The HOLLAND

HEXAGON
A THEORY OF PERSONALITY TYPES
Holland’s Six Personality Types
In our culture most people are stronger in one personality
type than another.
All professions may require to some degree, all personality
types.
People who work in a profession and environment that fits
their “personality” tend to be successful and satisfied.
John Holland
a psychologist who was drafted by the army in WW2,
developed a classification system for jobs in the military
based upon his theory describing six work environments
and six vocational personalities.
Believed that career choice is an extension of a
person's personality. People express themselves, their
interests and values through their work choices and
experience.
Holland assigns both people and work environments into
specific types or themes.
 Most people can be categorized into the
following six types, and each person may
be characterize by one or some
combination of these types:
◦ (R) REALISTIC
◦ (I) INVESTIGATIVE
◦ (A) ARTISTIC
◦ (S) SOCIAL
◦ (E) ENTERPRISING
◦ (C) CONVENTIONAL
Occupational environments can
be divided into the same six
types, and each environment is
dominated by a particular type
of person.
People search for environments
that let them:
◦ exercise their skills and abilities,
◦ express their attitudes and values
◦ take on problems and roles they find
stimulating and satisfying
◦ avoid chores or responsibilities they find
distasteful or formidable.
Career choice and career
adjustment represent an
extension of a person’s
personality.
Realistic Personality Type
Described as:
◦ Masculine
◦ Unsociable
◦ Emotionally stable
1. Avoid artistic and social tasks in addition to
those that require intellectual expression
2. Realistic types prefer to deal with Things.
3. A person with a Realistic Personality tends
to be frank, practical, focused, mechanical,
determined, or rugged.
Realistic Personality Type
Examples of Realistic Abilities include manipulating
tools, doing mechanical or manual tasks, or doing
athletic activities.

Examples of Realistic Careers include Craftsman,

Fitness Trainer, Optician, Policemen, Fire Fighter,
and Physical Education Teacher.

Possible Realistic College Majors are Justice

Studies, Fire Science, Athletic Training, Martial
Arts, Corporate Fitness, and Physical Education.
 REALISTIC
The Doers
Are You: Can You: Like to:
Practical Fix things Tinker with objects
Athletic Solve problems Work outdoors
Straightforward Play a sport Be physically active
Mechanically inclined Read a blueprint Build things
A nature lover Operate tools or Train animals
Stable machinery Work on equipment
Self-controlled
Independent
ambitious
Systematic
persistent
Investigative Personality Type
Described as:
◦ Masculine
◦ Unsociable
◦ Scholarly
◦ Introverted
◦ Poor leaders
1. Avoid social situations, but do very well academically and in
scientific areas.
2. Investigative types prefer to deal with Things and Ideas.
3. A person with a Investigative Personality tends to be
analytical, intellectual, reserved, independent, and
scholarly.
Investigative Personality Type
Examples of Investigative Abilities include working
with abstract ideas and intellectual problems.

Examples of Investigative Careers include Biologist,

Chemist, Historian, Researcher, Doctor, and
Mathematician.

Possible Investigative College Majors are Botany,

Engineering, Forestry Science, Physics, and Foreign
Languages.
INVESTIGATIVE
The Thinkers
Can You:
Are You: Think Abstractly Like to:
Inquisitive Solve Math Explore
Analytical problems Use computers
Scientific Understand Work
Observant theories independently.
Precise Do complex Do lab
Cautious calculations. experiments.
Reserved Do research
Broad-minded Be challenged.
Independent
Logical
 Artistic Personality Type
Described as:
◦ Unsociable
◦ Feminine
◦ Introspective
◦ Impulsive

1. Typically seek subjective impressions when solving problems

2. Dislike masculine activities
3. Artistic types prefer to deal with Ideas and People.
4. A person with a Artistic Personality tends to be Complicated,
Original, Impulsive, Independent, Expressive, and Creative.
 Artistic Personality Type
Examples of Artistic Abilities include using
imagination and feelings in creative expression .

Examples of Artistic Careers include Artist, Musician,

Actor/ Actress, Designer, Writer, and Photographer.

Possible Artistic College Majors are Art, Theater,

Graphic Design, Music, Journalism, and Communication.
 ARTISTIC
The Creators
Are You: Like to:
Intuitive Can You: Attend concerts
Imaginative Sketch Read
Unconventional Draw Take photos
Emotional Paint Express yourself
Independent Play an Creatively.
Idealistic instrument
Creative Write stories,
Sensitive poetry, music.
Nonconforming Sing,act,dance
Expressive design
Social Personality Type
Described as:
◦ Sociable
◦ Cheerful
◦ Responsible
◦ Achieving
1. Have extremely positive social skills and thrive on social
interaction
2. Do well in relating to those around them
3. Social types prefer to deal with People.
4. A person with a Social Personality tends to be Helping,
Informing, Teaching, Inspiring, Counseling, and Serving.
 Social Personality Type
Examples of Social Abilities include Interacting with
people and concerned with the welfare of people.

Examples of Social Careers include Teacher, Clergy,

Coach, Therapist, Nurse, Counselor, and Sociologist.

Possible Social College Majors are Nursing, Christian

Education, Counseling, Biblical Studies, Social Science,
and Education.
 SOCIAL
The Helpers
Are You: Can You: Like To:
Friendly Teach others Work in groups
Helpful Express your Help people.
Idealistic ideas clearly. Volunteer.
Insightful Lead Play team sports.
Outgoing Plan and
Generous supervise.
Cooperative Cooperate
Forgiving with others.
Persuasive
Enterprising Personality Type
Described as:
◦ Persuasive
◦ Extroverted
◦ Aggressive
◦ Self-confident
Are typically described as enthusiastic and impulsive, but also
dominant
Have a need for recognition and power
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.
Enterprising Personality Type
Examples of Enterprising Abilities include leading,
managing, and organizing.

Examples of Enterprising Careers include Manager,

Producer, Lawyer, Business/ Marketing, Executive,
Entrepreneur, and Principal.

Possible Enterprising College Majors are Pre-Law,

Business Management and Administration,
International Business, and Political Science.
 ENTERPRISING
The Persuaders
Are You: Can You:
Self confident
Like to:
Initiate Projects Make decisions
Assertive
Sociable Convince Be elected to
Persuasive Sell office
Enthusiastic Give presentations Discuss politics
Energetic Lead a group
Adventurous
Participate in
Organize activities activities
Impulsive
Ambitious Lead others
Inquisitive
Optimistic
Conventional Personality Type
Described as:
◦ Neat
◦ Sociable
◦ Stable
◦ Rigid
1. Typically place a high value on tasks involving economics and
money
2. Are sociable people, but very conservative
3. Conventional types prefer to deal with Data and Things.
4. A person with a Conventional Personality tends to be
Careful, Conforming, Conservative, Conscientious, Self-
controlled, and Structured.
 Conventional Personality Type
Examples of Conventional Abilities include ordering
activities paying attention to details.

Examples of Conventional Careers include Accountant,

Banker, Editor, Office Manager, Librarian, and Reporter.

Possible Conventional College Majors are Business,

Accounting, and Management.
 CONVENTIONAL
The Organizers
Are You: Like to:
Well organized Can You:
Clear directions
Accurate Work well
Use data
Numerically inclined within a
system. Work with
Methodical numbers
Conscientious Keep
Details?
Efficient accurate
Organize things
Conforming records.
Play card or
Structured Do
paperwork computer games
Ambitious
Persistent well.
SUMMARIZING THE THEORY:
1. In our culture, most persons are one of
six personality types: realistic,
investigative, artistic, social,
enterprising, and conventional.

2. People of the same personality tend to

flock together. For example, artistic
people easily make friends with and
work well with other artistic people.
SUMMARIZING THE THEORY:
3. When people of the same personality type
work together, they create an environment
that fits their type. For example, when
artistic persons are together on a job, they
create a work environment that rewards
creative thinking and behavior — an artistic
environment.
4. There are six basic types of work
environments: realistic, investigative,
artistic, social, enterprising, and
conventional.
SUMMARIZING THE THEORY:
5. People who choose to work in an
environment similar to their personality type
are more likely to be successful and satisfied
with their jobs: For example, artistic persons
are more likely to be successful and satisfied
if they choose a job that has an artistic
environment, such as choosing to be a dance
teacher in a dancing school, an environment
dominated by artistic people where creative
abilities and expression are highly valued.
SUMMARIZING THE THEORY:
6. The way you act and feel at work
depends, to a large extent, on your
workplace environment. If you are
working with people who have a
personality type like yours, you will enjoy
many of the things they enjoy, you will
feel comfortable with them, and your
skills will be in the same areas. This
combination creates a productive and
satisfying environment.
THANK YOU!