Optimism, neuroticism and other traits that can make or break your job search

Depending on your perspective, the following statement will either seem completely obvious or totally deluded - being an optimist increases your chance of getting a job.

This isn't our opinion, nor is it the result of some hack piece of research. This assertion comes from a new paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research in the US, which tracked the job search performance of 200 MBAs over a two-year period and found that optimists were more successful than their pessimistic peers with similar skills.

"We find strong evidence that optimists outperform their peers in the job market," says the research. "They search less intensively than their peers, and seem to place less importance on the job search process, but nevertheless receive job offers more quickly. Moreover, they are more likely to be promoted in the first two years after graduation, even though they are no more likely than others to be employed by the same firm."

There you have it, pretty simple right? Well, not necessarily. It's all very well being an optimist when you're a fresh MBA and the world is seemingly your oyster.

Imagine, as has been the case for a number of people in the financial sector in recent times, you've been made redundant, been searching in a tough job market and received knock back after knock back. It's got to be hard to stay optimistic.

Adrian Burnham, professor of psychology at UCL, says that optimism is a "trait not a state" and that those with such a disposition will stay that way regardless of externalities.

The five personality traits employers want to see

Burnham says that employers judge candidates on five key personality traits:

1. Extroversion/introversion: Clearly employers are going to want to see effusive, enthusiastic candidates rather than having to painfully drawing information from an interviewee. However, how much emphasis is placed on this trait is very much dependent on the role.

2. Neuroticism: As in low neuroticism. Employers want to see a stable candidate who can handle stress well. This is the most important.

3. Conscientiousness: Associations with people who can pitch up, pitch in, are organized and achievement-orientated. Rather appealing, obviously.

4. Openness to experience: You need to demonstrate that you're adaptable and open to new ideas.

5. Agreeableness: Being agreeable to a certain degree is necessary, but it's not completely positive. "By and large successful people are in some ways disagreeable - they're tough minded and they can kick ass," says Burnham.

"Optimism is usually associated with stable extroverts - low on neuroticism high on extroversion - which explains their appeal," adds Burnham.

If you're not an optimist - act

"If you're feeling downbeat, or slightly bitter and twisted, there are very small things that can give you away during interview that people often won't realise," says Linda Jackson, managing director of the City practice of Fairplace, an outplacement firm which assists redundant bankers to find new jobs.

"The obvious things are slumped body posture or unenthusiastic tone of voice, but it can often be something like a small sigh when asked a question, a little facial twitch or a lack of sparkle in the eye. You need to be conscious of these things and practice before an interview."