An investigation into the relationship between certain personality traits and job satisfaction: a case of selected employees in the Eastern Cape Province

There is relatively little research based on the Big Five personality dimensions and job satisfaction and the relationship thereof. Job satisfaction of employees is a good indication of organizational effectiveness and is influenced by organizational and dispositional factors. The fundamental nature of the dispositional approach is that individuals have stable traits that significantly influence their affective and behavioral reactions to organizational settings. The general objective of this study was to determine the relationship between personality dimensions and job satisfaction of bank employees. A quantitative design was used in the empirical study. The sample consisted of 126 bank employees. The current research found that employees who are high in openness, conscientiousness and low in neuroticism tend to be more satisfied with their job. Agreeableness personality did not have a significant relationship with job satisfaction, while employees with high levels of extraversion had negative significant correlation with job satisfaction. However, overall personality dimensions explained relatively small percentages in the variance of job satisfaction. The findings will aid management institutions in selecting, and retaining employees as higher job satisfaction is linked to higher levels of productivity, effectiveness and commitment. Key words: extroversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, job satisfaction, bank employees