The five-factor model of personality and career success

This study examined the relationship between the "Big Five" personality dim ensions (neuroticism, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and o penness) and career success by surveying a sample of 496 (318 male and 178 female) employees in a diverse set of occupations and organizations. Hierar chical regression analyses were used to examine the incremental variance co ntributed by the five personality traits after controlling for several care er-related variables. Results showed that, as expected, extraversion was re lated positively to salary level, promotions, and career satisfaction and t hat neuroticism was related negatively to career satisfaction. Agreeablenes s was related negatively only to career satisfaction and openness was relat ed negatively to salary level. Examination of moderators revealed that ther e was a significant negative relationship between agreeableness and salary among individuals in people-oriented occupations but no relationship for th ose in occupations not involving a strong "people" component. (C) 2001 Acad emic Press.