HOLLAND’S
GROUPS
CHARACTERISTIC
INTEREST
People who have athletic or mechanical ability,
prefer to work with objects, machines, tools,
plants or animals, or to be outdoors.
ARTISTIC
(A)
Engineering, skilled trades, agricultural, some
healthcare, management and technical
occupations, protective services
People who like to observe, learn, investigate,
analyze, evaluate or solve problems. Activities
that involve the exploration and examination of
physical, biological and cultural things to understand and control them: sometimes includes scientific and mathematical activities.
Analytical and abstract, rational, curious,
intellectual, inquisitive, scientific, observant,
precise, scholarly, cautious, intellectually selfconfident, introspective, reserved, broad-minded,
independent, logical, complex, curious
Scientific, analytical, healthcare, research and
some technical occupations
People who have artistic, innovating or intuitional abilities and like to work in unstructured situations using their imagination and creativity;
includes activities and things related to language, art, music drama and writing
Creative, expressive imagination,
non-conforming imaginative, innovative, unconventional, emotional, independent, expressive,
original, introspective, impulsive, sensitive,
courageous, open, complicated, idealistic
Musical, artistic, literary, advertising, design and
dramatic occupations
People who like to work with people to enlighten, inform, help, train, or cure them, or are
skilled with words.
Friendly, persuasive, tactful, helpful,
idealistic, insightful, outgoing, understanding,
cooperative, generous, responsible, forgiving,
patient, empathic, kind, persuasive
Teaching, ministry, social welfare, counseling,
healthcare and other “helping people” occupations
SOCIAL
(S)
ENTERPRISING
(E)
CONVENTIONAL
(C)
CHARACTERISTIC
OCCUPATIONS
Present-oriented, thing-oriented (rather than
people or data), conforming, practical, athletic,
straightforward/frank, mechanically inclined, a
nature lover, thrifty, curious about the physical
world, stable, concrete, reserved, self-controlled,
independent, ambitious, systematic, persistent
REALISTIC
(R)
INVESTIGATIVE
(I)
CHARACTERISTIC
PERSONAL
TRAITS
Possible majors
Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Math/
Computer Science, Nursing, any healthcare
Possible majors
Biology, Business, Chemistry, Exercise and
Sports Science, Sociology, Psychology, Math/
Computer Science, History, Political Science,
any healthcare
Possible majors
Visual & Performing Arts, Communications,
English, Education, Music Education, History
Possible majors
Business, Communications, Exercise and Sports
Science, Education, Psychology, Sociology, any
healthcare
People who like to work with people by
influencing, persuading, performing, leading or
managing for organizational goals or economic
gain.
Self-confident, assertive, sociable, persuasive,
enthusiastic, energetic, adventurous, popular,
impulsive, ambitious, inquisitive, agreeable,
talkative, extroverted, spontaneous, optimistic
Sales, supervisory, business, government and
leadership occupations
People who like to work with data, have clerical
or numerical ability, carry out tasks in detail or
follow through on others' instructions. Activities
that involve the precise, ordered use of data, i.e.,
keeping records, filing materials, organizing
numerical and written data, clerical, computational and business.
Set in ways, well-organized, accurate,
numerically inclined, methodical,
conscientious, efficient, conforming,
orderly, practical, thrifty, systematic,
structured, polite, ambitious, obedient,
persistent
Accounting, finance, business, computational,
secretarial and clerical occupations
Possible majors
Business, Communications, Political Science,
History
Possible majors
Business, Math/Computer Science, Education