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Description: The present study evaluated the ability of item-level bifactor models (a) to provide an alternative explanation to current theories of higher-order factors of personality, and (b) to explain socially desirable responding in both job applicant and non-applicant contexts. Participants (46% male; mean age=42 years, SD=11) completed the 200- item HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (HEXACO PI-R) either as part of a job application (n = 1613) or as part of low-stakes research (n = 1613). A comprehensive set of invariance test were performed. Applicants scored higher than non-applicants on honesty- humility (d = 0.86), extraversion (d = 0.73), agreeableness (d = 1.06), and conscientiousness (d = 0.77). The bifactor model provided improved model fit relative to a standard correlated factor model, and loadings on the evaluative factor of the bifactor model were highly correlated with other indicators of item social desirability. The bifactor model explained approximately two-thirds of the differences between applicants and non- applicants. Results suggest that rather than being a higher-order construct, the general factor of personality may be caused by an item- level evaluative process. Results highlight the importance of modelling data at the item-level. Implications for conceptualizing social desirability, higher-order structure in personality, test development, and job applicant faking are discussed.