EXPLORING THE ACCURACY OF SELF-ESTIMATED JOB FIT: DETECTING GENDER AND PERSONALITY INFLUENCES

Sammanfattning: Self-estimates of performance have been demonstrated to influence actual performance. Different factors have shown to affect the ability to estimate accurately, such as gender and personality. However, these relationships are somewhat ambiguous and have not been studied in relation to fit for a job. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of self- estimated fit for a job between men, women and non-binary people, as well as examine potential correlations between personality and self-estimations. The study had 141 participants, where 50 were men (M = 34.8 years) and 91 women (M = 31.4 years). The sample of non- binary people was nonsufficient and was excluded from the analysis (n = 5). Participants were presented with demographic questions, a fictive work-ad and self-estimation form and a personality questionnaire connected to the Five Factor Model (FFM). The difference between the participants’ self-estimated fit and fit according to the personality questionnaire generated their accuracy score. T-tests and a multiple linear regression was performed. The results showed a difference in accuracy between men and women in rating traits connected to conscientiousness, where men overestimated their fit. The results also showed a negative correlation between overall accuracy and openness, as well as overall accuracy and agreeableness. This indicates that those who score higher on the FFM traits openness and agreeableness get lower accuracy scores, which in turn indicates a tendency towards under- estimations. These findings may have practical implications to account for in recruitment processes, but more research is needed to confirm these relationships.