OCCUPATIONAL INTERESTS BASED ON HOLLAND’S THEORY OF CAREER CHOICE AND PERSONALITY

Occupational interests based on Holland’s theory of 

career choice and personality

Worker Characteristics are enduring characteristics that may influence both performance and the capacity to acquire knowledge and skills required for effective work performance (National Center for O*Net Development, 2017). Two of these characteristics are interests and values, which reflect preferences for work environments and outcomes and are called “Occupational Interests.” 

Occupational interests have been classified by different researchers. One of the researchers, Dr. John Holland, developed a model of personality types and work environments in 1985. (image of Holland’s Hexagon from https://www.careerkey.org/choose-a-career/hollands-theory-of-career-choice.html#.WXwqQ4QrJ0w)

Dr. Holland (1973) indicated that "the choice of a vocation is an expression of personality" and his vocational personality type theory model is used in the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) developed under the sponsorship of the US Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Holland’s model, the R-I-A-S-E-C Inventory, categorized the various occupational/personality interests into 6 types:  R = realistic, I = investigative, A = artistic, S = social, E = enterprising, C = conventional. (image from: https://www.careerkey.org/choose-a-career/hollands-theory-of-career-choice.html#.WXwqQ4QrJ0w)

Individuals usually have one interest that is the strongest/highest, but may also have a combination of two interests. Here is a brief description of each of the six interest codes (HollandCodes.com, 2017):

1.     Realistic is one of the Holland Codes. Realistic types prefer to deal with Things.  A person with a Realistic Personality tends to be frank, practical, focused, mechanical, determined, or rugged. Examples of Realistic Abilities include manipulating tools, doing mechanical or manual tasks, or doing athletic activities.

2.     Investigative is one of the Holland Codes. Investigative types prefer to deal with Things and Ideas. A person with an Investigative Personality tends to be analytical, intellectual, reserved, independent, and scholarly. Examples of Investigative Abilities include working with abstract ideas and intellectual problems.

3.     Artistic is one of the Holland Code Career Types. Artistic types prefer to deal with Ideas and People. A person with an Artistic Personality tends to be Complicated, Original, Impulsive, Independent, Expressive, and Creative. Examples of Artistic Abilities include using imagination and feelings in creative expression.

4.     Social is one of the Holland Occupational Codes. Social types prefer to deal with People. A person with a Social Personality tends to be Helping, Informing, Teaching, Inspiring, Counseling, and Serving. Examples of Social Abilities include interacting with people and concerned with the welfare of people.

5.     Enterprising is one of the Holland Occupational Codes. Enterprising types prefer to deal with Data and People. A person with an Enterprising Personality tends to be Characteristics: Persuasive, Energetic, Sociable, Adventurous, Ambitious, and Risk-taking. Examples of Enterprising Abilities include leading, managing, and organizing.

6.     Conventional is one of the Holland Occupational Codes. Conventional types prefer to deal with Data and Things. A person with a Conventional Personality tends to be Careful, Conforming, Conservative, Conscientious, Self-controlled, and Structured. Examples of Conventional Abilities include ordering activities paying attention to details.

You can see more information about each career code and matching jobs at O*Net “Interests," O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development (https://www.onetonline.org/find/descriptor/browse/Interests/)

References

Holland, J. (1973) Making Vocational Choices: a theory of careers. Prentice-Hall, 6.

HollandCodes.com. Holland Code Career Models. Retrieved July 29, 2017, from http://www.hollandcodes.com/holland_code_career.html

National Center for O*NET Development. About O*NET. O*NET Resource Center. Retrieved July 29, 2017, from https://www.onetcenter.org/aboutOnet.html

Prepared by Mary Noble, PhD on 7/28/17 http://psychologyfun.blogspot.com/

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