LinkedIn has become an invaluable tool for networking and job searching, especially in the data science field. With over 740 million members worldwide, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network and allows you to connect with potential employers and recruiters in your industry. Finding and connecting with data science recruiters on LinkedIn can significantly increase your chances of landing a data science job. In this article, we will provide tips on how to best utilize LinkedIn to find recruiters that specialize in data science roles.
Optimize your LinkedIn profile
The first step is to optimize your own LinkedIn profile to ensure it is tailored for data science jobs. Complete your profile to 100% by adding a professional headshot, an engaging summary statement, your full work and education history, and any applicable skills and certifications. Make sure to include relevant keywords like “data science,” “machine learning,” “Python,” “R,” “SQL,” “statistics,” etc. This helps signal to recruiters that you have a data science background. Adding measurable achievements and specific projects to your experience section can further showcase your hard skills.
Follow data science companies
LinkedIn allows you to follow company pages. Identify major employers in data science such as technology, finance, healthcare, retail and e-commerce companies. Follow their company pages to stay up to date on new job postings and opportunities. When you follow companies, their job postings will appear in your feed.
Some top companies hiring data scientists include Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Uber, Airbnb, Capital One, JP Morgan Chase, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, McKinsey, Booz Allen Hamilton, General Motors, Ford, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Walmart, Target, eBay, Adobe, Netflix, Expedia and more.
Join data science groups
Join LinkedIn groups focused on data science to network with other data science professionals. Here are some popular data science groups to join:
– Data Science Central
– Analytics, Data Science, Machine Learning Community
– KDnuggets
– Data Science Association
– ODSC – Open Data Science
– Data Science Career Hackers
– Data Science Networking
– Data Science Lounge
– Data Science Career Talks & Insights
In these groups you can pose questions to the community, share advice and articles, and connect with like-minded data scientists. Review the group members and connect with any recruiters you come across.
Follow data science influencers
Follow prominent data science leaders, experts, authors, bloggers and influencers on LinkedIn. They often share insightful content and discuss trending topics in the field. Examples include Monica Rogati (Data Science Manager at JPMorgan Chase), DJ Patil (Former U.S. Chief Data Scientist), Hilary Mason (Founder of Fast Forward Labs), Gregory Piatetsky (KDnuggets Editor), Kirk Borne (Data Scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton), Vincent Granville (Co-founder of Data Science Central), Carla Gentry (Director of Data Science at Citrine Informatics), Cassie Kozyrkov (Chief Decision Scientist at Google), Rebecca Bilbro (Head of Data Science at Brown Advisory).
Review who these influencers are connected with and following. Likely, many of their connections will be involved in the data science space in some capacity.
Connect with staffing agencies
Many companies leverage recruiting and staffing agencies to fill data science roles. Identify and connect with recruiters who work at these firms. Some top IT and data science staffing agencies include Robert Half Technology, Insight Global, CyberCoders, Randstad Technologies, Aerotek, TekSystems, Mondo, Motion Recruitment, VincentBenjamin, Talener Group, Hudson Data, CTG, Aquent, Eliassen Group and more.
LinkedIn lets you narrow your search by filtering recruiters at these companies by location. For example search “Recruiter at Robert Half Technology in New York, NY”. This surfaces recruiters in your geographic area.
Search by data science keywords
Take advantage of LinkedIn’s powerful search functionality. Search for profiles using targeted data science job titles and keywords like:
– Data Scientist
– Machine Learning Engineer
– Data Engineer
– Analytics Manager
– Director of Data
– Chief Data Officer
– Artificial Intelligence Specialist
– Data Architect
– Business Intelligence Analyst
– Big Data Engineer
– Quantitative Analyst
Narrow it down further by adding location or company filters. For example: “Data Scientist at Amazon in Seattle”.
You can save these searches and get alerts whenever new profiles matching your keywords are added.
Leverage your connections
Check to see if any of your existing connections work in data science recruiting roles. Reach out and ask if they are hiring or know of any openings in your area.
Even if they are not recruiters, your connections can still keep an eye out for data science opportunities that could be a good fit. Let them know you are passively searching. Networking through shared connections is a great way to find unposted jobs.
Follow companies you’ve applied to
When you apply for data science roles on company websites, take note of those employers and follow their LinkedIn company pages. This keeps you visible in their networks, allows you to interact with their content, and lets you stay informed on new openings. Employees and recruiters who work there may view and visit your profile.
Connect with people who view your profile
Under your notifications on LinkedIn, you can see the profiles of members who have recently viewed your profile. Sift through them and connect with any data science recruiters or professionals in the field that come up. Message them indicating you noticed they viewed your profile and ask if they have any roles available that would be a fit.
Turn on Career Interests setting
Under your profile settings, turn on the Career Interests feature. Here you can indicate you are open to data science job opportunities. This signals to recruiters that you are actively searching. Those looking for data science candidates will be able to discover your profile through searches filtered by career interests.
Join LinkedIn alumni groups
If you are a college graduate, join your university’s LinkedIn alumni group. Alumni groups make it easy to connect with fellow graduates who can help with your job search. Filter members by those who work in data and analytics roles. Fellow alumni are often happy to help students and graduates break into their industry.
Attend LinkedIn events
In the Events section, look for relevant networking events, workshops and seminars happening in your area and RSVP. Data science meetups are a great way to create connections and get introduced to recruiters in person.
LinkedIn also hosts its own official events like LinkedIn Local which offer networking opportunities. Meet people there and connect with them after.
Message recruiters directly
Once you identify relevant recruiters, don’t be afraid to reach out over LinkedIn messaging. Personalized messages have much higher response rates than applying blindly online. Address them directly, be concise, mention why you are interested in their company, and attach a copy of your latest resume.
Here is a message template you can use:
“Hi [Name],
I saw that you work in data science recruiting at [Company]. I’m very interested in learning more about potential data science opportunities you may have available.
As a [current title] with [X] years experience using tools like Python, R, SQL, and machine learning to solve business problems, I believe I would be a great fit for [Company’s] data-driven culture. Some key skills I have include:
– Skill 1
– Skill 2
– Skill 3
I have attached a copy of my resume detailing more of my background in data analytics and would love to discuss any roles you may have. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
[Your name]”
Apply to jobs posted by recruiters
Pay attention to jobs posted directly by recruiter profiles, which are more likely to be actively hiring. Apply to these postings by clicking the “Apply on company website” button. This sends your profile to the recruiter along with an indication you applied. Applying directly through LinkedIn when possible can help get your application viewed quicker.
Follow up persistently
Recruiters are busy and hear from many candidates. If they don’t respond right away, follow up again expressing your interest. Send connection requests periodically if they haven’t accepted your initial invites. Recruiting is a numbers game, so consistent polite persistence and follow up is key.
Conclusion
With the right strategy, LinkedIn can be an effective platform for discovering and connecting with data science recruiters to propel your job search. The key is being proactive by constantly expanding your network, optimized your own profile, engaging with the right companies and professionals, and persistently pursuing opportunities. Using LinkedIn takes work, but will significantly expand the scope of roles available to you beyond just blind job board applications. With so many companies utilizing LinkedIn to source talent, it pays to tap into recruiters directly wherever possible.
| Tip | How it Helps |
|---|---|
| Optimize LinkedIn profile for data science | Signals data science skills and interests to recruiters searching profiles |
| Follow data science companies | See job postings and openings from companies hiring data scientists |
| Join data science groups | Network and connect with data science professionals and recruiters |
| Follow data science influencers | Discover companies, trends, and opportunities through their content and connections |
| Connect with staffing agencies | Staffing recruiters can match you with data science job openings |
| Search data science keywords | Find profiles of recruiters hiring for data roles |
| Leverage your connections | Get introduced to unposted jobs through your network |
| Follow companies you’ve applied to | Stay on their radar for future opportunities |
| Connect with profile viewers | Connect directly with recruiters interested in your background |
| Turn on Career Interests | Get discovered by recruiters looking for data science candidates |
| Join alumni groups | Fellow graduates can help refer you to data science openings |
| Attend LinkedIn events | Meet recruiters and hiring managers in person |
| Message recruiters directly | Make personal connections with recruiters hiring for data roles |
| Apply to jobs posted by recruiters | Get your application fast-tracked by applying directly through LinkedIn |
| Follow up persistently | Continued outreach results in more responses |
Join industry and city specific groups
In addition to broad data science groups, join niche industry and location-based groups aligned with the types of roles you are interested in. For example, if you want to work in finance, join groups like “NYC Finance Professionals” or “Data Science in Finance”. If you are looking for jobs in Chicago, groups like “Chicago Tech” and “Data Science Chicago” would be valuable. This helps you surface job openings and recruiters in your desired field and city.
Browse Jobs tab and apply to openings
The Jobs tab on LinkedIn allows you to search current job listings and filter by keywords like “data science” and location. You can sort by date posted to see the latest openings. Review relevant listings and click to apply through LinkedIn whenever possible, which adds your profile to your application. Check this tab daily or set up alerts to be notified of new data science jobs matching your search parameters.
Research company culture and employees
When connecting with recruiters or applying to companies, take time to research their culture and current employees on LinkedIn. Look for insights on the work environment, business goals, tech stack, leadership and team dynamics. This gives you valuable context when speaking to recruiters and interviewing.
Follow up weekly with new leads
To stay top of mind with recruiters, make it a habit to reach out to new connections or leads on a weekly basis. A simple message checking in, reiterating your interest or providing an update on your background goes a long way in nurturing relationships over time.
Give back to the data science community
Comment on posts, share articles, like and react to content to establish yourself as an engaged member of the data science community providing value. This activity exposes you to new people and opportunities.
Utilize advanced search operators
Leverage advanced search operators such as quotation marks for exact phrases, AND/OR between keywords, “-” to exclude words, and site: to restrict results to specific domains. This surfaces more targeted profiles. For example:
data scientist AND recruiter -agency site:linkedin.com
Bookmark jobs and revisit regularly
When you find an interesting job posting that you don’t have time to apply to right away, bookmark it using the “Save this Job” feature. Revisit your saved jobs regularly and apply when ready. Saved jobs persist even after the application deadline.
Personalize connection requests
When sending connection invites, customize the message to reference previous conversations, shared connections, groups in common, why you want to connect, or what you find interesting about their experience. This yields higher acceptance rates.
Complete LinkedIn assessments
Complete LinkedIn’s free Skill Assessments tests to get verified in key areas employers look for like Python, SQL, Excel, statistics and more. Lead with your top 3 skills on your profile.
Learn through LinkedIn Learning
Take free LinkedIn Learning courses to sharpen your data science skills and tools. Adding Learning badges to your profile highlights your commitment to continuous development.
Get endorsements for Skills
Endorse connections for skills they are strong in and encourage them to in return endorse you in data science skills. This serves as third-party validation of capabilities.
Publish your own content
Share your data science knowledge by publishing posts. This allows you to demonstrate thought leadership and get on the radar of those interested in your writing and insights.
