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The Basics of the Holland Theory

Dr. John Holland’s basic idea is that a person is most likely to be successful and satisfied in a career if their personality is like the personalities of the people working in it. Similarly, a student is more likely to get better grades, stay in their major or program, and graduate on time if their personality is like the students and professors studying and teaching in their program.

In other words, whatever choice someone makes — a career to enter; a course or training program; a college major; a career change, vocation, or retirement focus — they are usually best off choosing one that matches their personality. Major research studies support this idea.

The Holland hexagon and career well-being

Holland’s hexagon shows the relationships between the types,

The distance on the hexagon between each type indicates how close they are psychologically. For example, notice that the type at the greatest distance from the Realistic type is Social. When you read the descriptions for these two types (Realistic and Social), you understand why: their personalities are opposites!

On the other hand, the personality types next to each other on the hexagon are the closest psychologically—like Social and Enterprising.

The hexagon also helps us understand the six RIASEC work environments and how to choose among them,

1. People of the same personality type tend to “flock together.”  For example, Artistic people like to make friends and work with Artistic people.
2. People of the same personality type working together create a work environment that fits their type.  For example, Artistic people working together create an environment that rewards artistic thinking and behavior—an Artistic environment.
3. The six environments types have the same names as the personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional.
4. People who work in an environment similar to their personality type are more likely to be successful and satisfied.  Artistic people, for example, are more likely to be successful and satisfied if they choose a job that has an Artistic environment, like a dance teacher in a dancing school—an environment “dominated” by Artistic type people where creative abilities and expression are highly valued.
5. Working with people of a similar personality to yours enables you to do many things they do, feel more comfortable, and to be more successful.
6. The hexagon serves as a guide to the work environments where we are most likely to “do what you like to do each day”. The Artistic person, for example, would want to avoid a work environment on the opposite side of the hexagon (Conventional).