What's Your Holland Code?

When choosing a career, it’s important to do something you enjoy. Knowing your interests can help narrow down what type of career will fulfill and sustain you — even when life gets tough. Self-exploration takes time and effort, which is why the Holland Code (also known as the RIASEC) assessment is useful. By answering 60 quick questions, you can identify what activities pique your interest — and how they connect with specific careers.

Careers are usually a combination of two or more codes. For example, teachers are a combination of three codes: SAE (Social, Artistic, and Enterprising). By identifying what codes match your interests (and in what order), you can identify careers almost tailor-made to appeal to you!

Here’s a breakdown of the six Holland Codes:

(If you’re interested in taking the Holland Code assessment, please contact the EFSC Career Center closest to you!)

Artistic

Do you love to create as a means of self-expression? Are your hobbies centered on drawing, writing, dancing, playing music, or cosplaying? Do you enjoy researching or studying other cultures, including their clothing, languages, cuisine, and religions? You might be an Artistic type!

Artistic types value the freedom to express themselves, think outside the box, and pour their originality into everything they do. Flexibility and ambiguity often appeal to them, and they’re perfectly comfortable in the world of aesthetics. Overly organized or structured environments will drain them. Instead, they flourish in workplaces that allow them to follow whims, try new things, and create new methods and ideas.

Careers that appeal to Artistic types include: Writer, Musician, Architect, Interior Designer, Teacher, Chef, Fashion Designer, Florist, Graphic Designer, and Photographer

Conventional

Do you like an organized space or doing similar things each day? Are you persistent and practical, feeling most comfortable when expectations are clear? Do your hobbies include collecting things, playing video games, working out, or gradually improving your home? You might be a Conventional type!

This type works best in familiar situations — with people, places, tasks, and terminology they know well — and thus prefer to keep a consistent rhythm to their day (often doing the same thing at the same time every day). Keeping tasks on schedule, having processes go according to plan, and following the guidance of authority or rules they respect allows the Conventional type to flourish.

Careers that appeal to Conventional types include: CEO, Legal Assistant, Secretary, Computer Programmer, Pharmacist, Mathematician/Statistician, Librarian, Accountant, and Administrative Assistant

Enterprising

Do you often find yourself “in charge?” Do winning and success excite you? Does achieving your goals and motivating others inspire you? You might be an Enterprising type!

Enterprising types are natural persuaders, often with great ambition, charisma, or confidence fueling them. Recognition for their accomplishments — through promotions, money, opportunities, or acknowledgment — is their favorite reward. They often pass on systematic work to focus on organizational goals or projects. Their natural interest in leadership may cause them to start their own business or climb the organizational ladder into a management position. They usually gravitate toward fields that require them to “be their own boss” and make assertive, confident decisions.

Careers that appeal to Enterprising types include: CEO, Journalist, Lawyer, Judge, Police Officer, Host, Travel Guide, Private Detective, and Business Owner

Investigative

Do analytical topics fascinate you? Do you enjoy deep discussions, research, problem-solving, or mulling things over in your head? Would others describe you as reserved, intellectual, and curious? You might be an Investigative type!

Investigative types love getting excited about ideas, whether they’re troubleshooting an issue, researching a topic, analyzing a piece of art, inventing something new, devising a solution, chasing the leads of a case, or debating a concept. They typically prefer to work with information rather than people and consider themselves lifelong learners. The pursuit of knowledge and finding the answer is its own reward!

Careers that appeal to Investigative types include: Scientist, Doctor, Surgeon, IT (Cybersecurity, Networking, Software Engineering, etc.), Researcher, Detective, Business Analyst, Historian, Mathematician, Engineer, and Journalist

Realistic

Do you like to work hands-on or “learn by doing”? Does being outdoors or working with animals interest you? Do you enjoy building computers, repairing cars, or constructing LEGO sets? You might be a Realistic type!

Classroom learning doesn’t usually appeal to Realistic types; instead, they’d rather get active and involved. They often prefer to work with things rather than people, and value direct communication and feedback — so they can get right down to problem-solving! Realistic types love seeing their hard work yield tangible results, such as hearing the rumble of a fixed engine, seeing a computer built from scratch finally boot up, or staring out over a well-maintained forest.

Careers that appeal to Realistic types include: Veterinarian, Pilot, Range Manager, Forester, Construction, Engineer, Mechanic, Plumber, Electrician, Firefighter, and Police Officer

Do you dream of making the world a better place? Are you passionate about helping, inspiring, healing, mentoring, or counseling? Do you like focusing on people rather than things? You might be a Social type!

Social types are often idealists with a strong moral code or gifted with interpersonal perceptiveness and generosity. They like to be involved in humanitarian efforts or feel like they are “being of service” to the world and the people around them. Words that may describe the Social type include friendly, helpful, patient, cooperative, and considerate. Social types are motivated by the thought of “making a difference.”

Careers that appeal to Social types include: Doctor/Nurse, Social Worker, Teacher, Clergy, Counselor, Mentor, Motivational Speaker, Athletic Trainer/Coach, Fitness Instructor, Funeral Services Worker, and Hospitality

Want to take the Holland Code Interest Assessment?

You can take this assessment and others like it by contacting the Career Center on your campus. Discover yourself and identify possible career matches — all with a single assessment.

Author
Recent Posts

Casey Covel

As Assistant Manager of Web and Social Media at EFSC, Casey keeps students informed of all the exciting "happenings" at the college. She earned national honors while completing her A.A. degree at EFSC, graduated with a B.A. in Human Communication through UCF, and is currently pursuing her M.A. in Media Psychology at Fielding University. An award-winning writer on matters of faith and pop culture, Casey’s hobbies include sipping tea, wielding chopsticks, gaming in the realms of Tellius and Hyrule, growing her action figure collection and squinting at strange words.