Analysis of Soft Skills and Job Level with Data Science: A Case for Graduates of a Private University

This study shows the significant features predicting graduates’ job levels, particularly high-level positions. Moreover, it shows that data science methodologies can accurately predict graduate outcomes. The dataset used to analyze graduate outcomes was derived from a private educational institution...

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Main Authors: Sofía Ramos-Pulido, Neil Hernández-Gress, Gabriela Torres-Delgado
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Informatics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9709/10/1/23
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author Sofía Ramos-Pulido
Neil Hernández-Gress
Gabriela Torres-Delgado
author_facet Sofía Ramos-Pulido
Neil Hernández-Gress
Gabriela Torres-Delgado
author_sort Sofía Ramos-Pulido
collection DOAJ
description This study shows the significant features predicting graduates’ job levels, particularly high-level positions. Moreover, it shows that data science methodologies can accurately predict graduate outcomes. The dataset used to analyze graduate outcomes was derived from a private educational institution survey. The original dataset contains information on 17,898 graduates and approximately 148 features. Three machine learning algorithms, namely, decision trees, random forest, and gradient boosting, were used for data analysis. These three machine learning models were compared with ordinal regression. The results indicate that gradient boosting is the best predictive model, which is 6% higher than the ordinal regression accuracy. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), a novel methodology to extract the significant features of different machine learning algorithms, was then used to extract the most important features of the gradient boosting model. Current salary is the most important feature in predicting job levels. Interestingly, graduates who realized the importance of communication skills and teamwork to be good leaders also had higher job positions. Finally, general relevant features to predict job levels include the number of people directly in charge, company size, seniority, and satisfaction with income.
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spelling doaj.art-7cb770176bdc4ae587ca08d32074340b2023-11-17T11:43:31ZengMDPI AGInformatics2227-97092023-02-011012310.3390/informatics10010023Analysis of Soft Skills and Job Level with Data Science: A Case for Graduates of a Private UniversitySofía Ramos-Pulido0Neil Hernández-Gress1Gabriela Torres-Delgado2School of Engineering and Science, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey 64849, MexicoSchool of Engineering and Science, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey 64849, MexicoSchool of Humanities and Education, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey 64849, MexicoThis study shows the significant features predicting graduates’ job levels, particularly high-level positions. Moreover, it shows that data science methodologies can accurately predict graduate outcomes. The dataset used to analyze graduate outcomes was derived from a private educational institution survey. The original dataset contains information on 17,898 graduates and approximately 148 features. Three machine learning algorithms, namely, decision trees, random forest, and gradient boosting, were used for data analysis. These three machine learning models were compared with ordinal regression. The results indicate that gradient boosting is the best predictive model, which is 6% higher than the ordinal regression accuracy. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), a novel methodology to extract the significant features of different machine learning algorithms, was then used to extract the most important features of the gradient boosting model. Current salary is the most important feature in predicting job levels. Interestingly, graduates who realized the importance of communication skills and teamwork to be good leaders also had higher job positions. Finally, general relevant features to predict job levels include the number of people directly in charge, company size, seniority, and satisfaction with income.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9709/10/1/23graduatessoft skillsjob levelgradient boostingrandom forestdecision trees
spellingShingle Sofía Ramos-Pulido
Neil Hernández-Gress
Gabriela Torres-Delgado
Analysis of Soft Skills and Job Level with Data Science: A Case for Graduates of a Private University
Informatics
graduates
soft skills
job level
gradient boosting
random forest
decision trees
title Analysis of Soft Skills and Job Level with Data Science: A Case for Graduates of a Private University
title_full Analysis of Soft Skills and Job Level with Data Science: A Case for Graduates of a Private University
title_fullStr Analysis of Soft Skills and Job Level with Data Science: A Case for Graduates of a Private University
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Soft Skills and Job Level with Data Science: A Case for Graduates of a Private University
title_short Analysis of Soft Skills and Job Level with Data Science: A Case for Graduates of a Private University
title_sort analysis of soft skills and job level with data science a case for graduates of a private university
topic graduates
soft skills
job level
gradient boosting
random forest
decision trees
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9709/10/1/23
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