Personality in information systems professions: identifying archetypal professions with suitable traits and candidates' ability to fake-good these traits

Purpose The importance of information systems (IS) professions is increasing. As personality–job fit theory claims, employees must have suitable personality traits for particular IS professions. However, candidates can try to fake-good on tests towards the desired type. Thus, purpose this study identify archetypal professions, their associated types and examine reliability Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test in recruitment decisions. Design/methodology/approach authors reviewed academic literature related job archetypes Then, conducted an experiment with 452 participants investigate whether when being tested a profession. Findings identified were project manager, marketing specialist, consultant, security data scientist business process analyst. experimental results show that not able considerably regarding archetype. Research limitations/implications taxonomy should be validated further. was executed educational organisation real-life environment. Actual work performance measured. Practical implications This enables better identification Personality are good indicators candidate's true type but properly interpreted. Originality/value enhances existing body knowledge professions' archetypes, proposes MBTI each profession provides support appropriateness using potentially candidates.