Daily Career Connection

How important is your personality when it comes to choosing a career? It is fairly obvious that there is a link, but just how significant is it and can you use this information when choosing your own career or helping your children investigate suitable jobs?

You might be interested to know that there are theories of vocational choice out there – something I didn’t know until I started training as a career advisor. Given that so little time and thought is generally devoted to careers guidance in schools and colleges, it’s hardly surprising that these theories aren’t talked about more widely.

John Holland’s theory is based on the fact that like attracts like, or that people who are similar hang out together and like particular types of job. He categorized us into six types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional.

Jobs fit into these categories as well – you can guess quite easily where quite a few careers would fit. Of course, human beings are a little more complex and we don’t fit so neatly into boxes. It is highly likely that you have tendencies from more than one of the six groups. In fact, the Party, a game, based on this theory suggests that each of the six types is represented by a group at a party.

If you were a guest, which of the following groups would you want to talk to first? After a while they all leave ( I’m sure it was nothing you said!) Which group would you talk to next? The same happens again (perhaps it was something you said!), which group would you choose now? Your ideal career will then combine some of the characteristics from each of these three groups.

Realistic

This group is made up of people who are happiest with practical tasks, often involving tools or equipment. They aren’t so keen on working with people but enjoy work with plants or animals.

Investigative

This group consists of people with analytical minds; often intellectual, they enjoy problem solving and research.

Artistic

As well as art, music and drama, creative writing falls into this category. People who are artistic often choose unconventional careers and sometimes lack organizational skills.

Social

This group enjoys working with people, which covers a wide variety of jobs involving teaching, training, healing, helping. They like teamwork and discussion, but tend not to enjoy working with tools and machinery.

Enterprising

This group are good at influencing, selling, leading and of course, setting up their own businesses.

Conventional

Conventional types enjoy a more organized working structure and are dependable, good at routine administrative tasks and like to work with data in more traditional jobs.

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© Waller Jamison 2007