Extraversion
Why Extraverts Enjoy Career Success
Extraversion refers to individuals’ behavioral tendencies in being sociable, gregarious, assertive, talkative, and active (Erdheim, Wang, & Zickar, 2006).
Given that positive emotionality is a hallmark of extraverts, it makes sense that extraverts would have greater confidence about their careers Opens in new window and are more satisfied with their career choices.
Extraverts are more social than introverts, which help them build substantial social networks that offer them more employment alternatives.
Studies have shown that employees who perceive that they have several viable alternatives will have weaker commitment to their organization than those employees who perceive that they have few alternatives (Erdheim et al., 2006; Meyer & Allen, 1997).
Moreover, because extraverts tend to get more of what they want out of social interactions, they may in general perceive more job alternatives than introverts (Watson & Clarks, 1997).
Therefore, in terms of career and job change patterns, extraverts can be expected to be more likely to change their jobs and careers than introverts in their mid and late career stages.
