GUIDE TO

HOLLAND CODE
FIRST STEPS
 Take a self-assessment such as the SDS, Discover, or a card sort at the MU Career Center
with a Career Specialist.
 Ask yourself what you want out of your occupation: what type of environment would you enjoy?

Realistic

Conventional Investigative

Enterprising Artistic

Social

WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER INTERESTS?

The Holland Code is based on Dr. John Holland’s theory that people and work environments can be
loosely classified into six different groups. Each of the letters corresponds to one of the six groups
described in the following pages.

Different people’s personalities may find different environments more to their liking. While you may
have some interests in and similarities to several of the six groups, you may be attracted primarily to
two or three of the areas. These two or three letters are your “Holland Code.”

Most people, and most jobs, are best represented by some combination of two or three of the Holland
interest areas. In addition, most people are most satisfied if there is some degree of fit between their
personality and their work environment.

For more information, explore the O*NET website,

www.onetonline.org, for more information about occupations
MU CAREER CENTER
related to your Holland Code. Click on the “Advanced Search” tab, Lower Level,
and then click on “Interests” from the drop-down menu to explore Student Success Center
the occupations associated with each Holland type. University of Missouri
PHONE: (573) 882-6801
This hexagonal model of RIASEC occupations is the copyrighted Visit us online at:
work of Dr. John Holland, and is used with his permission. The career.missouri.edu
Holland Game is adapted from Richard Bolles’ “Quick Job Hunting [email protected]
Map.” Copyright 1995, 1998 by the MU Career Center, University
of Missouri
REALISTIC (DOERS)
People who have athletic ability, prefer to work with objects, machines, tools, plants or animals,
or like to be outdoors.

Career Possibilities
Aviation Inspector (RCI)
Athletic Trainer (SRE)
Are you? Can you? Commercial Airline Pilot (RIE)
systematic play a sport Construction Carpenter (RCI)
self-controlled fix electrical things Dental Technician (REI)
straightforward operate tools and Electrician (RIC)
independent machinery Fish and Game Warden (RES)
practical plant a garden Floral Designer (RAE)
pitch a tent
Forester (RIS)
Industrial Supervisor (REI)
Laboratory Technician (RIE)
Mechanical Engineer (RIS)
Like to?
Security Guard (RCE)
work outdoors
be physically active Software Technician (RCI)
work on electronic Surgical Technologist (RSC)
equipment Surveyor (RCI)
train animals Ultrasound Technologist (RSI)
build things

INVESTIGATIVE (THINKERS)
People who like to observe, learn, investigate, analyze, evaluate, or solve problems.

Career Possibilities
Actuary (ISE)
Anthropologist (IRE)
Archaeologist (IRE) Are you?
Biologist (ISR) logical
Chemical Engineer (IRE) curious
Chemist (IRE) inquisitive
observant
Dentist (ISR) scholarly
Economist (IAS)
Horticulturist (IRS)
Industrial Engineer (ICE)
Internist (ISR) Can you?
think abstractly Like to?
Mathematician (IER) analyze data
understand
Meteorologist (IRS) theories work independently
Pharmacist (IES) interpret formulas explain scientific
Psychologist (IES) use a computer or theories
Statistician (IRE) microscope perform
Surgeon (IRA) solve complex experiments
Veterinarian (IRS) problems explore ideas

Holland Code 2
ARTISTIC (CREATORS)
People who have artistic, innovating, or intuitional abilities and like to work in unstructured
situations using their imagination and creativity.

Career Possibilities
Actor (AES)
Can you?
Advertising Art Director (AES)
sing, act, or dance
sketch, draw, or Architect (AIR)
paint Artist (ASI)
design fashions or Copy Writer (ASI)
interiors Dance Instructor (AER)
Are you?
write stories, Drama Coach (ASE)
poetry, or music English Teacher (ASE)
creative
imaginative Graphic Designer (AES)
unconventional Interior Designer (AES)
expressive Intelligence Research Specialist (AEI)
impulsive Journalist (ASE)
Like to? Medical Illustrator (AIE)
work on crafts Museum Curator (AES)
take photographs Music Director (AES)
attend concerts, art
Photographer (AES)
exhibits, or theatre
productions Writer (ASI)
read fiction, plays,
or poetry

SOCIAL (HELPERS)
People who like to work with people to enlighten, inform, help, train, or cure them or are skilled
with words.

Career Possibilities
City Manager (SEC)
College or University Faculty (SEI) Are you?
Clinical Dietician (SIE) patient
Historian (SEI) insightful
Hospital Administrator (SER) responsible
Librarian (SAI) cooperative
outgoing Like to?
Medical Assistant (SCR) work in groups
Minister/Priest/Rabbi (SAI) volunteer in
Paralegal (SCE) schools
Physical Therapist (SIE) solve personal
Parole Officer (SEC) problems
Real Estate Appraiser (SCE) provide service to
Recreation Director (SER) Can you? communities
Registered Nurse (SIC) teach or train interact with people
Social Worker (SEA) mediate disputes
Speech Pathologist (SAI) lead a discussion
communicate well
Volunteer Services Director (SEC)
with others
plan and supervise
activities

Holland Code 3
ENTERPRISING (PERSUADERS)
People who like to work with people, influencing, persuading, leading, or managing for
organizational goals or economic gain.

Career Possibilities
Advertising Executive (ESA)
Are you? Attorney (ESA)
assertive Business Manager (ESC)
energetic Buyer (ESA)
persuasive Chamber of Commerce Executive (ESA)
ambitious Customer Service Manager (ESA)
optimistic Education Administrator (ESC)
Emergency Medical Technician (ESI)
Entrepreneur (ESA)
Financial Planner (ESR)
Foreign Service Officer (ESA)
Can you? Like to?
initiate projects
Lobbyist (ESA)
run a political
give speeches campaign
Politician (ESA)
create persuasive make decisions Public Relations Representative (EAS)
presentations meet others in Sales Representative (ERS)
lead a large group positions of power Stockbroker (ESI)
develop take on leadership Tax Accountant (ECS)
organizational roles
goals

CONVENTIONAL (ORGANIZERS)
People who like to work with data, have clerical or numerical ability, carry out tasks in detail, or
follow through on others’ instructions.

Career Possibilities
Accountant (CSE)
Actuary CIE) Can you?
Budget Analyst (CER) use a database
Business Programmer (CRI) Are you? abide by deadlines
Catalog Librarian (CSE) efficient work with a system
conscientious file large quantities
Computer Operator (CSR)
well-organized of paper work
Congressional District Aide (CES) methodical keep accurate
Court Reporter (CSE) persistent records
Customs Inspector (CEI)
Dental Assistant (CRS)
Editorial Assistant (CSI)
Gaming Dealer (CER)
Insurance Underwriter (CSE) Like to?
Law Clerk (CIE) follow procedures
Medical Records Technician (CSE) work with numbers
type
Museum Registrar (CSE)
use data
Tax Consultant (CES) processing
equipment
collect & organize
information

Holland Code 4
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI MAJORS HOLLAND CODES
College of Agriculture, Food, & College of Business Audiology (ISR)
Natural Resources Business Administration (ESC) Human Devel. & Family Studies
Agricultural Econ (EAS) Business Administration: Finance & (SEA)
Agricultural Education (RIE) Banking (ESR) Personal Financial Planning (SEA)
Agricultural Journalism (ESR) Business Administration: Intl. Radiologic Sci.: Radiography (IRS)
Animal Sciences (IRS) Business (ESR) Textile & Apparel Management (ESA)
Biochemistry (IRE) Business Administration: Mgmt
Entomology (IRS) (ESR) College of Veterinary Medicine
Food Science & Nutrition (SEI) Business Administration: Real Estate Veterinary Biomedical Science (IRS)
General Agriculture (RIS) (ESR) Veterinary Pathobiology (IRS)
Horticulture (IRS) Public Administration (ESR)
Hotel & Restaurant Mgmt. (ESR) School of Accountancy
Plant Pathology (IRS) College of Education Accountancy (CRS)
Plant Sciences (IRS) Early Childhood Education (SEC)
Rural Sociology (IES) Educational Studies (SEC) School of Fine Arts
Curriculum & Instruction, Art (AEI)
College of Arts & Science Interdepartmental, Practical Arts & Music (ASI)
Anthropology (IRE) Voc-Tech Educ, Special Educ. Theatre (ASE)
Art History & Archaeology (EAS/IRE) Elementary Education (SEC)
Biological Sci. (IRE) Elementary Education: School Art School of Health Professions
Chemistry (IRE) (ASE); School Music (AES) Clinical Laboratory Sciences:
Classics: Classical Humanities (AIS) Practical Arts & Vocational-Technical Cytotechnology (ICR)
Classics: Greek (ASE) Education (RIE) Comm. Science & Disorders (SAI)
Classics: Latin (ASE) Secondary Education (SAE/ASE) Nuclear Medicine (RIS)
Communication (EAS) Art Educ, Behavioral Science, Occupational Therapy (SRE)
Computer Science (IEC) Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physical Therapy (SIE)
Economics (IAS) French, Gen. Science, German, Radiography (RIS)
English (AES) Italian, Language Arts, Latin, Respiratory Therapy (SIR)
French (ASE) Mathematics Educ, Music Educ,
Geography (IRE) Physics, Social Studies, Spanish, School of Journalism
Geological Sci. (IRE) Speech, Technical Educ (Agri Journalism (EAS)
German (ASE) Busn, Home Ec, Ind/Tech & Mktg Journalism: Advertising (ESA)
History (SEI) Educ). Journalism: Broadcast News (AES)
Intl. Studies: East Asian Studies (SEI) Special Education (SEC) Journalism: Magazine (AES)
Intl .Studies: Environmental Studies Behavior Disorders, Learning Journalism: News Editorial (ESA)
(IRE) Disabilities, Mild/Moderate Mental Journalism: Photojournalism (AES)
Intl. Studies: European Studies (SEI) Retardation, Severe Developmental
Intl. Studies: Intl Agri/Comm Dev Disabilities, Curriculum Dev For School of Natural Resources
(SEI/IRS) Exceptional Students, Mental Fisheries & Wildlife (RIE)
Intl. Studies: International Business Retardation,Early Childhood Forestry (RIS)
(ESR) Special Educ.,Admin & Supv Of Soil, Atmospheric Sci. (IRS)
Intl. Studies: Latin Amer. Studies Special Educ. Parks, Rec & Tourism (ESA)
(SEI)
Intl. Studies: Russian Studies (SEI) College of Engineering School of Nursing
Intl. Studies: South Asian Studies Agricultural Engineering (IRE) Nursing (SIA)
(SEI) Chemical Engineering (IRS) (Biochem
Mathematics (IRE) & Chem Environmental Options) School of Social Work
Microbiology (IRS) Civil Engineering (IRE) Social Work (SEC)
Peace Studies (SEI) (Environmental Option)
Philosophy (SAI) Comp. Engineering (IRE) Honors College
Political Science (SEI) Elec. Engineering (IRE) Pre-Med (IRS)
Psychology (SIE/ASE) Industrial Engineering (EIR)
Physics (IRE) Mechanical Engineering (RIS/IRE) School of Law
Religious Studies (SAI) Law (ESA)
Romance Languages (ASE) College of Human Environmental
Russian (ASE) Sciences School of Medicine
Sociology (IES) Architectural Studies (IRE) Health Services Mgmt. (ESC)
Spanish (ASE) Communication Science & Disorders:
Statistics (IRE) Speech -Language Pathology (SAI)

NEXT STEPS
 Come to the MU Career Center to talk with someone about how your Holland code can be
used during your career planning.
 Visit our Handouts link on http://career.missouri.edu/resources to download other handouts in
our Career and Major Exploration series.

Holland Code 5