Microsoft Corporation
Efficient percentile estimation for applicant rankings

Abstract:

The disclosed embodiments provide a system for processing a query for a ranking of candidates for an opportunity. During operation, the system obtains parameters associated with a query for a ranking of candidates for an opportunity, wherein the parameters include a candidate and the opportunity. Next, the system matches one or more of the parameters to a fixed number of quantile thresholds calculated from a distribution of scores for the candidates. The system then estimates, based on the fixed number of quantile thresholds, a quantile for a score of the candidate. Finally, the system outputs a position of the candidate within the ranking based on the estimated quantile.