crack your

Holland code
A Holland code is one way to begin to investigate your career interests. Dr. John Holland was a psychologist
and career theorist who came up with a system of arranging careers and jobs into six categories. His theory
was that an individual’s skills, traits, and talents could be classified into six categories, and could provide
information about the kinds of jobs or careers that might be good fits.

HOLLAND’S MAGIC SIX

R I A S E C
Realistic careers Investigative Artistic careers Social careers Enterprising careers Conventional
require mechanical careers involve require a desire involve supporting, involve influencing, careers entail
ability and a observing, ana- for creative informing, training, persuading, or working with
desire to work lyzing, or solving experiences. or enlightening leading others. information,
with objects. problems. others. numbers, or
details.
Everyone has traits from all six of Holland’s categories, but most people are best represented by a combination
of categories. Find your Holland code by placing a check in the boxes of those activities below that interest you
the most. Then tally up the number of checked items in each section and write the number at the bottom of
that section’s box.

Investigative Conventional
Social
c use a microsc c follow a recipe
Realistic ope Artistic c throw a party Enterprising
c dissect an an c clean up a room
imal c write stories
c fix a car c give first aid c sell things c put things in group
c study the wea s
ther
c use power tools
c sing on stage c make people laugh c start a club c plan a trip
c read science
fictio
c care for animals
n c play an instrument c talk about feelings c debate an issue c create a budget
c solve math pu
zzles
c play with gadgets c rearrange a room c meet new people c take charge c follow instructions
c study other cu
ltures
c play a sport c take photographs c be a social worker c manage money c sort the mail
c build rocket m
odels c arrange flowers
c upholster a chair c teach school c run a campaign c be a bank teller
c visit a science
c work on an engine museum c design stage sets c become a minister c manage a hotel c analyze handwriting
c go camping c repair compute c direct a play c volunteer for a c sell real estate c work in food service
r charity
glitches c write a blog c practice law
c paint a room c take phone
c evaluate a crim c lead a book group c be a tour guide
c cook or barbecue e c be a detective messages
scene
c learn foreign c be a translator
c hook up an enter- c plan events for
tainment system languages others __________________
________________
__ __________________
__________________ __________________ __________________

Now for your code: Which color has the highest number of
choices? List that letter in the first space to the left. Then list those
letters with second-highest and third highest numbers. This is your
Holland code. Now look at the next two pages for some job titles
that fit the first two letters of your code. highest second-highest third-highest
 do what you are
REALISTIC Investigative:
air conditioning mechanic
animal trainer REALISTIC Enterprising:
auto mechanic/auto body repairer airplane pilot
computer software engineer diesel mechanic
REALISTIC Social:
electrical engineer electrician
bus driver
farmer
REALISTIC exterminator
dental lab technician glazier (a person who cuts
and fits glass into buildings)
corrections officer
firefighter
fire investigator police officer
forester jeweler
silversmith
hazardous waste removal worker painter
truck driver
welder plumber
barber
printing press operator
power line installer
surgical technologist

REALISTIC Artistic:
REALISTIC Conventional: brick layer landscape architect
drafter (who creates drawings based on designs cabinet maker glassblower
developed by engineers and architects) carpenter sound technician
computer operator desktop publisher stone carver
sailor architectural drafter tailor
upholsterer
x-ray technician
coach, umpire, or referee

INVESTIGATIVE Realistic: INVESTIGATIVE Conventional:

archeologist computer programmer archivist
veterinarian soil conservationist statistician

INVESTIGATIVE electronics engineer geographer

chiropractor medical lab technologist INVESTIGATIVE Artistic:
database administrator
computer systems analyst
dentist agronomist (plant scientist) political scientist pharmacist
respiratory therapist astronomer historian coroner
optometrist chemist psychologist mathematician
chemical engineer sociologist forensic science technician
psychiatrist

INVESTIGATIVE Social: INVESTIGATIVE Enterprising:

anthropologist urban planner
physician’s assistant surveyor
doctor industrial psychologist

ARTISTIC Realistic: ARTISTIC Enterprising:

floral designer art director
painter or illustrator stage, film, or TV director
sculptor interior designer
ARTISTIC set designer
architect
film editor
musician ARTISTIC Conventional:
Based on Holland’s six categories,
take a stab at the following activities.
cartoonist Fill the boxes with R, I, A, S, E, or C:
museum art restorer librarian
dancer graphic designer dietician c 1. farming
industrial designer actor/actress economist c 2. using a chemistry set
photographer advertising manager financial analyst
copywriter c 3. designing clothes
market research analyst
fashion designer management consultant c 4. attending a sports event
c 5. working on a political campaign
c 6. driving a snowplow
ARTISTIC Investigative: ARTISTIC Social: c 7. studying astronomy
technical writer poet
writer c 8. working with the elderly
journalist
museum curator drama, art, or music teacher c 9. studying a foreign language
composer interpreter/translator c 10. following a budget
medical illustrator English teacher
6. R; 7. I; 8. S; 9. A; 10. C
music arranger choreographer Answers: 1.R; 2. I; 3. A; 4. S; 5. E;
animator editor
radio announcer
 SOCIAL Realistic:
Learn more!
home health aide The lists here comprise only
physical therapy assistant SOCIAL Investigative:
a small sample of the jobs in
postal clerk anesthesology assistant
each Holland category. Find
practical nurse audiologist
SOCIAL Enterprising: more by using the Do What
emergency medical technician registered nurse
tour guide You Are online career assess-
speech pathologist
SOCIAL occupational therapist
athletic/fitness trainer counseling psychologist
school teacher
occupational safety specialist
nanny
ment at www.vsac.org (look
for the link under “Tools” in
physical therapist school principal the Quick Links box on the
dental assistant mental health counselor
social services director right).
hospital orderly social worker
financial planner And visit the Occupational
public health educator
personnel trainer Outlook Handbook to learn
security guard about the jobs listed here.
The handbook provides
descriptions for hundreds of
SOCIAL Artistic: jobs, along with education
SOCIAL Conventional: recreational therapist requirements and job
probation/parole office kindergarten teacher outlook data.
teacher’s aid special education teacher www.bls.gov/ooh &
dental hygienist minister
www.onetonline.org/
medical assistant school counselor
explore/interests/
occupational therapy aid

ENTERPRISING Realistic: ENTERPRISING Conventional:

chef real estate appraiser
ENTERPRISING Social: dealer at a casino
product demonstrator
judge optician
ENTERPRISING professional athlete
construction contractor
personnel recruiter
retail salesperson
property manager
court clerk sales manager
bartender buyer for a large store
floral designer
salesperson for city manager
cement mason
manufacturing firm hotel manager
aircraft cargo supervisor
detective housekeeper
insurance agent
office manager
paralegal
ENTERPRISING Investigative: ENTERPRISING Artistic: stockbroker
industrial engineer cosmetologist
insurance adjuster hairstylist
auditor public relations representative
market research analyst craft artist
urban planner fashion designer
lawyer film editor
forester recreation worker

CONVENTIONAL Realistic:
CONVENTIONAL Enterprising:
insurance appraiser
accountant
library assistant
administrative assistant
mail carrier
CONVENTIONAL medical record technician
pharmacy assistant
CONVENTIONAL Investigative:
actuary
bank teller
cost estimator
carpenter auditor
building inspector
bicycle repairer insurance claims examiner
cartographer
sawyer legal secretary
air traffic controller
brickmason budget analyst
oil derrick operator cashier
insulation worker customs inspector
tax consultant
ticket agent

CONVENTIONAL Artistic: CONVENTIONAL Social:

graphologist audio-visual specialist
shoe and leather worker dental assistant
tile and marble setter bookkeeper
advertising sales agent catalog librarian
glass blower/molder/finisher file clerk
program director medical secretary
proofreader radiologic technician