The 5 Main Personality Traits Explained

How much do you know about the five main personality traits?

If you sit down to make a list of every personality trait you can think of, the list will likely be very long. There’s everything from friendly and mean to lazy and energetic. However, most of the things we think of as personality traits aren’t actually classified that way by psychologists. Research has led to the creation of the “Big Five Model” or the “Five-Factor Model.” 

In the following guide, we will take a look at what the five main personality traits are and why they matter. We will also be looking at some of the personality traits examples that don’t fit the box. Here’s everything you need to know in simple terms. 

What are the 5 main personality traits?

According to the theory, many things people think of as personality traits can be placed under umbrella traits. The easiest way to remember the five main traits is to use an acronym. There are two to choose from:

• OCEAN: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

• CANOE: Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Openness, and Extraversion.

The importance of culture in today’s workplace cannot be understated. In order to determine whether you’re a good fit for a particular company, it’s important to be able to define your personality traits. That way, you can fit seamlessly into the existing operation. 

Knowing where you fall on the personality trait continuum will not only help prospective employers decide if you’re good for them, but it will also allow you to decide if the new company is good for you. For that reason, it’s always smart to do some introspection.

The history of the big five personality traits

Trait theory – or the psychological study of personality traits – dates back to the 1930s originally. This area of psychological research looks at “patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors” that people tend to have. It doesn’t end there. The theory also looks at how people’s personalities can change and develop over the course of their lives. 

The Big Five Model was originally put forward by Donald Winslow Fiske in 1949. However, since then, it has been updated and added to by multiple researchers. To this date, it is thought to be one of the most accurate models we can use to better understand personality traits. We can use the model to identify why people may behave certain ways or the patterns they tend to follow.  

The 5 main personality traits, explained

Now that we’ve detailed what the personality traits are – along with some handy acronyms – let’s take a deeper dive into this topic. In this section, we will take a look at each of the personality traits and deliver a quick definition to help you better understand them.

1. Openness

As a person who displays the personality trait of openness, you are likely very curious and willing to try new things. Consistency and routine are things you consider boring. You excel at solving problems because of your knack for creativity and imagination. If a job description mentions wanting someone who can easily see the big picture, you’d be a great fit. 

2. Conscientiousness

A conscientious person is very careful and organized. You are not prone to impulse and likely despise change. Procrastination is also a bad word in your book. When applying for new roles, look for keywords like task-oriented, goal-oriented, and deadline-driven. 

3. Extraversion

There is some debate over the spelling of extrAversion/extrOversion. Famous psychiatrist Carl Jung uses the “a” spelling. Jokingly, he says that using the “o” is just bad Latin. However, no matter how you spell it, you are very outgoing and sociable. 

Of course, just the opposite is introverted. Introverts need quiet time to reflect on events and don’t perform well in social settings. If you fall into the extraversion category, look for positions that require you to interact with others. 

4. Agreeableness

Are you compassionate and willing to help others? If so, you fall into the agreeableness category for personality traits. You easily employ sympathy and empathy to understand others. The ability to connect with people allows you to build trusting relationships. You’d fit well with jobs that require you to take care of others, including healthcare, teaching, and human resources.

5. Neuroticism

If you are easily stressed out or are moody, then you fall into the neuroticism category of personality traits. It can also be difficult for you to bounce back when going through challenges. Emotionally sensitive people may also suffer from low self-esteem. As you search through job openings, look for roles that allow you to express yourself in a safe way. Some good examples include writers, artists, florists, freelance designers, and yoga instructors. 

How to take a big five personality test

Do you want to know which of these personality traits you score highly on? There are plenty of free options online, such as the Truity Big Five Personality Test. Simply answer each of the statements based on how “accurate” or “inaccurate” they are to your personality. When you have completed the test, you will get a report that details how you score on each trait. 

Taking a big five personality test is a quick way to help you understand your motivations and behaviors. While it does not conclusively define your personality – we’re all individuals after all  – it will help you to gain a deep knowledge of the traits that you have. In a workplace setting, you can use this information to your advantage. That may be learning how to work more seamlessly with your team, sharing your ideal work style, or adapting your behavior.  

Personality traits don’t always fit into a box

One thing to remember is that the Big Five Personality traits are umbrella characteristics that fall onto high and low continuums with many other traits beneath them. If you are on the high end of the openness continuum, for example, your personality traits include things like insightfulness and positivity. Conversely, if you are on the low end, you are probably not very imaginative. 

Each of the Big Five Personality traits has positive and negative characteristics. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the positive and negative personality traits a person may have:

Positive:

• Alert

• Ambitious

• Calm

• Confident

• Courageous

• Diplomatic

• Enthusiastic

• Funny

• Generous

• Honest

• Independent

• Kind

• Loyal

• Meticulous

• Objective

• Optimistic

• Passionate

• Persuasive

• Professional

• Resourceful

• Sensible

• Sophisticated

• Talented

• Wise

Negative:

• Abrasive

• Apathetic

• Compulsive

• Confrontational

• Controlling

• Disorganized

• Evasive

• Forgetful

• Grumpy

• Haughty

• Indecisive

• Judgmental

• Martyr

• Mischievous

• Nervous

• Perfectionist

• Prejudiced

• Rebellious

• Self-Indulgent

• Suspicious

• Temperamental

• Uncommunicative

• Unethical

• Withdrawn

When you can objectively look at your personality and define the positives and the negatives, you’ll be able to define your career path. You can start by taking a big five personality test but that is not the only option. You may also want to ask for feedback from friends and family. 

Can you change your personality traits?

It can be difficult to list negative things about yourself. If you have looked at the above list of traits and note many poor ones, you may be feeling stressed. Being inwardly objective is hard and it can be disheartening to learn that you possess a trait that could negatively impact your career. However, our personality traits are not static and they don’t define us.

People change all of the time. It’s the age-old nature versus nurture debate. Research has shown that biology and environment both play a part in shaping personalities. 

While studies show that the Big Five Personality traits tend to stay the same during adulthood, maturation can impact personality qualities. The University of California recently found that persistent intervention can effect change. Put simply, you can change your traits. 

What are the most common personality traits?

While we have already covered the big five personality traits, they are not the only ones you should know about. There are some common personality traits you’ll find across employers and industries. These traits are the ones that will land you an interview. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the most common personality traits that employers look for in candidates. 

1. Adaptability and flexibility

If there’s one thing you can count on in life and business, it’s that things will change. In fact, it’s been said that businesses that don’t adapt to change fail. Employers want staff members who can go with the flow and adapt to the changes that take place. 

On top of that, you may find yourself in a work environment that needs you to take on additional duties as change occurs. As such, being adaptable and flexible is one of the top personality traits employers look for. 

2. Critical thinking

Almost every job out there wants people who can analyze information and make judgment calls on what needs to be done. It’s rare that a hiring manager will hire someone who simply wants to go to work to collect a paycheck. If you can show that you are a big-picture thinker who can make autonomous decisions, you’ll stand out from the crowd of job seekers. 

3. Teamwork and collaboration

Businesses desire employees who are able to work together and exchange information in a way that increases cohesiveness and efficiency. As the world comes closer together through technology and the digital workplace expands, the ability to work in a team and collaborate is more important than ever. Being able to collaborate within your office and with external stakeholders allows you to share experience, knowledge, and skills to achieve goals. 

4. Good interpersonal skills 

Are you a natural “people person”? Communication is the baseline when you’re working with others. For that reason, hiring managers tend to favor people who have good interpersonal skills. Some people tend to be able to get along with almost any person they meet. It is these individuals – often called the “personality hire” – who almost always do well in the professional world. 

Of course, if your social skills are subpar, there are plenty of ways you can bolster them. Making a habit out of networking is one option, for example. The more you socialize with different types of people, the more you will develop this important and compelling personality trait. 

Key takeaways

Personality traits (and the characteristics or features of those traits) go a long way to making you successful at work. When you leverage your personality with the tasks required for your job and can show prospective employers what you bring to the table in the way of soft skills, you’ll present as someone who is right for the job and the company’s culture. 

ZipJob has a team of career experts who can help you showcase your personality traits to show that you’re the best candidate for the job! 

This article was originally written by Marsha Hebert and has been updated by Charlotte Grainger. 

Recommended reading: 

• The 4 DISC Personality Types And The Best Careers For Each Type

• How to Leverage Soft Skills to Win Interviews

• What Job Should I Do? A 10-Step Approach to Choosing Your Career Path