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Do recruiters select workers with different personality traits for different tasks? A discrete choice experiment

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  • Wehner, Caroline
  • de Grip, Andries

    (RS: GSBE Theme Learning and Work, RS: SBE - MACIMIDE, Research Centre for Educ and Labour Mark)

  • Pfeifer, Harald

Abstract

This paper explores whether firms recruit workers with different personality traits for different tasks. For our analysis, we used data from a discrete choice experiment conducted among recruiters of 634 firms in Germany. Recruiters were asked to choose between job applicants who differed in seven aspects: professional competence, the ‘big five’ personality traits and the prospective wage level. We found that all personality traits affect the hiring probability of the job applicant; among them, conscientiousness and agreeableness have the strongest effects. However, recruiters’ preferences differed for different job tasks. For analytical tasks, recruiters prefer more open and conscientious applicants, whereas they favour more open, extraverted, and agreeable workers for interactive tasks.

Suggested Citation

  • Wehner, Caroline & de Grip, Andries & Pfeifer, Harald, 2020. "Do recruiters select workers with different personality traits for different tasks? A discrete choice experiment," Research Memorandum 035, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:umagsb:2020035
    DOI: 10.26481/umagsb.2020035
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    Cited by:

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    2. van Lent, Max, 2022. "Fathering Daughters and Personality," IZA Discussion Papers 15012, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Jagannathan, Radha & Camasso, Michael J & LaFleur, Jocelyn & Monteleone, Simona, 2024. "Modeling the employment decisions of young men and women in nine European countries: An application of random utility theory and revealed preference," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 233-247.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • M51 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Firm Employment Decisions; Promotions

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