Discover Your Interests

An interest assessment asks you questions about your hobbies and what you like to do. It matches your interests to job options to give you a list of careers that you might like. Take this short assessment:

1. Click the squares next to the activities that you like to do. If you don't like to do an activity, leave the square blank.

2. When you have looked at the whole list, click "Go" at the bottom of the page.

3. The next page will show how many responses you had in each of the six interest types. Most people have two or three types that are higher than the rest. The two or three types with your biggest numbers are the interest areas best fit you. Write down those two or three types. This is your interest code.

4. Look at the career clusters that match each of your interest code letters.

The interest code uses the following words to describe the six interest groups:

R = Realistic people are DOERS. Realistic people like to work with their hands, either with plants and animals or tools. They like to fix things.

I = Investigative people are THINKERS. Investigative people like to analyze data and solve problems. They usually prefer to work independently.

A = Artistic people are CREATORS. Artistic people often enjoy making things or performing in front of other people. They like flexibility in their lives.

S = Social people are HELPERS. Social people like to work with other people, often on teams. They enjoy counseling or caring for others.

E = Enterprising people are PERSUADERS. Enterprising people like to start projects and make decisions. They often enjoy selling things or managing other people.

C = Conventional people are ORGANIZERS. Conventional people like structured jobs. They enjoy working with numbers and instructions. They often organize data and write reports.

Taking an interest assessment can help you understand which careers might best fit you. An interest assessment will give you a broad list of career options that match your interests.

Holland Code Career Models

Are you interested in discovering a system that will help you identify your interests, abilities, and skills. There are career models that match interests to careers and college majors.

Dr. John L. Holland (1985) created Holland Code Career Model, Holland Hexagon Model or Holland Codes.

Hollandcodes.com has developed the Holland & Color Codes Wheel. This model is used with a variety of career assessments. Holland Codes assessments are career assessment tests. Different assessments provide career cluster information, college major information, lists of careers, and job finder resources. There are print and internet resources.

Realistic is one of the Holland Codes. 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.

Investigative is one of the Holland Codes. 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.

Artistic is one of the Holland Code Career Types. 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 .

Social is one of the Holland Occupational Codes. 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.

Enterprising is one of the Holland Occupational Codes. 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.

Conventional is one of the Holland Occupational Codes. 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.

For more Holland Code career and college major matches, ask for the Guide to Holland Codes handout. Also, get more information at http://www.careerkey.org/

choose-a-career/holland-codes-riasec.html#.Vab8BFw-BZp . There is great career and other information provided in links in the left-hand column.