Occupations can shape personality, and vice versa

Anyone wondering why “the same type of person” often works in certain occupations now has a sound scientific answer: A new study by the University of Mannheim shows that personality and career choice are closely linked—a relationship that becomes more prominent over time.

Mannheim researchers Dr. Claudia Rossetti, Dr. Katja Dlouhy and Prof. Dr. Torsten Biemann, holder of the Chair of Human Resource Management and Leadership, used longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) to explore the interplay between personality traits and career decisions. The results, published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, are based on data from up to approximately 11,000 individuals, with the longest analyses spanning 12 years of their careers (2005–2017).

One of the key findings of the study is that people with similar personality traits often choose similar occupations. The so-called Big Five personality traits, i.e., openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism, tend to be more similar as occupational similarity increases. For example, medical doctors and pharmacologists are more likely to exhibit similar personality profiles. Furthermore, the longer individuals remain in similar occupations, the more their personality traits tend to converge with those of their colleagues over time.

Another conclusion drawn from the study is that those who work with people whose personality traits vary greatly from their own tend to be more prone to changing their career paths. Personality differences therefore often lead to a change of profession.

“Our study reveals that career choices are determined not only by skills and interests but also by how well a person’s personality aligns with the standard profile associated with that occupation,” explains Claudia Rossetti, lead author of the study. “This research sheds light on the complex dynamics that exist between a person’s personality and their job,” Rossetti continues.

What does this mean for employers and career coaches?

The results provide important information for companies: A good match between personality and career is crucial for career satisfaction and retention within the profession. Personality profiles could therefore be used more effectively in career counseling and hiring in order to promote long-term and effective cooperation.