A meta-analysis of 85 years worth of studies on the subject places IQ as the best predictor (conscientiousness comes in 4th)
See here: http://bobsutton.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/10/selecting-tal...
See here: http://bobsutton.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/10/selecting-tal...
Short term view: Superficial markers of success are most highly valued.
But in the long run: Intellectual power matters most.