Personality is no stranger to occupational choice among hospitality graduates

The hospitality industry is currently facing a labor shortage crisis, preventing hotels from operating effectively. This study focuses on understanding the career decisions of hospitality graduates to examine whether occupational choice can be predicted from personality traits. The current occupations of 523 hospitality graduates were coded in light of the RIASEC model and its six dimensions (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional) were regressed on personality results collected during graduates' studies. We found that extraverted individuals chose occupations scoring high in the Enterprising and Social dimensions of the RIASEC model, and they also have occupations scoring lower in the Investigative dimension. People scoring higher in Openness to experience have occupations scoring lower in the Realistic dimension. Conscientious individuals have occupations scoring higher in the Conventional domain. Results demonstrate that personality traits do indeed predict occupational choice, reinforcing the significant role of person-environment fit in shaping hospitality graduates’ occupational choices.