Effects of the big five, Machiavellianism, and Narcissism onpersonnel selection methods and leader preferences

Current research focuses on the effects of the Big Five personality traits, Machiavellianism, and narcissism on preferences for six different personnel selection methods (resume, interview, personality test, general cognitive ability test, reference letter, performance in a job sample) and preferences for four different leadership styles (i.e., Transformational leadership, Paternalistic leadership, Relationship-Oriented leadership, and Task-Oriented leadership) In Study 1, data were collected from 460 university students studying in different parts of Turkey. In Study 2, data were collected from 479 working adults in Turkey. The results were calculated by performing correlation analysis in the SPSS program. The findings showed that students with higher conscientiousness scores preferred the cognitive ability test method in their personnel selection system. Similarly, students with higher neuroticism and Machiavellianism scores preferred cognitive and work ability test methods. In addition, working adults with a high neuroticism score preferred interview and reference letters methods. Moreover, the "similar to me" effect, as assumed, finds partial support in the student sample; and it was fully supported among the working adult sample. In other words, the participants preferred leaders/managers lwho are similar to themselves. Students with high agreeableness scores preferred PL style. In addition, students who scored high on the Machiavellianism preferred the T-O leadership style. Likewise, working adults who scored high on extraversion, openness to experience, and conscientiousness scores preferred TL style. Working adults with high narcissism scores preferred TL and T-O leadership styles. Similarly, working adults with a high score on the agreeableness preferred the R-O leadership style. The findings are discussed in relation to their theoretical contributions and practical implications, along with recommendations for future research.