Which Personality Traits Predict Career Success?

Research reveals which Big Five traits correlate with professional achievement and income.

Personality Traits That Predict Career Success

Which personality traits actually predict career success? Decades of research reveal that certain Big Five traits consistently correlate with professional achievement, income, and job satisfaction. Understanding these relationships helps you choose careers, develop skills, and optimize your professional trajectory.

The #1 Predictor: Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness is the strongest personality predictor of career success across virtually all occupations. Research by Barrick & Mount (1991) found it predicts job performance better than any other trait. High conscientiousness individuals are:

• More reliable and organized
• Better at goal-setting and follow-through
• Higher earners (Judge et al., 1999)
• More likely to be promoted
• Less likely to be fired

Emotional Stability (Low Neuroticism)

Low neuroticism predicts career success through:

• Better stress management
• Higher resilience to setbacks
• Improved decision-making under pressure
• Better workplace relationships
• Lower absenteeism

Extraversion: Context-Dependent

Extraversion predicts success in people-oriented roles:

• Sales and business development
• Management and leadership
• Public relations and marketing
• Networking and relationship-building

However, introverts excel in analytical, research, and technical roles. The key is matching your extraversion level to your career.

Openness: Creative Fields

High openness predicts success in:

• Creative industries (design, writing, arts)
• Research and innovation
• Entrepreneurship
• Fields requiring adaptability

However, very high openness may correlate with lower income in structured, routine jobs.

Agreeableness: The Double-Edged Sword

Moderate agreeableness is optimal. Very high agreeableness may:

• Correlate with lower income in competitive fields
• Lead to difficulty negotiating
• Result in being taken advantage of

However, high agreeableness predicts success in collaborative, service-oriented roles.

The Trait Combination That Wins

Research shows the most successful professionals typically have:

• High conscientiousness
• Low neuroticism (emotional stability)
• Moderate to high extraversion (for leadership roles)
• Moderate agreeableness
• Context-appropriate openness

Can You Change Your Traits?

While personality is relatively stable, you can develop skills that compensate for trait limitations. For example, introverts can learn networking skills, and low conscientiousness individuals can build systems and habits.

Conclusion

Understanding which personality traits predict success in your field helps you make informed career choices and develop targeted skills. Take our comprehensive personality test to discover your trait profile, then use this information to optimize your career path and professional development.