How the Big Five Predict Work Performance Better Than Most Tests

Introduction

In the world of Industrial-Organizational Psychology, the Big Five is the gold standard for personnel selection. Unlike the MBTI, which is often criticized for low reliability, the Big Five has decades of data linking it to actual job outcomes.

The Big Winner: Conscientiousness

Across almost all job types—from sales to surgery—Conscientiousness is the single best predictor of performance. Why? Because conscientious employees are organized, reliable, and driven to achieve.

Other Traits and Specific Roles

While Conscientiousness is universally good, other traits depend on the job:

• Extraversion: Highly predictive of success in sales and management, but not necessarily for individual contributor roles like coding or accounting.
• Openness: Predicts training proficiency (how well you learn) and adaptability, making it crucial for fast-changing tech roles.
• Agreeableness: Vital for teamwork and customer service, though extremely high agreeableness can sometimes hinder salary negotiation or leadership toughness.
• Emotional Stability: Crucial for high-stress jobs like air traffic control or emergency response.

The "Dark Side" of Traits

Too much of a good thing can be bad. For example, extremely high Conscientiousness can lead to rigidity, while extremely high Extraversion can lead to dominance that stifles others.

Conclusion

Understanding your Big Five profile can help you steer your career toward roles where your natural personality is an asset, not a liability.