Europe, U.S. Value Different Traits In Execs

In Europe it pays to be an extrovert. Extroverted executives in Europe earn $12,000 more than executives without that trait. But extroversion is only a small plus in the U.S, worth just $1,200, says executive recruiting firm Ray & Berndtson of Ft. Worth.

Its survey of 1,800 U.S. and 1,800 European executives -- conducted with the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University -- also uncovered several other differences. Executives in Europe who are viewed as conscientious earn nearly $2,000 more, while salaries of U.S. executives with that trait are less than $50 higher than standard. The two biggest differences: The salary of an executive who always agrees with his superiors, on average, is almost $17,000 lower in the U.S.; in Europe, just $7,000. And executives in the U.S. who are viewed as neurotic earn, on average, $16,000 less than what they might normally be paid. In Europe, the financial penalty for being neurotic is only about $3,500 a year.