What Hiring Managers Look for First in Machine Learning Job Applications (UK Guide)
Whether youโre applying for machine learning engineer, applied scientist, research scientist, ML Ops or data scientist roles, hiring managers scan applications quickly โ often making decisions before theyโve read beyond the top third of your CV. In the competitive UK market, itโs not enough to list skills. You must send clear signals of relevance, delivery, impact, reasoning and readiness for production โ and do it within the first few lines of your CV or portfolio. This guide walks you through exactly what hiring managers look for first in machine learning applications, how they evaluate CVs and portfolios, and what you can do to improve your chances of getting shortlisted at every stage โ from your CV and LinkedIn profile to your cover letter and project portfolio.