THE HOLLAND CODE

A Tool for Career Planning

Denise Hourihan

Goals

Understand the Holland CodeExplore interests and skillsDetermine how careers can be matched with interests and skills

Questions:

What interests and skills does a carpenter probably have?

What career would be good for a person who likes to be organized?

What is the Holland Code?

Dr. John Holland developed a theory that people’s interests and work environments can be loosely classified into six broad areas.They can be combined in many different ways.You can use your unique combination of interests to find a career that matches.

Realistic (the Do-ers)

Athletic or mechanical abilityPrefer to work with objects, machines, tools, plants or animals or to be outdoorsGood motor coordination

Career possibilities: Mechanic Carpenter Chef Bus driver Electrical engineer Optician Welder

Investigative(the Thinkers)

Like to observe,learn, investigate, analyze, evaluate or solve problemsScientific orientationTask oriented

Career possibilities: Anthropologist Biologist Chemist Computer

Programmer Dentist Meteorologist Psychologist

Artistic (the Creators)

Artistic, innovating or intuitional abilitiesLike to work in unstructured situations using imagination and creativity.

Career possibilities: Actor/Actress Architect Dancer Music Teacher Graphic Designer Photographer Writer/Editor

Social (the Helpers)

Like to work with peopleEnjoy healing, developing, training, or enlightening othersSkilled with words

Career possibilities: Athletic trainer Chaplain Dietician Elementary School

Teacher Clergy Registered Nurse Business Teacher

Enterprising (the Persuaders)

Work with people Good verbal skillsStrong leadersPersuasiveConcerned with power, status, leadershipAmbitious, confident

Career possibilities: Advertising

manager Financial planner Credit analyst Office manager Journalist Lawyer Stock Broker Restaurant Manager

Conventional (the Organizers)

Like to work with dataHave clerical or numerical abilityCarry out tasks in detailFollow through on others‘ instructions Orderly, dependable

Career possibilities: Accountant Business teacher Cashier Financial Analyst Clerk Kindergarten teacher Legal secretary Telephone operator

Summary

The Holland Code is a method of classifying interests into six broad categories.

Review

1. Which of the Holland codes (Realistic, Enterprising, Artistic, Conventional, Investigative, or Social) would describe each of the following occupations?

Secretary Dancer Chemist Nurse Carpenter Lawyer2. Will people fit into only one category?

Answers to Review Questions

1. Which of the Holland codes (Realistic, Enterprising, Artistic, Conventional, Investigative, or Social) would describe each of the following occupations?

Secretary (Conventional) Dancer (Artistic) Chemist (Investigative) Nurse (Social) Carpenter (Realistic) Lawyer (Enterprising)2. Will people fit into only one category?

NO

Assignment

Go to the website http://www.nycareerzone.org/Follow the directions on the following document to assess your interests and career options.

NY Career Zone

Assignment