You are here:

Graduates’ personality characteristics and labor market entry an empirical study among dutch economics graduates
ARTICLE

, , ,

Economics of Education Review Volume 24, Number 1, ISSN 0272-7757 Publisher: Elsevier Ltd

Abstract

In this study, we explore the value of personality characteristics in explaining success in labor market entry with a sample of graduates in economics from Maastricht University (the Netherlands). Specifically, the paper addresses the following twofold research question: does personality explain labor market outcomes, and how much weight does this ‘generic’ factor have compared to traditional human capital and individual preference variables such as study results, study field and demographic characteristics? Personality is measured both by separate indicators for traits as well as by the so-called ‘profiles’, based on combinations of these indicators. The results show that both measurement methods reveal significant personality effects, which are independent from the effects of traditional human capital variables, such as grade point averages in the academic program, and work experience. A key finding is that both types of factors have their own and independent effect on labor market outcomes.

Citation

Semeijn, J., Boone, C., van der Velden, R. & van Witteloostuijn, A. (2005). Graduates’ personality characteristics and labor market entry an empirical study among dutch economics graduates. Economics of Education Review, 24(1), 67-83. Elsevier Ltd. Retrieved January 27, 2023 from .

This record was imported from Economics of Education Review on March 1, 2019. Economics of Education Review is a publication of Elsevier.

Full text is availabe on Science Direct: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2004.03.006

Keywords

References

View References & Citations Map
  1. Appels, A. (1985). De Jenkins activity survey. Lisse: Swets & Zeitlinger.
  2. Barrick, M.R., & Mount, M.K. (1991). The Big Five personality dimensions and job performance A meta-analysis. Personnel Psychology, 44, pp. 1-26.
  3. Barrick, M.R., & Mount, M.K. (1993). Autonomy as a moderator of the relationships between the Big Five personality dimensions and job performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, pp. 111-118.
  4. Becker, G.S. (1964). Human capital. New York: NBER.
  5. Blau, G.J. (1987). Locus of control as a potential moderator of the turnover process. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 60, pp. 21-29.
  6. Boone, C. (1992). Onderzoek naar het verband tussen de perceptie van controle van bedrijfsleiders en de strategie en de resultaten van ondernemingen in de meubelindustrie. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Antwerpen: University of Antwerpen.
  7. Boone, C., De Brabander, B., Gerits, P., & Willemé, P. (1990). Relation of scores on Rotter’s I–E scale to short-term and long-term control expectancies and fatalism. Psychological Reports, 66, pp. 1107-1111.
  8. Boone, C., De Brabander, B., & Van Witteloostuijn, A. (1996). CEO locus of control and small firm performance An integrative framework and empirical test. Journal of Management Studies, 33, pp. 667-699.
  9. Boone, C., De Brabander, B., & Van Witteloostuijn, A. (1999). The impact of personality on behavior in five prisoner’s dilemma games. Journal of Economic Psychology, 20, pp. 343-377.
  10. Borg, M.O., & Shapiro, S.L. (1996). Personality type and student performance in principles of economics. Journal of Economic Education, 27, pp. 3-25.
  11. Boudreau, J.W., Boswell, W.R., & Judge, T.A. (2001). Effects of personality on executive career success in the United States and Europe. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 58, pp. 53-81.
  12. Boyatzis, R.E., Cowen, S.S., & Kolb, D.A. (1995). Innovation in professional education Steps on a journey from teaching to learning. The story of change and invention at the Weatherhead School of Management. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
  13. Burke, R.J., & Deszka, E. (1982). Preferred organizational climates of type A individuals. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 21, pp. 50-59.
  14. Caspi, A., & Roberts, B.W. (2001). Personality development across the life course The argument for change and continuity. Psychological Inquiry, 12, pp. 49-66.
  15. Cellini, H.R., & Lorenz, J.R. (1983). Job club group training with unemployed offenders. Federal Probation, 46, pp. 46-50.
  16. De Brabander, B., Boone, C., & Gerits, P. (1992). Locus of control and cerebral asymmetry. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 75, pp. 131-143.
  17. De Fruyt, F., & Mervielde, I. (1999). RIASEC types and big five traits as predictors of employment status and nature of employment. Personnel Psychology, 52, pp. 701-727.
  18. Duncan, G.J., & Dunifon, R. (1998). Soft skills and long-run labor market success. Research in labor economics, Vol. 17, pp. 123-149. London: JAI Press.
  19. Feather, N.T., & Volkmer, R.E. (1988). Preference for situations involving effort, time pressure, and feedback in relation to type A behavior locus of control and test anxiety. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55, pp. 266-271.
  20. Feij, J.A., & Van Zuilen, R.W. (1984). Handleiding bij de spanningsbehoeftelijst ( SBL ). Lisse: Swets & Zeitlinger.
  21. Filer, R.K. (1981). The influence of affective human capital on the wage equation. Research in labor economics, Vol. 4, pp. 367-416. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.
  22. Franken, R.E. (1988). Sensation seeking decision making styles and preference for individual responsibility. Personality and Individual Differences, 9, pp. 139-146.
  23. Friedman, M., & Rosenman, R.H. (1974). Type A behavior and your hart. New York: Knopf.
  24. Gleick, J. (1999). Faster The accelaration of just about everything. New York: Pantheon Books.
  25. Goldsmith, A.H., Veum, J.R., & Darity, W. (1997). The impact of psychological and human capital on wages. Economic Inquiry, 35, pp. 815-829.
  26. Hogan, R., Hogan, J., & Roberts, B.W. (1996). Personality measurement and employment decisions Questions and answers. American Psychologist, 51, pp. 469-477.
  27. Judd, P.C., & Oswald, P.A. (1997). Employment desirability The interactive effects of gender-typed profile, stimulus sex, and gender-typed occupation. Sex Roles, 37, pp. 467-476.
  28. Kilduff, M., & Day, D.V. (1994). Do chameleons get ahead? The effects of self-monitoring on managerial careers. Academy of Management Journal, 37, pp. 1047-1060.
  29. Kilduff, M., & Krackhardt, D. (1994). Bringing the individual back in A structural analysis of the internal market for reputation in organizations. Academy of Management Journal, 37, pp. 87-108.
  30. Murnane, R.J., Willett, J.B., Braatz, M.J., & Duhaldeborde, Y. (2001). Do different dimensions of male high school students’ skills predict labor market success a decade later? Evidence from the NLSY. Economics of Education Review, 20, pp. 311-320.
  31. Nicholson, N. (1996). Towards a new agenda for work and personality Traits self-identity ‘strong’ interactionism and change Guest editors’ introduction. Applied Psychology, 45(1), pp. 1-28.
  32. Nijhof, W.J. (1998). Qualifying for the future. Key qualifications in work and education Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
  33. Pervin, L.A. (1990). Personality Theory and research. London: John Wiley and Sons.
  34. Ramaekers, G.W.M. (1996). WO-scanner economie 1995 Basismeting cohort ‘94ROA-R-1996/15. Maastricht: Research Centrum voor Onderwijs en Arbeidsmarkt.
  35. Ramaekers, G.W.M. (1997). WO-monitor economie 1996 Basismeting cohort ‘95ROA-R-1997/4. Maasricht: Research Centrum voor Onderwijs en Arbeidsmarkt.
  36. Ramaekers, G.W.M., & Welters, R.A.M.H.M. (1998). Start van de loopbaan na de Universiteit Maastricht 1996–1997. ROA-R-1998/7. Maastricht: Research Centrum voor Onderwijs en Arbeidsmarkt.
  37. Robbins, S.P. (1996). Organizational behavior Concepts, controversies, applications. Englewood Cliffs, NY: Prentice Hall.
  38. Robertson, I.T. (1994). Personality and personnel selection. Trends in organizational behavior, pp. 84-93. London: John Wiley.
  39. Rotter, J.B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 80(1), pp. 1-28.
  40. Schein, V.E., Mueller, R., & Jacobson, C. (1989). The relationship between sex role stereotypes and requisite management characteristics among college students. Sex Roles, 20, pp. 103-110.
  41. Schneider, B. (1987). The people make the place. Personnel Psychology, 40, pp. 437-453.
  42. Smith, M., & George, D. (1994). Selection methods. Key reviews in managerial psychology: Concepts and research for practice London: Wiley.
  43. Snyder, M. (1974). Self-monitoring of expressive behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 30, pp. 526-537.
  44. Snyder, M., & Copeland, J. (1989). Self-monitoring processes in organizational settings. Impression management in the organization, pp. 7-19. Hillsdale, NY: Erlbaum.
  45. Snyder, M., & Gangestad, S. (1986). On the nature of self-monitoring Matters of assessment, matters of validity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, pp. 125-139.
  46. Spector, P.E. (1982). Behavior in organizations as a function of employee’s locus of control. Psychological Bulletin, 91, pp. 482-497.
  47. Spencer, L.M., & Spencer, S.M. (1993). Competence at work Models for superior performance. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
  48. Tett, R.P., Jackson, D.N., & Rothstein, M. (1991). Personality measures as predictors of job performance A meta-analytic review. Personnel Psychology, 44, pp. 703-742.
  49. Thurow, L.C. (1975). Generating inequality. New York: Basic Books.
  50. Timmers, W. (1997). Persoonlijkheid, leerstijl en studieresultaat. Los Contact, 17, pp. 9-10.
  51. Van den Berg, P.T. (1992). Persoonlijkheid en werkbeleving De validiteit van persoonlijkheidsvragenlijsten, in het bijzonder die van een spanningsbehoeftelijst. Amsterdam: Centrale Huisdrukkerij VU.
  52. Van der Linden, A.S.R., & Van der Velden, R.K.W. (1998). The effects of unemployment and mismatches on future job match and earnings. Understanding the school-to-work transition: An international perspective, pp. 109-124. Commack, NY: Nova Science Publishers.
  53. Van der Velden, R.K.W., & Wieling, A. (1994). De arbeids-marktkansen per opleiding. Arbeidsmarkt en sociale zekerheid: Beleid en beweging, pp. 106-114.
  54. Zuckerman, M. (1979). Sensation seeking Beyond the optimal level of arousal. Hillsdale, NY: Erlbaum.
  55. Zuckerman, M. (1979). Sensation seeking and risk taking. Emotions in personality and psychopathology, pp. 163-197. New York: Plenum Press.
  56. Zuckerman, M. (1991). Psychobiology of personality. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.

These references have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. Signed in users can suggest corrections to these mistakes.

Suggest Corrections to References