Holland Code Quiz

KNOWING YOUR “HOLLAND CODE”One way of exploring careers is by looking at occupations according to occupational interest. John Holland conducted researchthat divided jobs and job seekers into six broad categories:REALISTIC, INVESTIGATIVE, ARTISTIC, SOCIAL, ENTERPRISING, CONVENTIONALYour Holland Code is a generalization, not likely to be an exact fit. However, it might help you discover where you can findoccupational satisfaction. There are a number of instruments designed to help you identify your Holland Codes. This condensedsurvey is not intended to be as accurate or comprehensive as a full instrument. But completing this survey might help youidentify the cluster(s) of occupations in which you would have the most interest and get the most satisfaction, and it will give youa place to start your career exploration.Step One: Circle the number of any item–subject, activity, or type of person–that is appealing to you. Leave the rest blank.1. Farming2. Advanced math3. Being in a play4. Studying people in otherlands5. Talking to people at a party6. Word processing7. Auto mechanics8. Astronomy9. Draw or paint10. Go to church11. Work on a sales campaign12. Use a cash register13. Carpentry14. Physics15. Foreign language16. Teaching children17. Working from nine to five18. Setting type for a printing job19. Using a chemistry set20. Reading art and musicmagazines21. Helping people solve personalproblems22. Selling life insurance23. Type reports24. Driving a truck25. Working in a lab26. Musicians27. Making new friends28. Leaders29. Following a budget30. Fixing electrical appliances31. Build rocket model32. Buying clothes for a store33. Creative writing34. Attending sports events35. Being elected classpresident36. Using business machines37. Building things38. Doing puzzles39. Fashion design40. Belonging to a club41. Giving speeches42. Keeping detailed records43. Wildlife biology44. Being in a science fair45. Going to concerts46. Working with old people47. Sales people48. File letters and reportsStep Two: On the chart below, again circle the numbers of the items which appealed to you. After you have finished, count thenumbers circled on each line, counting across. In which categories did you score high? Write the two highest categories on thelines below. These are the clusters in which you have the most interest, and their corresponding labels are your Holland Code.(For example, if you scored highest in Social, and second highest in Artistic, your Holland Code would be “SA”. You would wantto concentrate your career exploration efforts in those two categories.)_____ R = REALISTIC 1 7 13 19 25 31 37 43_____ I = INVESTIGATIVE 2 8 14 20 26 32 38 44_____ A= ARTISTIC 3 9 15 21 27 33 39 45_____ S=SOCIAL 4 10 16 22 28 34 40 46_____ E=ENTERPRISING 5 11 17 23 29 35 41 47_____ C=CONVENTIONAL 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48I scored highest in ___________, second highest in ____________, third highest in ____________My Holland Code is ____________.

REALISTIC• Robust, rugged, practical,physically strong• Uncomfortable in socialsettings• Good motor coordination• Weak verbal andinterpersonal skills• See themselves asmechanically andathletically inclined• Stable, natural, persistent• Prefer concrete to abstractproblems• Have conventional politicaland economic goals• Rarely perform creativelyin the arts or science• Like to build things withtools• Like to work outdoors• Cool to radical new ideas• Like to work with big,powerful machines• Buy boats, campers,snowmobiles, motorcyclesINVESTIGATIVE• Scientific orientation• Task-oriented, all wrappedup in their work• Introspective and asocial• Think through rather thanact out a problem• Strong need tounderstand the world• Enjoy ambiguous tasks• Prefer to workindependently• Have unconventionalattitudes• See themselves as lackingin leadership skills• Confident of theirintellectual abilities• Analytical, curious,reserved, independent• Great dislike for repetitiveactivities• Buy telescopes,calculators, electronicequipmentARTISTIC• Like art, music, drama,other creative interests• Prefer free, unstructuredsituations• Impulsive, nonconforming,independent• Adverse to rules• Deal with problemsthrough self-expression inart• Value beauty andaesthetic qualities• Expressive, original,intuitive• Like to work in freeenvironments• Like small, intimate groups• Willing to take risks to trysomething new• Dress in freer styles thanother people• Have need forindividualistic expression• Not assertive about owncapabilities• Sensitive and emotional• Spend money on artobjects, books, paintings,CD’s.SOCIAL• Sociable, responsible,humanistic, religious• Like to work in groups• Have verbal andinterpersonal skills• Avoid both intellectualproblem-solving andphysical exertion• Enjoy curing, training,developing or enlighteningothers• Understanding, helpful,idealistic• Dislike working withmachines or in highlystructured situations• Like to discuss philosophicquestions• Concerned with thewelfare of others• Cooperative, friendly,generous• Attend workshops, othergroup experiencesENTERPRISING• Good verbal skills,persuasive• Strong leaders• Avoid work involving longperiods of intellectualeffort• Strong drive to attainorganizational goals• Concerned with power,status, and leadership• Aggressive, popular, selfconfident,sociable• High energy level• Adventuresome, ambitious• Enjoy making thingshappen• Value money and materialpossessions• Dislike science andsystematic thinking• Buy big cars, nice clothes,country club membershipsCONVENTIONAL• Prefer well-orderedenvironments• Like systematic, verbaland numerical activities• Avoid ambiguoussituations and problems• Conscientious, efficient,practical• Identify with power• Value materialpossessions and status• Orderly, persistent, calm• Adverse to free,unsystematic, exploratorybehavior in new areas• Do not seek outsideleadership• Stable, well-controlled,dependable• Most effective at welldefinedtasks• Save money or buyconservatively.