with recent, relevant work experience.

2. Background type:

   • Career switchers need to connect transferable skills to the target role.

   • Those with a consistent career path should focus on measurable results in the same field.

3. Relevant experience:

   • The number of years you’ve worked in a related role can affect whether you should use one or two pages.

You don’t have to figure this out on your own

It’s possible to work all of this out manually, but it’s easy to second-guess yourself. That’s why we built the Resume Structure Quiz.

Answer a few quick questions and you’ll:

• Discover the section order that works best for your career stage.

• Get tailored tips for highlighting your strengths.

• Receive an ATS-friendly template ready to use.

Whether you’re aiming for a Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Machine Learning Engineer, or AI Engineer role, the quiz is designed to give you a structure that helps you stand out for the right reasons.