Holland's Theory -Agenda

							   Your Interests:
 What are They and
How Do They Relate to
   Career Choice?
  Overview of Our Session
 Introduction
 Taking the Self-Directed Search: A
  Test of Interests
 Understanding Your SDS results:
  The Holland Theory and types
 Where to go next
    The Self Directed Search
 Provides self-estimates of interests
  Provides self-estimates of values
  Provides self-estimates of skills
  Uses Holland’s Occupational themes
     (the RIASEC Model).
What is Holland’s Theory?

  Focuses on the match between
   person and environment.
  Notion that personality is
   expressed by interests.
  Interests must be matched with
   the work a person does.
  Simple and accessible theory.
Assumptions

  Six personality types exist
  Six identical working environments exist
  People seek environments that match their personality
   types
  Behavior is a product of interaction between personality
   and environment
  People will stay longer and perform better in a job when
   there is a match
Six Holland Types

   R - Realistic
   I - Investigative
   A - Artistic
   S - Social
   E - Enterprising
   C - Conventional
                    Realistic

Personal styles             Occupational environments

•   Active, stable, enjoy
                               •   Skilled trades (e.g.,
                                   plumber, electrician)
    hands-on activities
•   Prefers to work with
                               •   Technical skills
    things rather than         •   Draftsperson (e.g.,
    ideas and people               mechanical or electrical
                                   drawings)
•   Likes to work
    outdoors, with tools,      •   Military, Engineer
    machines, plants and       •   Athletics
    animals
•   Communicate in a
    direct manner
                 Investigative



Personal styles              Occupational
•   Task-oriented              environments
•   Analytical, observant
                               •   Scientific fields (e.g.,
•   Enjoy ambiguous
                                   chemist, physicists)
    challenges
•   Interested in research     •   Medical technologist
    and problem solving        •   Biologist
•   May be reserved and
                               •   Technician skills (e.g.,
    defer leadership to
    others                         laboratory technician)
•   Others may describe        •   Computer programmer
    as independent,
    analytical, and            •   Criminal investigator
    intellectual
                         Artistic

                Occupational
Personal styles   environments
•   Prefers self-expression•    Artistic (e.g., sculptor,
                                artist)
    through the arts
•   Intuitive & imaginative•    Reporter
•   Introspective and      •    Musical (e.g., music
    independent                 teacher, orchestra leader,
                                musician)
•   Enjoy playing music,
                           •    Chef/culinary arts
    drawing, creating
•   Values aesthetics      •    Literary (e.g.,
•   Prefer flexibility and     editor, writer,
    ambiguity                  critic)
•   Non conforming
•   Others might see as
    “chaotic”
                         Social
                                 Occupational environments
                                    •   Educational (e.g., teacher,
                                        educational administrator,
                                        college professor)
Personal styles                     •   Social Welfare (e.g., social
                                        worker, sociologist,
•   Enjoys social interactions          professional nurse)
    and has good
    communication skills
                                    •   Cooperative, supportive
•   Communicate in a warm
                                    •   Counselor, Psychologist
    and tactful manner
•   Enjoy team work
•   Humanistic: concerned
    with social problems and
    is community-service-
    oriented
•   Interests in educational
    activities
•   Others might describe as
                  Enterprising
                           Occupational environments
                                •   Managerial
                                •   Public relations
Personal styles                 •   Various sales positions
                                    (e.g., insurance,
•   Prefers leadership roles        pharmaceuticals, real
                                    estate, car salesperson)
•   Energetic, ambitious        •   Business executive
•   Enjoy persuading others     •   Small business owners
•   Makes use of good verbal
    skills
•   Generally sociable and
    enjoy public speaking
•   Others may describe as
    competitive, domineering,
    outgoing, and savvy.
                  Conventional

                              Occupational environments
Personal styles                  •   Office and clerical (e.g.,
                                     file clerk, teller,
•   Efficient, careful,              accountant, secretary,
    organized,                       receptionist)
    conscientious, reliable      •   Accountant
•   Prefer carrying out          •   Banker
    tasks rather than
    initiating them              •   Copy editor
•   Enjoys systematizing
    and manipulation of
    data and word
    processing
•   Prefer to know what is
    expected rather than
    have ambiguity
Holland Codes
  Codes are usually 3-digits; however, one and two
   digit codes are common
  First letter in code is person’s strongest type
  Second and third are the next strongest types
  Example:

    1. Computer programmers are primarily
       __________. They are also _________

    2. Teachers are primarily ___________. They
       are also _______.
Interpreting the SDS
 Use it as one of the many sources of
  information about your interests, values, and
  skills.
 Review the answers on the whole inventory
  including the three letter summary code.
 Review all possible combinations of the three
  letter code on the Educational/Occupational
  Finder.
 There is no wrong or right answer.
 You can still pursue a major/career even if it
  does not match your code.
Occupations Finder
 Links your Holland code to specific
  occupations that you might want to
  consider
 After looking for your specific Holland
  code (e.g. IAS) switch the order (e.g.
  AIS) and look at that list of
  occupations.
 Switch the order again and repeat the
  process.
Where to Go From Here?
 The SDS is a starting point for
  exploration.
 Use your Holland code to give you
  ideas for summer jobs, volunteer
  activities, classes to take, extra-
  curricular activities to pursue.
 Talk to people who are in
  jobs/careers/majors indicated on your
  SDS.
On-line Resources
 UMD Counseling Center website,
  www.counseling.umd.edu
 UMD Career Center,
  www.careercenter.umd.edu
 Occupational Outlook Handbook
  http://www.bls.gov/OCO
 America's Job Bank
  http://www.ajb.dni.us
 Best Jobs in the USA Today
  http://www.bestjobsusa.com/index.asp
Enjoy the rest of Maryland
Day!


  University of Maryland Counseling Center
  Dr. Pepper Phillips
  Dr. Kathy Zamostny