Holland Personalities

According to John Holland's theory, most people are one of six personality types: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising or conventional. The characteristics of each of these are described below:

• Realistic
  • Enjoys and works well with plants, animals, tools or machines
  • Generally avoids social activities such as teaching, healing and informing others
  • Values practical things you can see, touch and use
  • Sees self as practical, mechanical and realistic
• Investigative
  • Enjoys and is good at solving math or science problems
  • Generally avoids leading, selling or persuading people
  • Values science
  • Sees self as precise, scientific and intellectual
• Artistic
  • Enjoys and is good at creative activities such as art, drama, crafts, dance, music or creative writing
  • Generally avoids highly ordered or repetitive activities
  • Values creative arts such as drama, music, art or the works of creative writers
  • Sees self as expressive, original and independent
• Social
  • Enjoys and is good at helping people through teaching, nursing, giving first aid or providing information
  • Generally avoids using machines, tool, or animals
  • Values helping people and solving social problems
  • Sees self as helpful, friendly and trustworthy
• Enterprising
  • Enjoys and is good at leading and persuading people and at selling products and ideas
  • Generally avoids activities that require careful observation and scientific, analytical thinking
  • Values success in politics, leadership or business
  • Sees self as energetic, ambitious and sociable
• Conventional
  • Enjoys and works well with numbers, records or machines in a set, orderly way
  • Generally avoids ambiguous, unstructured activities
  • Values success in business
  • Sees self as orderly and good at following a set plan

Holland's theory can be summarized in five statements:

1. In our culture, most persons are one of six personality types and six basic social work environments: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising or conventional.
2. People of the same personality tend to flock together.
3. When people of the same personality type work together, they create an environment that fits their type.
4. People who choose to work in an environment similar to their personality type are more likely to be successful and satisfied with their jobs.
5. The way you act and feel at work depends, to a large extent, on your workplace environment. If you work with people who have a personality type like yours, you'll enjoy many of the things they enjoy, you'll feel comfortable with them, and your skills will be in the same areas. This creates a productive and satisfying environment.

Return to Career Key