
Different business fields correspond to different personality patterns.
Source: DALL-E / OpenAI
Why are some people drawn to finance while others feel at home in human resources or marketing? More than ambition, skill, or practicality, our personality traits may be pivotal in guiding these choices. New research reveals that certain personality traits, specifically Machiavellianism, might actually steer people toward particular business majors, with finance students standing out as especially Machiavellian.
For those unfamiliar, Machiavellianism is a personality trait marked by manipulation, a strategic mind, and a drive to achieve personal goals, often with little regard for others. These traits are named after Niccolò Machiavelli, whose 16th-century political philosophy emphasized the cunning and sometimes ruthless pursuit of power. While the term might sound dramatic, Machiavellianism is present in varying degrees across all of us and can be measured reliably in psychology.
So why is this research important? Machiavellianism doesn’t just shape our social interactions—it influences professional behaviors as well. Understanding its link to career preferences can provide insight into the types of work environments and roles that people might gravitate toward based on their personalities. If students with higher Machiavellian scores are drawn to finance and other fields that emphasize power and financial gain, this information could help educators, career counselors, and even the students themselves make more informed decisions about their educational and career paths.
In this study, we surveyed more than 2,600 business students worldwide, specifically looking at those majoring in finance, marketing, accounting, human resources, and several other business fields. The results were telling. Among these majors, finance students scored highest in Machiavellianism. Unlike people-oriented majors like human resources, finance emphasizes high-stakes, transactional interactions, and financial rewards—an environment where a strategic, Machiavellian personality might thrive. Interestingly, human resources majors scored the lowest on Machiavellianism, suggesting that fields focused on collaboration, communication, and interpersonal relations attract those with different personality traits.
Gender differences also played a notable role in the findings. Male students scored significantly higher in Machiavellianism than female students across nearly all business fields. Men majoring in finance and international business had the highest Machiavellian scores, while women, especially those in human resources and marketing, generally showed lower levels. These gender patterns mirror broader societal trends in how men and women relate to power, competition, and interpersonal influence, and they add another layer of complexity to the study’s findings.
What does all this mean for the business world? Knowing that certain fields draw people with particular personality traits can guide educational institutions in designing ethics and leadership courses to address the unique challenges their students might face. Finance programs, for example, could incorporate training on ethical decision-making, emphasizing responsible and transparent behavior—skills that can help manage the potential for manipulation and unethical practices.
Understanding these personality dynamics can help students consider their own motivations as they choose a career. Are they drawn to the challenges of finance for the thrill of competition and strategic gain? Or are they more interested in the people-oriented work of human resources, where cooperation and relationship-building are key? This research empowers students to consider how their personalities might align with their future professions and even prompt self-reflection on the ethical responsibilities that come with certain roles.
In sum, we find that career paths may be influenced by more than just skills or practical considerations. Our personalities could play an invisible hand, steering us toward fields that align with our inner drives and inclinations. As we look at students in business programs and the professionals they become, it’s fascinating—and maybe a bit humbling—to realize that the choice of college major might be as much about who they are as it is about where they want to go.