High Extraversion is a personality trait that indicates being full of vitality and energy.
It can be described with keywords such as “energetic”, “talkative”, “lively”, and “cheerful”.
BigFive is the most easily perceptible axis for the majority of people.
Especially the high level of extraversion is almost self-evident from the degree of energy and enthusiasm displayed by individuals.
Conversation Setting
Extraversion is manifested in the overall liveliness of behavior and thinking about various things, so it can be observed from multiple aspects without specifically choosing topics.
If you feel there is a lack of information, you can use the following additional questions:
- For mid-career applicants, asking about their fit with different working styles such as sales activity or desk work in relation to their job can provide valuable insights.
- For new graduates, it’s best to directly ask about their level of activeness. It doesn’t matter what type of activities they engage in; just ask for specific examples.
The manner of activities varies according to the level of extraversion.
If someone has high extraversion, they tend to be sociable and restless, whereas if someone has low extraversion, they prefer being alone and may be more hesitant to engage in various activities.
Points of Assessment
Extraversion is the most easily recognizable trait among BigFive, and by focusing on liveliness, it can be relatively easily assessed.
However, in the case of individuals with high energy or enthusiasm, it would be prudent to inquire about whether they experience periods of low mood or depression.
For individuals with bipolar disorder (distinct from the commonly perceived depression), they may exhibit high energy during manic phases but experience a rebound during depressive phases.
The appropriate level of extraversion varies depending on the case, so it should be evaluated based on the specific job position.
While in many cases, high extraversion is often highly regarded, when considering across different job roles, it has been found that extraversion does not significantly correlate with job performance.
In sales positions, generally, high extraversion is desirable, but meta-analysis suggests that it may not be effective unless certain conditions, such as incentives, are met.
Furthermore, excessively high extraversion may lead to difficulties in information processing and calm, reflective thinking.
Therefore, for certain job roles that require abstract thinking, it is important to carefully assess the appropriate level of extraversion.
