Do personality traits matter for employability? The mediating role of grit and hope for success among university students

What is it about?

Understanding how personality affects job prospects is important for students and universities. This study shows that certain personality traits help students feel more confident about their future employment, but not in the way we might expect. Students who are organized and hardworking (conscientious) feel more employable, but this happens mainly because these traits help them develop two important skills: hope (the ability to plan and achieve goals) and grit (the determination to stick with long-term goals). Being outgoing or emotionally stable matters less than previously thought. The research suggests universities can help all students feel more employable by teaching them how to set and achieve goals (hope) and maintain long-term dedication to their career plans (grit), rather than trying to change their basic personality traits.

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