John Holland’s theory of workplace personality suggests that people can be categorized according to 6 personality types—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—known collectively as RIASEC. The Self-Directed Search (SDS) measures the degree to which you resemble each of the personality types, producing a 3-letter Summary Code that expresses the complexity of your personality. The first letter of the summary code represents your dominant personality type and preferred work environment.
According to Holland’s theory, the same personality types—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional—also apply to work environments, and each environment presents its own specific qualities and challenges. Because both personalities and occupations can be classified using the same system, you can use your 3-letter Summary Code (Holland Code) to locate occupations that correspond best with your personality and are most likely to satisfy you.
If you already know your Holland Code, you can enter it in the search field to your right and it will list your best-matched occupations.
If you are an 1199 SEIU member and would like to learn more about career planning services, including participation in the Self-Directed Search (Holland Code) please click here.
If you are a non-union member and would like to complete the Self-Directed Search (Holland Code), please click here.
Reproduced by special permission of the Publisher, Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc. (PAR), 16204 North Florida Avenue, Lutz, FL 33549, from Making Vocational Choices, Third Edition, Copyright 1973, 1985, 1992, 1997 by PAR. All rights reserved.