Accounting Student Personality Types: An Enneagram Study on Students' Major and Career Choices
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Accounting
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Tori Hoffman, Ph.D.
Presentation Format
Event
Abstract/Description
Prior studies have examined the effects of personality types on accounting students’ career choices and have found that a significant relationship exists. However, these studies predominantly utilize a Jungian-based personality type test to classify personality types. This study seeks to expand upon past studies by utilizing a personality test focused more on internal motivations and behaviors to understand if there are significant relationships between the personality of an individual, their initial career choice, and their specific accounting specialization. This research uses the Enneagram personality test to assess these relationships among various classifications of accounting students (e.g., undergraduate, transfer, and graduate), of varying accounting major options (e.g., accounting major with no emphasis, accounting major with finance specialization, accounting major with a minor, etc.). This insight is valuable in that it provides evidence regarding the inherent sociability of accounting students and its effect on their choice of accounting specialization and intended career choice.
Spring Scholars Week 2026
Honors College Senior Thesis Presentations
Accounting Student Personality Types: An Enneagram Study on Students' Major and Career Choices
Prior studies have examined the effects of personality types on accounting students’ career choices and have found that a significant relationship exists. However, these studies predominantly utilize a Jungian-based personality type test to classify personality types. This study seeks to expand upon past studies by utilizing a personality test focused more on internal motivations and behaviors to understand if there are significant relationships between the personality of an individual, their initial career choice, and their specific accounting specialization. This research uses the Enneagram personality test to assess these relationships among various classifications of accounting students (e.g., undergraduate, transfer, and graduate), of varying accounting major options (e.g., accounting major with no emphasis, accounting major with finance specialization, accounting major with a minor, etc.). This insight is valuable in that it provides evidence regarding the inherent sociability of accounting students and its effect on their choice of accounting specialization and intended career choice.