Career Planning
A Life-Long Process
Step 1
Who am I? What are my
interests, skills, values and
personality style?
Step 4
What is my plan to
get to my goal?
Step 3
How do I get there?
What am I willing to
do?
Step 2
What do I want?
What are my
options?
Career Planning – Ask yourself these
questions!
What do I
like?
What skills do
I like to use?
How do I get
experience?
What is
important to
me in my work?
What kind of
person am I?
What do I like? – My
Interests!
What are my hobbies?
What do I like to do when I
have free time?
What kind of things do I like
to read?
What am I interested in?
Investigative (Analytic) - Like to
observe, learn, evaluate, or solve
problems. This type is associated with
scientific/academic pursuits. Prefer to
analyze a problem, evaluate options and
data, set a plan of action, and analyze
the results.
Realistic (Adventuring/Producing)
Interested in athletics, good with
their hands, prefer to work with
objects, machines, plants or
animals rather than people. Prefer
to do the job without a lot of talk
or argument, do it right the first
time, get to the point.
R
Conventional (Organizing) - Like
to work with data, numbers,
more than people. Like detail,
tangible products, and have
little tolerance for ambiguity.
Like following others;
instructions rather than being in
charge. Prefer to follow a
defined structured plan of
action. Attentive to detail. Enjoy
putting all the pieces of a plan
together.
C
Enterprising (Influencing) - Like to work
with people in a leadership capacity —
managing, performing, persuading,
influencing, often for organizational or
political goals or economic gain. Prefer to
investigate a direct plan of action to be
carried out by others. Focus on achieving
the goal, not concerned with minor
details. Like to keep big picture in mind.
I
THE PARTY
E
A
S
Artistic (Creative) Interested in artistic
expression. Like to work in
unstructured situations
using imagination and
creativity. Prefer creative
approach to problemsolving and planning which
relies heavily on intuition
and imagination.
Social (Helping) - Like to work with
people in some helping capacity —
informing, teaching, developing, curing
people. Prefer to gather data from all
involved parties before generating an
action plan. Will try to find solutions
equitable for all concerned. Adept at
networking with people.
Holland’s Six Personality
Types
• In our culture most people are
stronger in one personality type than
another.
• All professions may require to some
degree, all personality types.
• People who work in a profession and
environment that fits their
“personality” tend to be successful
and satisfied.
Theory of John Holland
• John Holland, a psychologist who was drafted
by the army in WW2, developed a
classification system for jobs in the military
based upon his theory describing six work
environments and six vocational personalities.
• Holland believed that career choice is an
extension of a person's personality. People
express themselves, their interests
and values through their work
choices and experience.
• Holland assigns both people and work
environments into specific types or
themes.
•
Most people can be categorized into
the following six types, and each
person may be characterize by one
or some combination of these types:
–
–
–
–
–
–
(R)
(I)
(A)
(S)
(E)
(C)
Realistic
Investigative
Artistic
Social
Enterprising
Conventional
• Occupational environments
can be divided into the same six
types, and each environment is
dominated by a particular type
of person.
•
People search for environments that let
them:
•
•
•
•
exercise their skills and abilities,
express their attitudes and values
take on problems and roles they find
stimulating and satisfying
avoid chores or responsibilities they
find distasteful or formidable.
• Career choice and career
adjustment represent an
extension of a person’s
personality.
• Realistic types prefer to deal with Things.
• A person with a Realistic Personality tends to
be frank, practical, focused, mechanical,
determined, or rugged.
• Examples of Realistic Abilities include
manipulating tools, doing mechanical or manual
tasks, or doing athletic activities.
• Examples of Realistic Careers include
Craftsman, Fitness Trainer, Optician,
Policemen, Fire Fighter, and Physical
Education Teacher.
• Possible Realistic College Majors are Justice
Studies, Fire Science, Athletic Training,
Martial Arts, Corporate Fitness, and Physical
Education.
The Doers
Realistic
Are You:
Practical
Athletic
Straightforward
Mechanically inclined
A nature lover
Stable
Self-controlled
Independent
ambitious
Systematic
persistent
Can You:
Fix things
Solve problems
Play a sport
Read a blueprint
Operate tools or
machinery
Like to:
Tinker with objects
Work outdoors
Be physically active
Build things
Train animals
Work on equipment
• Investigative types prefer to deal with
Things and Ideas.
• A person with a Investigative Personality
tends to be analytical, intellectual,
reserved, independent, and scholarly.
• Examples of Investigative Abilities include
working with abstract ideas and intellectual
problems.
• Examples of Investigative Careers include
Biologist, Chemist, Historian, Researcher,
Doctor, and Mathematician.
• Possible Investigative College Majors
are Botany, Engineering, Forestry
Science, Physics, and Foreign Languages.
Investigative
The Thinkers
Are You:
Inquisitive
Analytical
Scientific
Observant
Precise
Cautious
Reserved
Broad-minded
Independent
Logical
Can You:
Think Abstractly
Solve Math
problems
Understand
theories
Do complex
calculations.
Like to:
Explore
Use computers
Work
independently.
Do lab
experiments.
Do research
Be challenged.
• Artistic types prefer to deal with Ideas and
People.
• A person with a Artistic Personality tends to
be Complicated, Original, Impulsive,
Independent, Expressive, and Creative.
• Examples of Artistic Abilities include
using imagination and feelings in
creative expression .
• Examples of Artistic Careers include Artist,
Musician, Actor/ Actress, Designer, Writer,
and Photographer.
• Possible Artistic College Majors are Art,
Theater, Graphic Design, Music, Journalism,
and Communication.
The Creators
Artistic
Are You:
Intuitive
Imaginative
Unconventional
Emotional
Independent
Idealistic
Creative
Sensitive
Nonconforming
Expressive
Can You:
Sketch
Draw
Paint
Play an
instrument
Write stories,
poetry, music.
Sing,act,dance
design
Like to:
Attend concerts
Read
Take photos
Express yourself
Creatively.
• Social types prefer to deal with People.
• A person with a Social Personality tends to be
Helping, Informing, Teaching,
Inspiring, Counseling, and Serving.
• Examples of Social Abilities include
Interacting with people and
concerned with the welfare of people.
• Examples of Social Careers include Teacher,
Clergy, Coach, Therapist, Nurse, Counselor, and
Sociologist.
• Possible Social College Majors are Nursing,
Christian Education, Counseling, Biblical
Studies, Social Science, and Education.
Social
The Helpers
Are You:
Friendly
Helpful
Idealistic
Insightful
Outgoing
Generous
Cooperative
Forgiving
Persuasive
Can You:
Teach others
Express your
ideas clearly.
Lead
Plan and
supervise.
Cooperate
with others.
Like To:
Work in groups
Help people.
Volunteer.
Play team sports.
• Enterprising types prefer to deal with Data
and People.
• A person with an Enterprising Personality tends
to be Characteristics: Persuasive, Energetic,
Sociable, Adventurous, Ambitious, and
Risk-taking.
• Examples of Enterprising Abilities include
leading, managing, and organizing.
• Examples of Enterprising Careers
include Manager, Producer, Lawyer,
Business/ Marketing, Executive,
Entrepreneur, and Principal.
• Possible Enterprising College Majors
are Pre-Law, Business Management and
Administration, International Business, and
Political Science.
Enterprising
The Persuaders
Are You:
Self confident
Assertive
Sociable
Persuasive
Enthusiastic
Energetic
Adventurous
Impulsive
Ambitious
Inquisitive
Optimistic
Can You:
Initiate Projects
Convince
Sell
Give presentations
Lead a group
Organize activities
Like to:
Make decisions
Be elected to
office
Discuss politics
Participate in
activities
Lead others
• Conventional types prefer to deal with Data
and Things.
• A person with a Conventional Personality tends
to be Careful, Conforming, Conservative,
Conscientious, Self-controlled, and Structured.
• Examples of Conventional Abilities include
ordering activities paying attention to details.
• Examples of Conventional Careers include
Accountant, Banker, Editor, Office Manager,
Librarian, and Reporter.
• Possible Conventional College Majors
are Business, Accounting, and
Management.
Conventional
The “Organizers”
Are You:
Well organized
Accurate
Numerically inclined
Methodical
Conscientious
Efficient
Conforming
Structured
Ambitious
Persistent
Can You:
Work well
within a
system.
Keep
accurate
records.
Do
paperwork
well.
Like to:
Clear directions
Use data
Work with
numbers
Details?
Organize things
Play card or
computer games
Six Career Pathways
Santa Cruz County
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Realistic
Arts & Communications
Artistic
Business & Marketing Information Systems
Enterprising & Conventional
Engineering & Industrial Technology
Realistic
Home, Health & Recreation
Investigative & Social
Social, Human & Governmental Services
Social