Trust Related Behavior and Person-Job Fit Among University Graduates in Europe : Evidence from REFLEX Survey

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the preconditions of trust. Using a sample of more than 13,000 university graduates in Europe, the impact of competence mismatch on trust-related behavior (designated below as trust) is investigated. The existing literature estimates the overall impact of skills matches on job outcomes, while this study explores the links between nineteen skills/competencies and trust. Theoretical analyses are grounded in one of the mainstays of management studies: a “fit theory” that conjectures that the performance of an individual is driven by the extent to which the environment is congruent with that individual’s personal characteristics. Using simple logistic regression analysis, we find a non-monotonic link between competence mismatch and trust-related behavior. The effects of underskilling on trust is stronger in comparison to a surplus of required skills and competencies.