Relationship Between Conscientiousness Personality Trait and Job Performance Among Pharmaceutical Technologists-a Case of Goodlife Pharmacy Stores in Nairobi County

Abstract

Personality traits reflect someone’s enduring patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. These patterns significantly influence one’s perceptions, values, and attitudes. Conscientiousness personality trait is the level of being dependable and persistent, a trait that predicts performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between conscientiousness personality trait and job performance among pharmacists at Goodlife Pharmacy Stores in Nairobi County. It examines the influence of throroughness, discipline and methodical character as the independent variables. The research design used was descriptive survey. The sample size was 114 respondents and primary data was collected via emailed questionnaires. A pilot study was done to check validity of the instrument and an internal consistency test carried out to ensure reliability of the questionnaire. Results showed that respondents’ thoroughness, discipline and methodical character were statistically significant factors influencing job performance for pharmacists at Goodlife Pharmacy stores located in Nairobi County. Logistic regression result shows that conscientiousness personality trait influences 26.1% of job performance and therefore justifiable to conclude that a positive relationship exists between conscientious personality trait and job performance. The relationship between conscientiousness personality trait and job performance is useful in profiling potential employees in order to place them in positions where they are suitably matched, over and above their level of experience and training. This research therefore recommends that personality profiling be part of employee recruitment process in organizations. Further recommendation is made to include personality profiling as part of career guidance for students figuring out what career to venture into later in life.