Microsoft Corporation
Estimating effects of courses

Abstract:

A member profile including a vector containing a field for each of a plurality of skills and a rating of one or more of the skills in the vector for a member of a social networking service is obtained. A first distance indicating a vector distance between the vector of the member profile and a vector of a hypothetical member profile representing the perfect job candidate is obtained. A hypothetical member profile for the member is created by combining the vector of the member profile with the indication of how each of the one or more skills is improved through taking the course from course information. A second distance between the member and the hypothetical perfect candidate for the job is obtained, and the difference between the first distance and the second distance is calculated to determine an estimate of how much the course will increase the member's job chances.