1. Career & Advising Services | Economics Department

2. Knowledge
Values
Interests
Skills

3. What are you interested in?
Academic subjects, hobbies, etc.
What do you value?
Family, friendships, working in teams, contributing to a cause, environmental sustainability, etc.
What are you skilled at doing?
Writing, coming up with good ideas, being detailed and precise, planning events, making a budget, running a meeting, encouraging others, etc.

4. Dr. John Holland (1919‐ ) developed a theory that people’s interests, values, and strengths can be arranged into six basic categories (personality traits).

5. Each of us has a leaning towards one trait, with two supporting traits.
Your combination of these three core areas is your Holland Code.
Knowing your Holland Code can help you find a career aligns with your interests, values, and skills.

6. REALISTIC
I INVESTIGATIVE R
Conventional C A
Artistic
E S

7. Careers:
Athlete/Trainer Mechanic Police Officer Carpenter Software Tech
Prefer practical, hands‐on tasks & assignments
Motivated by an ability to achieve results
Like building, repairing, problem‐solving
May prefer working outside conventional workspaces

8. Careers:
Computer Programmer Economist Psychologist Biologist/Chemist Dentist
Driven by curiosity
Like trouble‐shooting and exploring things
Drawn towards abstract problems
Enjoy intellectual challenges
Take a scientific approach to life

9. Careers: Like being creative
Motivated by self‐ expression, creativity, and imagination
Prefer unstructured work environments
Careers:
Graphic Designer Actor/Actress Musician Photographer Architect
Writer Playwright

10. Careers: Get their energy from helping people
Counselor Social Worker Teacher Clergy
Coach Physical Therapist
Get their energy from helping people
Enjoy informing, training, empowering others

11. Careers:
Sales/PR Rep Lawyer Journalist Financial Planner Stock Broker Manager Entrepreneur
Are drawn toward projects and positions which allow them to influence change
Like to steer the direction of outcomes through assertive, energetic communication

12. Careers: Solve problems by applying rules, laws, and formulas.
Are typically well‐ organized, with attention to detail
Take an analytical approach to life
Careers:
Accountant Financial Analyst
Office Manage Paralegal Court Reporte Data Analyst r

14. Locate each RIASEC letter in the room. Gather around the one that best
You are going to a party to hang out with people who have similar interests to you.
Locate each RIASEC letter in the room.
Gather around the one that best
describes your personality & strengths.
Discuss: Why did you choose this as your number one trait?
(e.g. “I chose ARTISTIC because I like composing music.”)

15. Round 2: Everyone leaves for another party.
Of the groups remaining, pick the next one you would most enjoy being with, based on similar interests, values, and strengths.
Discussion: What kinds of classes could you take related to the both of the areas you’ve chosen so far?

16. Round 3:
Of the groups remaining, which one would you most enjoy being with?
Go to that party.
Discussion: What kinds of jobs could imagine would utilize all three of your dominant traits?

17. On the handout provided, write down your three‐
letter code:
R I S E C R
A E I
etc.

18. School Subjects related to each category
You will do the following core subjects in Grade 10:
Home Language
First Additional Language
Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
Life Orientation

19. Economic and Management Sciences Technology
Other subjects which you can choose from in Grade and how they are related to career categories
Realistic
Mathematics
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences
Economic and Management Sciences
Technology

20. Social Social Sciences Creative Arts Natural Sciences Technology and
EMS

21. Investigative
Mathematics
Social Sciences
EMS
Natural Sciences

22. Enterprising Creative Arts Technology EMS Natural Sciences
Social Sciences

23. Artistic
Creative Arts
EMS
Technology

24. Conventional
EMS
Natural Sciences
Technology
Mathematics

25. Thinking and learning skills required by each career category
Each career category also needs certain thinking and learning skills.
Note that the following thinking and learning skills relate to the interests and abilities of each career category.

26. Learning and thinking skills are often called the 4 Cs:
Critical thinking (the careful study of
something to better understand it.)
Creative thinking (looking at things in a
different way from others)
Communicating: (the sharing of ideas)
and
Collaborating: (working together with
others to achieve something).

27. Thinking and learning skills
Critical Thinking
Analyzing: breaking something down into parts, studying each part to see how it fits together.
Arguing: looking at facts and trying to each a conclusion.
Classifying: putting similar ideas and items together to see why they are different from others.
Comparing and contrasting: seeing what is the same and different about two or more things.
Defining: explaining the meaning of something.
Describing: saying what something looks like or feels like by its size, shape , weight, colour, etc.
Evaluating: deciding on the worth of somethingby comparing it with another example.
Explaining: telling what something os or how it works so that others understand it

28. Problem solving: studying the causes and effects of a problem and finding an answer.
Tracking cause and effect: finding out why something is happening and what effect it has.
2. Creative Thinking
Brainstorming: listing possible answers whether right or
wrong, as they come to mind.
Creating: making something using new ideas.
Designing: planning to make something with the material
available.
Entertaining: telling stories, making jokes, singing songs,
making conversation.
Imagining: thinking about new ideas and things.
Improvising: using something in a clever way to solve a problem.

29. 3. Communicating Innovating: creating an idea or something that hasn’t
been done before.
Overturning: looking at something in a brand new way.
Problem solving: using the creative ideas to solve a
problem.
Questioning: finding a new way to do something.
3. Communicating
Analysing the situation: means thinking about the
situation carefully.
Choosing a medium: deciding the best way to convey a
message, for example writing a report or talking to other
people.
Evaluating messages: deciding whether ideas are
correct, complete or up-to-date.
Following conventions: doing things as they are usually done.

30. Listen actively: paying attention, taking notes, asking
questions.
Reading: absorbing, analysing and evaluating
information.
Speaking: giving a message through speaking, body
language, gestures, facial expressions to explain ideas.
Turn taking: speaking but giving others a turn to share
their ideas.
Using technology: using machines to help.
4. Collaborating
Allocating resources: making sure each person in the team has what they need to do their best.
Brainstorming: discussed above

31. Decision making: making up your mind to do something.
Delegating: sharing the tasks evenly in a team.
Evaluating: looking at the options to see what is working
and what is not.
Goal setting: deciding what you want to achieve.
Leading: guiding a group.
Managing time: finding answers to problems.
Team building: encouraging all team members to work
together.

32. List 3 majors or classes that relate to your Holland Code
Think of extra‐curricular activities that would allow you to develop and strengthen the Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, or Conventional side of yourself.
Think of 3 interesting jobs or career paths
related to your Holland Code

33. NB.: Pages 33-38 are for enrichment only.
Find out about careers that align with your Holland Code by visiting O*Net:
Select the first of your Holland code traits (i.e. if you are an “S.I.R.” click “Social”)
Once you’ve reviewed the career options for the 1st letter of your Holland Code, select your 2nd trait, then your 3rd.
This is not an exhaustive list! It is meant to give you general ideas of how your personality, interests, and strengths could be applied in the world of work.