Myers-Briggs type indicator (MBTI) personality traits between graduating civil engineering students with contractors' requirements: A comparative study

• Published in: AIP Conference Proceedings
• Main Author: Sazali N.N.B.A.; Belayutham S.
• Format: Conference paper
• Language: English
• Published: American Institute of Physics 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85199083558&doi=10.1063%2f5.0221358&partnerID=40&md5=3f59607a345a6fe81250c83aba9b1552

Unemployment, particularly among Malaysian fresh graduates, is a pressing social issue. Traditionally attributed to a lack of experience, recent trends indicate that soft skills also play a pivotal role in the unemployment rate. Soft skills encompass non-technical abilities related to how individuals conduct their work, such as social and interpersonal skills, character traits, and professional attitudes. This study explores the correlation between personality traits and employability, specifically focusing on graduating civil engineering students. Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality test, the study identifies and compares the personality traits of graduating students with those required by industry players (contractors). Two groups of respondents, final-year civil engineering students and industry players from contractor companies, were surveyed. Students underwent the MBTI test, while industry players indicated their preferred traits. The data, analyzed using SPSS software, revealed that most students exhibited Extrovert (E), Sensing (S), Thinking (T), and Judging (J) traits, partially aligning with industry players' preferences for Extrovert (E), Intuitive (N), Thinking (T), Prospecting (P) traits. These findings suggest an opportunity to enhance the curriculum to cultivate traits sought by employers, ultimately improving graduates' soft skills and employability. © 2024 Author(s).