Relations of Incumbent Affect‐Related Personality Traits with Incumbent and Objective Measures of Characteristics of Jobs

The present study examined the possibility that individuals with certain personality traits tend to be found in certain types of jobs. Specifically, we examined correlations between two personality traits, anxiety and optimism, and measures of job characteristics obtained via self‐reports and through job analysis. Results showed that those who were high in trait anxiety tended to be in jobs characterized by low autonomy, variety, identity, feedback, significance, and complexity. Conversely, those reporting high levels of optimism tended to be in jobs characterized by high levels of each of these job characteristics. Further research to clarify these findings was suggested