Abstract

Psychologists have tried to predict career success for over a century. This led to the development of psychometric tools and theories of intelligence, personality, and motivation. Despite compelling evidence for the validity of these tests as predictors of future academic performance, they are rarely used for educational selection. Moreover, current emphasis on ‘employability’ (i.e. helping graduates obtain and maintain desirable jobs) has shifted attention from academic knowledge to real-world skills. In this talk Dr Chamorro-Premuzic will examine the key psychological determinants of career success in school, university, and adult employment. Using his theory of ‘intellectual competence’ as the over-arching framework, he will attempt to (a) highlight advantages and disadvantages of incorporating psychometric assessment protocols into selection policies; (b) discuss inconsistencies between theoretical solutions and practical needs; and© speculate about the macro-economic and political consequences of a personality-centred approach to understanding human potential and talent.