Computer algorithm promises to make hiring, matchmaking foolproof

A selection process that not only picks the best candidate for a job but will also help people find true love through online dating services has been developed by a Calgary academic. Piers Steel, an assistant business professor at the University of Calgary, says his system will virtually eliminate the possibility of employers hiring the wrong person by identifying the best candidates. His computer algorithm will also weigh the elements that could make two people happy together. "It should improve the chances of getting your soulmate,'' Mr. Steel said, although he is quick to add "there's no guarantee." He published his research on the process known as synthetic validity in this month's International Journal of Selection and Assessment.