Career development
Holland’s theory of career choice
John Holland’s theory centres on the
notion that most people fit into one of
six personality types:
• realistic,
• investigative,
• artistic,
• social,
• enterprising, and
• conventional.
Realistic
Interest area:
You like working mainly
with your hands making,
fixing, assembling or
building things, using
and operating
equipment, tools or
machines.
You often like to work
outdoors.
Investigative
Interest area:
You like to discover and
research ideas, observe,
investigate and
experiment, ask
questions and solve
questions.
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Key skills:
Using and operating
tools, equipment and
machinery, designing,
building, repairing,
maintaining, measuring,
working in detail, driving,
moving, caring for
animals, working with
plants.
Key skills:
Thinking analytically and
logically, computing,
communicating by
writing and speaking,
designing, formulating,
calculating, diagnosing,
experimenting,
investigating.
Theories and models
Occupations with Subjects to develop
practical components: your skills:
Pilot, farmer, English, Maths, Science,
horticulturist, builder, Workshop, Technology,
engineer, armed services Computing, Business
personnel, mechanic, Studies, Agriculture,
upholsterer, electrician, Horticulture, Physical
computer technologist, Education.
park ranger,
sportsperson.
Occupations with Subjects to develop
practical components: your skills:
Science, research, English, Maths, Science,
medical and health Computing, Technology.
occupations, chemist,
marine scientist, forestry
technician, medical or
agricultural laboratory
technician, zoologist,
dentist, GP.
career-theory-model-holland 20170501.docx
Career development Theories and models

Artistic
Interest area: Key skills: Occupations with Subjects to develop
practical components: your skills:
You like using words, Expressing artistically or Artist, illustrator, English, Social Studies,
art, music or drama to physically, photographer, Music, Drama, Art,
express yourself, communicating by signwriter , composer, Graphic Design,
communicate or speaking, writing and singer, instrument Computing, Business
perform or you like to singing, performing, player, dancer, actor, Studies, Languages.
create or design things. designing, presenting, reporter, writer, editor,
planning, composing, hairdresser, fashion
playing, dancing. designer.

Social
Interest area: Key skills: Occupations with Subjects to develop
practical components: your skills:
You like working with Communicating by Teacher, nurse, English, Social Studies,
people to teach, train, writing and speaking, counsellor, police officer, Maths, Science, Health,
inform, help, treat, heal, caring and supporting, social worker, Physical Education, Art,
cure, serve and greet. training, meeting, salesperson, customer Computing, Business
greeting, assisting, secretary, service officer, Studies, Languages.
You are concerned for teaching, informing, waiter.
others’ well-being and interviewing, coaching.
welfare.

Enterprising
Interest area: Key skills: Occupations with Subjects to develop
practical components: your skills:
You like meeting people, Selling, promoting and Salesperson, lawyer, English, Maths, Business
leading, talking to and persuading, developing politician, accountant, Studies, Accounting,
influencing others, ideas, public speaking, business owner, Economics, Social
encouraging others, managing, organising, executive or manager, Studies, Drama,
working in business. leading and captaining, travel agent, music or Computing, Languages.
computing, planning. sports promoter.

Conventional
Interest area: Key skills: Occupations with Subjects to develop
practical components: your skills:
You like working indoors Computing and Secretary, receptionist, English, Maths, Business
and at tasks that involve keyboarding, recording office worker, librarian, Studies, Accounting,
organising and being and keeping records, bank clerk, computer Economics, Computing.
accurate, following paying attention to operator, stores and
procedures, working detail, meeting and dispatch clerk.
with data or numbers, greeting, doing
planning work and calculations, handling
events. money, organising,
arranging, working
independently.

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