Hiring for Data Science Roles in Delhi NCR? Avoid These Mistakes Most Companies Make Without a Recruitment Agencies
- Saransh Garg
- May 24
- 10 min read
Updated: Jun 3
If you’re a founder, CTO, or hiring manager trying to hire data scientists in Delhi NCR, let me ask you something:
How many resumes have you gone through this month that looked perfect on paper but completely missed the mark during interviews?
How many weeks or worse, months have passed since you first posted that opening?
And how many of those "perfect-fit" candidates ghosted you midway through the hiring process or dropped off after accepting a counteroffer?
Let me tell you, You’re not alone. I work with IT companies of all sizes from lean startups to scaling MNCs across Gurgaon, Noida, and Delhi and I see these stories play out every day. Data science recruitment is tough, and it's even tougher if you try to do it without the right help.
Let’s walk through the most common hiring mistakes companies make when trying to hire for data science roles in Delhi NCR without a recruitment agency and how you can avoid falling into those same traps.
You’re Not Just Hiring a Data Scientist. You’re Competing for One.
The Delhi NCR tech market is booming with Global Capability Centres (GCCs), deep-tech startups, and unicorns all aggressively hunting for the same AI, ML, and data analytics talent you’re after.
Your job ad is live on Naukri, LinkedIn, and a couple of job boards. You’re even getting applicants. But none of them fit your needs for real-time analytics, model deployment, or Python-based data pipelines. Or worse, the perfect-fit resumes never reply back.
That’s where a Data Science Recruitment Agency in Delhi NCR (like ours) brings in leverage. We’ve spent years building curated talent pipelines of pre-vetted data science professionals who are actively or passively open to roles in FinTech, HealthTech, SaaS, and GCCs. We don't just source talent we match profiles that align with your tech stack, use cases, and growth goals.
Ready to stop wasting time screening irrelevant resumes? Fill out our quick hiring form here to talk to a data science hiring expert.
Mistake 1: Writing Generic Job Descriptions That Attract the Wrong Talent
You’re trying to hire a “Data Scientist”, but your JD reads like a Wishlist: Python, R, Tableau, SQL, NLP, Computer Vision, Hadoop, Kubernetes, and oh strong business acumen too.
Instead of attracting the right kind of candidates, you’re confusing potential applicants or attracting generalist data analysts who won’t deliver on your AI roadmap. Worse, you’re driving away senior candidates who know the role is underdefined.
We help our clients craft sharply defined, role-specific job descriptions. For example:
For a SaaS startup in Noida, we redefined their job post from "Data Scientist" to "ML Engineer for LLM-based Recommendation Systems"
For a Gurgaon-based FinTech, we helped scope out a "Risk Modeling Data Scientist with exposure to BFSI regulatory datasets"
Related Read: [Tips & Best Practices - How to Hire or Recruit a Cloud DevOps Engineer: A Step-by-Step Guide]
Pro Tip: Ask your Data Science Recruitment Agency in Delhi NCR to audit your job descriptions for clarity and alignment with your hiring goals.
Mistake 2: Underestimating Market Salary Trends and Candidate
Expectations in 2025
You’ve budgeted ₹15 LPA for a senior data scientist with 4+ years of ML deployment experience. But that’s below market in Delhi NCR, especially with companies like Google, Amazon, ZS, and Cred hiring aggressively.
Talented data scientists today are fielding multiple offers, some from GCCs that offer remote flexibility, ESOPs, and salaries that blow your offer out of the water. And yet, your internal HR still tries to negotiate down ₹1–2 LPA.
As a recruitment agency, we help you stay competitive with real-time salary benchmarks. We advise clients on:
When to offer ESOPs
How to craft performance-linked bonuses
How to use flexible work models as a differentiator
How to position non-monetary perks (e.g., IP ownership, data access) to ML researchers
Example: A scaling SaaS firm in Gurgaon revised their data scientist offer by 12% after our salary benchmarking. The result? They closed the role in under 3 weeks.
Let us guide your next offer strategy. Book a consult with our data hiring expert here.
Mistake 3: Relying Only on Job Boards and LinkedIn Posts
You post the role. You wait. You repost it. You refresh your ATS. And still, no one relevant shows up. The best data scientists in Delhi NCR aren’t job seekers. They’re already working on NLP models at Razorpay, forecasting churn at Zomato, or building fraud detection models at Pine Labs. They’re not checking Naukri. They’re heads-down coding.
We tap into our exclusive passive talent networks, referrals, and alumni channels to access these professionals. Our recruiters know who’s open to switching jobs, what will make them move, and how to pitch your opportunity the right way.
Internal Strategy: A Data Science Recruitment Agency in Delhi NCR builds a sourcing strategy beyond job boards, using Boolean search, Kaggle rankings, GitHub analysis, and referral loops.
Mistake 4: Treating Data Science Like a General IT Hire
You assign your general recruiter the task of hiring a data scientist someone who also hires backend developers and QA testers. The recruiter lacks the ability to screen for hands-on skills like model validation, hyperparameter tuning, or experience with transformers. You end up wasting time on candidates who can talk theory but can’t code.
Our agency deploys specialized recruiters with technical screening capability. We use case-study-based assessments, real-world problem-solving tasks, and GitHub project reviews to shortlist candidates.
Example: A HealthTech firm in Delhi had previously interviewed 12 candidates with no result. We helped them close the same role within 21 days using role-specific technical assessments.
Looking for help screening real data scientists who can ship production-grade models? Tell us your hiring requirement now
Mistake 5: Delaying the Interview Process and Losing Candidates to Faster Offers
Your internal process takes 3–4 weeks, 3 rounds, 2 test tasks, and a final round with the CEO by which time the candidate has accepted another offer.
Top candidates won’t wait. Especially in 2025, with GCCs like Microsoft, Samsung, and Paytm hiring rapidly in Delhi NCR. A slow process equals lost talent.
We help our clients streamline the interview pipeline. That means:
2-stage processes for mid-level roles
Founder-driven final conversations
On-the-spot offer rollouts for pre-vetted candidates
Structured decision-making checklists to avoid internal delays
Related Case Study: How We Helped Hire Top-Tier Tech Talent for Software Development Cloud Computing and DevOps Roles
Mistake 6: Failing to Sell the Role, the Mission, and the Data
Your job post talks only about responsibilities and requirements. But in data science hiring, it’s about the problem you’re solving, the size of the dataset, and the room for experimentation.
Top candidates want to know:
What data am I working with?
How mature is your ML stack?
Is there a path to leadership?
Can I publish papers or open-source tools?
We coach you on how to position your company, your data assets, and your ML culture. We’ve helped clients convert boring JDs into engaging talent pitches.
Example: A stealth-mode startup in Delhi increased their application rate by 3X after we rewrote their JD to focus on real-world impact and open-ended modeling challenges.
Mistake 7: Ignoring Diversity and Inclusion in Data Hiring
Problem:
You end up interviewing the same profile over and over again—similar colleges, similar career paths, similar thinking. Lack of diversity in your data team can lead to biased models, groupthink, and missed perspectives.
We focus on sourcing diverse candidates across gender, socio-economic, and academic backgrounds from second-career professionals to underrepresented groups in AI.
Related Article: [Women in the C-Suite: How to Build Diverse Executive Teams]
Pro Tip: Inclusion drives better algorithms. Let your data science hiring reflect that.
So, Why Partner with a Data Science Recruitment Agency in Delhi NCR?
Here’s what we bring to your table:
Domain-expert recruiters who understand AI, ML, NLP, LLMs, and model deployment
Real-time salary benchmarking and offer strategy support
Access to top-tier passive talent networks in Gurgaon, Noida, and Delhi
Interview-to-offer pipeline acceleration
Role-positioning and EVP (Employer Value Proposition) coaching
Custom technical screening and vetting
Hiring a data scientist in Delhi NCR isn’t hard because there’s a shortage of resumes. It’s hard because there’s a shortage of relevance. And if you keep hiring like it’s 2018, you’ll keep losing out in 2025.
Whether you're building your first AI team or scaling your ML research lab, don’t go it alone. A specialized Data Science Recruitment Agency understands the nuances of these roles and the motivations of the professionals you’re trying to attract.
Let’s make your next data science hire your best one yet. Fill this quick hiring form and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours.
Faqs
What does a data scientist actually do?
A data scientist analyzes large sets of data to find patterns, predict trends, and help companies make better business decisions. They often use tools like Python, R, SQL, and machine learning models to solve real-world problems with data.
Why is it hard to hire good data scientists in Delhi NCR?
Delhi NCR has a high demand for data scientists, but the talent pool is limited and highly competitive. Many top candidates get multiple offers, making it tough for companies to attract and retain the right talent without expert hiring help.
What mistakes do companies make when hiring data science roles?
Common mistakes include unclear job descriptions, unrealistic salary expectations, focusing too much on degrees, or ignoring soft skills and business understanding. These issues can lead to poor hires and wasted time and resources.
Can a recruitment agency really help in hiring data scientists?
Yes, recruitment agencies that specialize in tech hiring have access to pre-screened, qualified data scientists. They save time, reduce hiring errors, and help match the right skills and mindset with your company’s specific needs.
How much should I pay a data scientist in Delhi NCR?
Salaries can vary, but as of 2025, most mid-level data scientists in Delhi NCR earn between ₹12–25 LPA. Highly experienced professionals or those with niche skills like NLP or AI can command even higher pay.
Should I hire a fresher or an experienced data scientist?
It depends on your needs. Freshers are more affordable and can be trained, while experienced professionals bring deep technical and business knowledge. A recruitment agency can help you decide the right mix based on your budget and goals.
What skills should I look for in a good data scientist?
Look for strong programming skills (Python, SQL), data visualization (Tableau, Power BI), statistics, machine learning, and problem-solving ability. Communication and domain knowledge are also very important to drive real impact.
How long does it take to hire a data scientist without a recruitment agency?
It can take anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks or longer without agency help. You’ll need to screen many unqualified resumes, conduct multiple interviews, and still risk losing top candidates to faster-moving companies or better offers.
How can you help us find the right people for our company?
Think of us as your personal talent scout! At Exlcareer, we're dedicated to finding the perfect match for your open positions. We'll handle everything from posting job ads to interviewing candidates and even onboarding new hires. Our team of experienced recruiters uses the latest tools and techniques to identify top talent, ensuring a smooth and successful hiring process.
Let Exlcareer handle your hiring needs. Contact us now to discuss your specific requirements and discover how we can help you attract the best talent.
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We have a global reach but a strong presence in Delhi, India, and Dallas, Texas, United States. Whether you're looking to hire locally or internationally, Exlcareer can help you find the right talent for your company.
In India, we have covered more than 100+ cities some of the following cities:
Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Chandigarh and more.
In the United States, we have covered more than 20+ cities some of the following cities:
New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, San Jose and more.
What kinds of jobs ExlCareer specialize in?
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Here are some examples of common roles we specialize in:
Technology: Software engineers, data scientists, DevOps engineers, IT project managers, cybersecurity analysts
Sales and Marketing: Sales representatives, marketing managers, content writers, social media managers, digital marketers
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Here's how our RPO process works:
Initial consultation: We'll start by discussing your specific hiring needs and goals. This will help us understand the type of talent you're looking for and the timeline for filling the position.
Requirements analysis: Based on our initial consultation, we'll conduct a thorough analysis of your job requirements. This will help us identify the key skills and experience that candidates should have.
Candidate sourcing: We'll use a variety of sourcing methods to identify potential candidates for your role. This may include job boards, social media, employee referrals, and our extensive network of talent.
Candidate screening: We'll carefully review each candidate's resume and cover letter to ensure that they meet the minimum qualifications for the role. We may also conduct initial phone interviews to narrow down the pool of candidates.
Candidate presentation: Once we've identified the top candidates, we'll present them to you for your review. We'll provide you with detailed information about each candidate's qualifications and experience.
Job offer and onboarding: If you select a candidate, we'll help you extend a job offer and negotiate terms. We can also provide support with onboarding to ensure a smooth transition for the new hire.
Contact us now to discuss your requirements and learn more about how Exlcareer can help you find the right talent for your company.
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By partnering with Exlcareer, you can be confident that you're working with a trusted RPO firm that is dedicated to helping you achieve your hiring goals.
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