Career Planning

A Life-Long Process
Step 1
Who am I? What are my
interests, skills, values and
personality style?

Step 4 Step 2
What is my plan to What do I want?
get to my goal? What are my
options?

Step 3
How do I get there?
What am I willing to
do?
Career Planning Ask yourself these
questions!

What do I What skills do

like? I like to use?

How do I get
experience?

What is
important to What kind of
me in my work? person am I?
 What do I like? My
Interests!
What are my hobbies?
What do I like to do when I
have free time?
What kind of things do I like
to read?
What am I interested in?

Realistic (Adventuring/Producing)
Interested in athletics, good with
their hands, prefer to work with
objects, machines, plants or
animals rather than people. Prefer
to do the job without a lot of talk
or argument, do it right the first
time, get to the point.
Conventional (Organizing) - Like
to work with data, numbers,
more than people. Like detail,
tangible products, and have
little tolerance for ambiguity.
Like following others;
instructions rather than being in
charge. Prefer to follow a
defined structured plan of
C
action. Attentive to detail. Enjoy
putting all the pieces of a plan
together.
Enterprising (Influencing) - Like to work
with people in a leadership capacity
managing, performing, persuading,
influencing, often for organizational or
political goals or economic gain. Prefer to
investigate a direct plan of action to be
carried out by others. Focus on achieving
the goal, not concerned with minor
details. Like to keep big picture in mind.
Investigative (Analytic) - Like to
observe, learn, evaluate, or solve
problems. This type is associated with
scientific/academic pursuits. Prefer to
analyze a problem, evaluate options and
data, set a plan of action, and analyze
the results.
R I
Artistic (Creative) -
Interested in artistic
expression. Like to work in
unstructured situations
THE PARTY A using imagination and
creativity. Prefer creative
approach to problem-
solving and planning which
relies heavily on intuition
and imagination.
E S Social (Helping) - Like to work with
people in some helping capacity
informing, teaching, developing, curing
people. Prefer to gather data from all
involved parties before generating an
action plan. Will try to find solutions
equitable for all concerned. Adept at
networking with people.
 Hollands 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.
 Theory of John Holland
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.
Holland 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 persons
personality.
 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.
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.
 The Doers
Realistic
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 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.
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 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 .
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.
 The Creators
Artistic
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 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.
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 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.
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: Like to:
Self confident Initiate Projects Make decisions
Assertive Convince Be elected to
Sociable Sell office
Persuasive Give presentations Discuss politics
Enthusiastic Lead a group Participate in
Energetic Organize activities activities
Adventurous Lead others
Impulsive
Ambitious
Inquisitive
Optimistic
 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.
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.
 Six Career Pathways
Santa Cruz County
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Realistic

Arts & Communications

Artistic

Business & Marketing Information Systems

Enterprising & Conventional

Engineering & Industrial Technology

Realistic

Home, Health & Recreation

Investigative & Social

Social, Human & Governmental Services

Social