TY - JOUR
T1 - Uncovering the power of personality to shape income
AU - Denissen, Jaap J. A.
AU - Bleidorn, Wiebke
AU - Hennecke, Marie
AU - Luhmann, Maike
AU - Orth, Ulrich
AU - Specht, Jule
AU - Zimmermann, Julia
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - The notion of person-environment fit implies that personal and contextual factors interact in influencing important life outcomes. Using data from 8,458 employed individuals, we examined the combined effects of individuals' actual personality traits and jobs' expert-rated personality demands on earnings. Results from a response surface analysis indicated that the fit between individuals' actual personality and the personality demands of their jobs is a predictor of income. Conclusions of this combined analysis were partly opposite to conclusions reached in previous studies using conventional regression methods. Individuals can earn additional income of more than their monthly salary per year if they hold a job that fits their personality. Thus, at least for some traits, economic success depends not only on having a "successful personality" but also, in part, on finding the best niche for one's personality. We discuss the findings with regard to labor-market policies and individuals' job-selection strategies.
AB - The notion of person-environment fit implies that personal and contextual factors interact in influencing important life outcomes. Using data from 8,458 employed individuals, we examined the combined effects of individuals' actual personality traits and jobs' expert-rated personality demands on earnings. Results from a response surface analysis indicated that the fit between individuals' actual personality and the personality demands of their jobs is a predictor of income. Conclusions of this combined analysis were partly opposite to conclusions reached in previous studies using conventional regression methods. Individuals can earn additional income of more than their monthly salary per year if they hold a job that fits their personality. Thus, at least for some traits, economic success depends not only on having a "successful personality" but also, in part, on finding the best niche for one's personality. We discuss the findings with regard to labor-market policies and individuals' job-selection strategies.
U2 - 10.1177/0956797617724435
DO - 10.1177/0956797617724435
M3 - Article
SN - 0956-7976
VL - 29
SP - 3
EP - 13
JO - Psychological Science
JF - Psychological Science
IS - 1
ER -