According to John Holland’s theory, most people are one of six personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional.
John Holland, an American Psychologist, suggested that in our modern culture everyone falls into one of six personalities under his theory of career interests.
Holland’s six categories can be classified as follows:
- R: Realistic (Doers)
- I: Investigative (Thinkers)
- A: Artistic (Creators)
- S: Social (Helpers)
- E: Enterprising (Persuaders)
- C: Conventional (Organisers)
The Holland theory is the best known and most widely researched method on this topic. It is widely used by career professionals and their clients in understanding where one will find job satisfaction.
The basis is that you are more likely to be successful, content and reach your potential if you follow a career path that matches your interests.
More detailed descriptions of Holland’s RIASEC
Realistic
- Likes to work with animals, tools, or machines; generally avoids social activities like teaching, healing, and informing others;
- Has good skills in working with tools, mechanical or electrical drawings, machines, or plants and animals;
- Values practical things you can see, touch, and use like plants and animals, tools, equipment, or machines; and sees self as practical, mechanical, and realistic.
Investigative
- Likes to study and solve math or science problems; generally avoids leading, selling, or persuading people;
- Is good at understanding and solving science and math problems;
- Values science; and sees self as precise, scientific, and intellectual.
Artistic
- Likes to do creative activities like art, drama, crafts, dance, music, or creative writing; generally avoids highly ordered or repetitive activities;
- Has good artistic abilities — in creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art;
- Values the creative arts — like drama, music, art, or the works of creative writers; and sees self as expressive, original, and independent.
Social
- Likes to do things to help people — like, teaching, nursing, or giving first aid, providing information; generally avoids using machines, tools, or animals to achieve a goal;
- Is good at teaching, counselling, nursing, or giving information;
- Values helping people and solving social problems; and sees self as helpful, friendly, and trustworthy.
Enterprising
- Likes to lead and persuade people, and to sell things and ideas; generally avoids activities that require careful observation and scientific, analytical thinking;
- Is good at leading people and selling things or ideas;
- Values success in politics, leadership, or business; and sees self as energetic, ambitious, and sociable.
Conventional
- Likes to work with numbers, records, or machines in a set, orderly way; generally avoids ambiguous, unstructured activities
- Is good at working with written records and numbers in a systematic, orderly way;
- Values success in business; and sees self as orderly, and good at following a set plan.
Understanding the theory and using an accurate Holland assessment like the O*Net Interest Profiler will help you identify careers and that fit who you are and put you on a robust path to career well-being. Have a go – it’s complementary.
Let me know your results and if I can help clarify your thoughts 😉