What is the RIASEC model, and what can you do with it?

Six letters that say something about the kind of work that gives you energy. Where the model comes from, what the six types mean, and what your Holland code does and does not predict.

1Where it comes from

In the 1950s the American psychologist John Holland put forward a simple idea: not only people but also work environments can be described in six types. Someone working in an environment that matches their own type tends to stay longer and enjoy the work more. That idea grew into one of the most widely used models in career guidance, and still sits behind many career tests today.

2The six types

3Your Holland code

Almost nobody is a single type. So the model looks at your three highest scores, in order: that is your Holland code, for example SAI or RIC. The order matters — someone with SA looks for different work than someone with AS. Occupations carry the same codes, which is what lets you lay a person and a job side by side.

4What it does and does not say

It does: give you a direction, and words to discuss it with. Your code shows the kind of work you are likely to feel at home in, and it is a good starting point for a conversation with a careers adviser.

It does not: tell you what you are good at. The model measures interest, not ability, and it is not a diagnosis. A result is not a reason to resign tomorrow — it is material to think with.

Source: Holland JL. Making Vocational Choices: A Theory of Vocational Personalities and Work Environments. 3rd ed., Psychological Assessment Resources, 1997.

Ikzelf gives a picture of your interests. It is not a psychological assessment and not personalised career advice.