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Journal of Career Assessment
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An Investigation of Personality Traits in Relation to Career Satisfaction

John W. Lounsbury

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

James M. Loveland

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Eric D. Sundstrom

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Lucy W. Gibson

eCareerFit.Com

Adam W. Drost

eCareerFit.Com

Frances L. Hamrick

eCareerFit.Com

We examined personality traits in relation to career satisfaction and job satisfaction for 5,932 individuals in career transition. Personality traits were related to career satisfaction and job satisfaction in the total sample and 14 separate occupational groups. Regression analyses revealed three personality traits consistently related to career satisfaction: emotional resilience, optimism, and work drive in initial and holdout samples as well as in all 14 occupational groups, accounting for an average of 17% of career satisfaction variance. Personality traits correlated with career satisfaction included the Big Five traits of conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness and other, narrower traits, such as assertiveness, customer service orientation, and human managerial relations orientation. Results were discussed in terms of Holland's general personal competence factor, Goleman's emotional intelligence, career adaptation, and the nomothetic span of personality constructs. Also discussed were study limitations, suggestions for future research, and practical implications for career counseling.

Key Words: Big Five personality • trait theory • career satisfaction • career transition

Journal of Career Assessment, Vol. 11, No. 3, 287-307 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/1069072703254501
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