Holland’s theory
Careers are determined by an interaction between our personality and the environment in John Holland's Theory of Career Choice. We want jobs with people like us.
John Holland's Theory of Career Choice (RIASEC) maintains that in choosing a career, people prefer jobs where they can be around others who are like them. They search for environments that will let them use their skills and abilities, and express their attitudes and values, while taking on enjoyable problems and roles. Behaviour is determined by an interaction between personality and environment.
Holland’s theory is centred on the notion that most people fit into one of six personality types:
- Realistic
- Investigative
- Artistic
- Social
- Enterprising
- Conventional.
Realistic
| Description of interest area | Some key skills | Some occupations with Realistic components | Subjects you could study to give you the skills |
| Likes to work mainly with hands, making, fixing, assembling or building things, using and operating equipment, tools or machines. Often likes to work outdoors | Using and operating tools, equipment and machinery, designing, building, repairing, maintaining, working manually, measuring, working in detail, driving, moving, caring for animals, working with plants | Pilot, farmer, horticulturalist, builder, engineer, armed services personnel, mechanic, upholsterer, electrician, computer technologist, park ranger, sportsperson | English, Maths, Science, Workshop, Technology, Computing, Business Studies, Agriculture, Horticulture, Physical Education |
Investigative
| Description of interest area | Some key skills | Some occupations with Investigative components | Subjects you could study to give you the skills |
| Likes to discover and research ideas, observe, investigate and experiment, ask questions and solve problems | Thinking analytically and logically, computing, communicating by writing and speaking, designing, formulating, calculating, diagnosing, experimenting, investigating | Science, research, medical and health occupations, chemist, marine scientist, forestry technician, medical or agricultural laboratory technician, zoologist, dentist, doctor | English, Maths, Science, Computing, Technology |
Artistic
| Description of interest area | Some key skills | Some occupations with Artistic components | Subjects you could study to give you the skills |
| Likes to use words, art, music or drama to communicate, perform, or express themselves, create and design things | Expressing artistically or physically, speaking, writing, singing, performing, designing, presenting, planning, composing, playing, dancing | Artist, illustrator, photographer, signwriter, composer, singer, instrument player, dancer, actor, reporter, writer, editor, advertiser, hairdresser, fashion designer | English, Social Studies, Music, Drama, Art, Graphic Design, Computing, Business Studies, Languages |
Social
| Description of interest area | Some key skills | Some occupations with Social components | Subjects you could study to give you the skills |
| Likes to work with people to teach, train and inform, help, treat, heal and cure, serve and greet, concerned for the wellbeing and welfare of others | Communicating orally or in writing, caring and supporting, training, meeting, greeting, assisting, teaching, informing, interviewing, coaching | Teacher, nurse, nurse aide, counsellor, police officer, social worker, salesperson, customer service officer, waiter, secretary | English, Social Studies, Maths, Science, Health, Physical Education, Art, Computing, Business Studies, Languages |
Enterprising
| Description of interest area | Some key skills | Some occupations with Enterprising components | Subjects you could study to give you the skills |
| Likes meeting people, leading, talking to and influencing others, encouraging others, working in business | Selling, promoting and persuading, developing ideas, public speaking, managing, organising, leading and captaining, computing, planning | Salesperson, lawyer, politician, accountant, business owner, executive or manager, travel agent, music or sports promoter | English, Maths, Business Studies, Accounting, Economics, Social Studies, Drama, Computing, Text Information Management, Languages |
Conventional
| Description of interest area | Some key skills | Some occupations with Conventional components | Subjects you could study to give you the skills |
| Likes working indoors and at tasks that involve organising and being accurate, following procedures, working with data or numbers, planning work and events | Computing and keyboarding, recording and keeping records, paying attention to detail, meeting and greeting, doing calculations, handling money, organising, arranging, working independently | Secretary, receptionist, office worker, librarian, bank clerk, computer operator, stores and dispatch clerk | English, Maths, Business Studies, Accounting, Economics, Computing, Text Information Management |
Holland asserts that people of the same personality type working together in a job create an environment that fits and rewards their type.
Within this theory there are six basic types of work environment, which correlate directly to the personality types. Holland emphasises that people who choose to work in an environment similar to their personality type are more likely to be successful and satisfied. This idea is important as it shows Holland’s theory can be flexible, incorporating combination types.
Holland’s theory takes a problem-solving and cognitive approach to career planning. His model has been very influential in career counselling. It has been employed through popular assessment tools such as the Self-Directed Search, Vocational Preference Inventory and the Strong Interest Inventory.
There is much research to support Holland’s typology. However it is not without criticism, the most common being the prevalence of females to score in three personality types (artistic, social and conventional). According to Holland this is because society channels women into female-dominated occupations.
Sources
- Jones, L, ‘The Career Key’, accessed December 2008, (www.careerkey.org).
- ‘Big Picture View of Career Development Theory’, accessed December 2008, (www.ccdf.ca).
- Savickas, M, and Lent, R, ‘Convergence in Career Development Theories’, Palo Alto, California, USA: Consulting Psychologists Press Inc.
Updated 13 Aug 2019