GRADUATE EMPLOYABILITY QUALITIES AND PERSONALITY PREFERENCE AS DETERMINANTS OF JOB PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined graduate employability qualities and personality preferences as determinants of job performance in Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design was adopted. Three hundred (300) respondents were screened and used from distance learning programme, University of Ibadan through simple random and purposive sampling methods. The Graduates’ Employability Qualities and Personality Preference Scale (GEQPPS) (r = 0.91) was the research instrument used in gleaning the field data. Two hypotheses were tested and data were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Results showed that there was significant relationship between graduate employability qualities and job performance in Nigeria (r = 0.622; P < 0.05); also that the coefficient between graduate personality preferences and job performance has a weak positive relationship (r = -0.244; P < 0.05). Conclusively, the study recommended that career development support efforts should focus on helping early career adults to understand their career interests and motivation, career goals and aspirations as well as how their personality preferences can hinder or increase their employability strengths.