Not All Misfit is Equal: A Re-Examination of Interest Fit and Job Satisfaction

Abstract

Interest researchers have long held that individuals will be satisfied when their interests match the characteristics of their work environment. Yet, meta-analyses have failed to demonstrate a significant relationship between interest fit and overall job satisfaction. Notably, studies underlying past meta-analyses rarely accounted for differences between environmental excess and deficiency–unique forms of misfit. We extend theories of need fulfillment and complementary fit using RIASEC interests to suggest the fit – job satisfaction relationship is asymmetric: job satisfaction is higher when environments exceed individuals’ preferences for certain types of work (excess) than when environments fail to meet them (deficiency). We used polynomial regression and response surface methodology (including a novel extension for non-commensurate measures) to evaluate misfit asymmetry across three studies. Studies examined person-vocation and person-job fit using multiple environmental measures (incumbent average interest ratings, expert ratings of occupations, and self-ratings of jobs). Results suggest misfit asymmetry exists across RIASEC interests, but this asymmetry exists in different ways. Investigative, Artistic, and female’s Realistic interests generally followed our main hypothesis–job satisfaction was higher for excess than deficiency. Enterprising, Conventional, and male’s Realistic interests consistently exhibited the opposite form of asymmetry. Social interest was inconclusive. Implications for fit theory, career counseling, and employment selection are discussed.