How science and analytics can help you get a job

Science, research, and analytics can help you increase your chances of getting a job. And this is not a matter of combing through the internet to find the job posts that are most suitable for you. These three tools that compile and analyze data can tell you actually the things that employers are looking for. They can also advise you on how to behave and how not to behave during a job interview.

First, access government and other institutional databases to find out the kind of jobs that are plentiful and are in-demand that are in your area. For example, according to the SC Times, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development forecasts that the state will require more jobs that do not require a college degree. These include retail work, nursing assistants, personal care aides, and home caregivers or assistants. If these jobs interest you or the economy has temporarily shelved your college plans, then you do have a chance of finding work quickly in Minnesota. On the other hand, if you want more academic, technical, or office work, and put that degree to use, then you had best find another state.

The Entrepreneur gives solid smart guidelines on how to ace that job interview should the recruiter finally call you for one. These tips are based on solid scientific research that has been proven time and again in the halls of human resources.

Time to dress up and listen if you want to get that job. (Photo by Alex France via Flickr. CC BY-SA 2.0)

The first scientific tip is to listen to your interviewer and recruiter and not hog the question-and-answer time. While it is not recommended that you stay silent all the time, research has shown that you must curb your natural tendency to talk about yourself. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, as 60 percent of all human beings do it all the time. They want to talk about themselves and what interests them.

While that may be ideal for an initial friendly conversation, chatting about yourself will not give the interviewer time to reveal important things about the company. You might miss out on an important detail that can ace your chances. Finally, too much self-chat might give the recruiter the bad impression that you are narcissistic and not a team player who can focus on other issues.

And one scientific-based tip that might surprise you is the act of dressing appropriately. Go to that interview in a business attire. Forget the so-called millennial culture or Silicon Valley approach and appear in your interview looking like you had just come out of bed. Research says that the 72 percent of job seekers, who are inappropriately dressed for work, do not get the job.