Research suggests that if you think women are generally better communicators and men more aggressive in the workplace, you'd better think again.
A personality-testing company analysed 6215 personality tests taken by job seekers between 2001 and 2005 and said the findings shattered some assumptions.
Psychometric assessment firm SHL
said rather than finding sweeping differences between the sexes in its research, it found near-identical responses from men and women, with none of the traditional gender stereotypes.
Dr Ray Glennon, SHL's director of professional services Australia and New Zealand, said the research aimed to challenge the assumption that personality traits differed between men and women.
"People assume there are differences, which results in stereotypes like men are more autonomous leaders and more dominant in the workplace than women," said Dr Glennon.
He said a shortage of skilled workers meant it was vital for employers to focus on individual personalities and play down factors such as age and cultural background.
"The purpose of the questionnaire is to objectively identify an individual's behaviour styles and way of working; do they enjoy directing the work of others or do they like voicing their opinion?"
He added the results were a wake-up call for industries traditionally dominated by one or other of the sexes - such as the male-dominated manufacturing sector and the female-dominated human resources and public relations industries.
Beverley Main, chief executive of the Human Resources Institute, said personality was the key to recruiting the right people, and finding the person who fitted best with a team. However, she said that just a decade ago 55 per cent of the human resources industry was made up of women, compared with around 75 per cent now. That was less to do with companies actively recruiting women and more because women were "naturally quite drawn to" the industry.
Paul Walsh, general manager of human resources at The Warehouse, agreed it was vital to consider the best fit for the company and the team when hiring.
"I would hope that the old gender stereotypes are dead, and I believe they are. The one that men are more objective and women more emotional or more likely to be submissive are just rubbish these days." The new generation of workers wanted to be involved and consulted when decisions were made.
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