Psychologist Dr. John Holland theorized that people who study and work in environments that are congruent with their personality type are more likely to find success and life satisfaction.
Each of the letters above corresponds to one of the six types described in the table below. You may have some interest in or similarity to several or all of the groups, but you are probably most attracted to 2-3 areas. These letters represent your Holland Code, and will, hopefully, be a validating snapshot of what you are good at, enjoy, and value at this point in your life.
LIKE TO: work outdoors; use your hands; build things; work with animals, tools, or machines; be physically active
POTENIALLY SKILLED IN: fixing things; solving practical problems; working with tools and machines; working with mechanical or electrical drawings; working with plants and animals
VALUE: practical things you can see, touch, and use
SEE SELF AS: ambitious, concrete, mechanical, independent, systematic, straightforward
LIKE TO: explore ideas, study abstractions, study and solve math or science problems, perform experiments
POTENIALLY SKILLED IN: abstract thinking, understanding scientific theories, interpreting formulas or information
VALUE: exploration of ideas, research, challenge, independence
SEE SELF AS: inquisitive, scholarly, analytical, curious, precise, and intellectual
LIKE TO: appreciate or do creative activities, deal with ambiguous ideas, innovate
POTENTIALLY SKILLED IN: creative thinking; writing, drama, crafts, music, or art; intuitive abilities (you don’t need to be a fine artist)
VALUE: imagination, creativity, innovation, intuition, unstructured situations
SEE SELF AS: expressive, original, independent, nonconforming
LIKE TO: do things to help people – enlighten, inform, help, train, provide care, use words skillfully
POTENIALLY SKILLED IN: teaching or training others, leading group discussions, mediating, planning/supervising activities, expressing yourself clearly
VALUE: serving others and solving social problems
SEE SELF AS: friendly, trustworthy, kind, generous, cooperative, insightful
LIKE TO: make decisions, start your own business, campaign, meet important people, lead or manage for organizational goals or economic gain
POTENTIALLY SKILLED IN: initiating projects, leading groups, convincing people to do things your way, selling things or ideas, giving talks or speeches
VALUE: success in leadership, politics, or business
SEE SELF AS: energetic, ambitious, sociable, assertive
LIKE TO: work with numbers or information, keep accurate records, follow-through on instructions
POTENTIALLY SKILLED IN: working with data, organizing things or information, managing written records and numbers systematically
VALUE: clearly defined procedures, attention to detail, responsibility
SEE SELF AS: accurate, methodical, efficient, structured, systematic, conscientious
How the types are arranged on the hexagon:
- The types that are next to each other on the hexagon (pictured above) are the most related. For example, Social and Enterprising types both like working with other people, but in different ways. People who identify as Social are more likely to help, teach or provide care. People who identify as Enterprising are more likely to want to persuade or lead, in a business or political realm.
- The types that are directly across from each other are least alike, but that doesn’t mean that it’s bad for them to be both be part of your top 3. For example, Conventional and Artistic are opposite on the hexagon. People who are Conventional tend to appreciate organization and order, whereas Artistic types tend to appreciate imagination and less structured situations. So, it may be less common to find a job that incorporates both, but it is possible. For example, the Holland Code for web designer is Artistic, Enterprising, Realistic.
Your Holland Code:
Which personality type do you identify with most: ________________________________
Which personality type do you identify with second: ________________________________
Which personality type do you identify with third: ________________________________
How the types relate to you as a student:
- You don’t need to satisfy all parts of yourself with your major, or your internship, or a student group you join. You might get different things from different experiences.
- WashU is the perfect setting for exploring across the curriculum and across the hexagon. This is a place that allows you to study across majors and schools.
- It’s important to note that there are no types that are better than others. Also, your top types are not static. It is possible for your top Holland types to change over time. The beauty of discovery is that as you gain exposure to new experiences, you will change. If you were to look at this again in 4-5 years, your top 2-3 types might change to reflect the new skills and interests you develop during your college/life experience.
Self-reflection questions:
- How can your interests inform your experiences at WashU?
- What kind of classes could you take related to the groups you chose?
- What student groups or fun activities might utilize your dominant traits?
- Why is it okay that you’re not interested in … (the ones you didn’t choose)?
Find this interesting?
You can find more info at My Next Move. You can also come to the Center for Career Engagement to take the Strong Interest Inventory, an assessment based on Holland theory.