Do Personality Traits Predict Students’ Interest and Intentions Toward Working in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry? Evidence from a Developing Country

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Abstract

Drawing upon the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), this study aimed at predicting students’ interests and intentions to pursue a career in the tourism and hospitality (T&H) industry. Specifically, the study hypothesized that personality traits would have significant impacts on students’ self-efficacy and outcome expectations, which would further influence their interests and intentions toward working in the T&H industry. The results of the structural model showed that Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness significantly influence students’ self-efficacy and outcome expectations. However, Neuroticism and Agreeableness do only influence outcome expectations. Self-efficacy and outcome expectations were both significantly associated with students’ intentions to work in the industry. Implications for T&H educationalists and careers researchers, and directions for future research are also discussed.

ISSN

1096-3758

Publisher

Informa UK Limited

Disciplines

Tourism and Travel

Keywords

career intention, Jordan, Personality traits, social cognitive career theory, tourism and hospitality

Scopus ID

85148349797

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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