Strong Interest Inventory

Features and Benefits:

• Decide which career path to take
• Help you reach more fulfillment in your job
• Make a career move
• Decide which educational programs and training are necessary
• Work towards a wonderful retirement

The SII contains 317 items that determine your level of interest in occupational institutions, professional activities, hobbies, leisure activities and diverse types of people. It comes with a detailed printout of results.

One way of exploring majors and careers is by looking at occupations according to occupational interest. John Holland conducted research that divided jobs and job seekers into six broad categories: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. Your Holland Code is a generalization, not an exact fit. However, it might help you discover where you can find occupational satisfaction.

Characteristics of the Six Themes

The Six Holland Codes

Realistic

This category contains occupations where individuals have an interest in working with objects such as tools and machines. Mechanical creativity and physical dexterity are important skills for this theme and some of the work activities of these occupations involve operating equipment, using tools, building, and repairing. Individuals who score high on this theme prefer dealing with things rather than with ideas or people. Some of the careers in this category include auto mechanic, construction worker, plumber, carpenter, and jobs in agriculture.

Investigative

This group of occupations centers around an interest in science, theories, ideas, and data. Analytical skills are important for this group and some of the common work activities are performing lab work, solving abstract problems and researching. A high score in this theme is indicative of someone who is creative, prefers to think through problems, and enjoys challenges. Some of the careers in this category include biologist, audiologist, chemist, physicist, meteorologist, psychologist, and physician.

Artistic

This theme includes occupations involving self-expression and art appreciation. Some of the skills needed in these occupations are creativity, talent, and artistic expression. Composing music, writing, and creating visual art are a few of the work activities involved in careers in this category. High scorers have artistically oriented interests and a greater need for individual expression, and generally describe themselves as original, expressive and unconventional. Some of the careers in this category include artist, cartoonist, composer, editor, writer, advertising executive, and photographer.

Social

This category contains occupations that involve working with people such as human welfare and community service. People skills such as listening and showing understanding are very important for this category. Teaching, helping, and explaining are all potential work activities for this category. Someone who scores high in this category tends to be sociable, humanistic and get along well with others. Some of the careers in this category include nurse, physical therapist, social worker, teachers, speech therapist, and athletic trainer.

Enterprising

Occupations with an interest in business and leadership roles can be found in this theme. Communicating with others and an ability to motivate and direct others are important skills for these occupations; selling, managing and persuading are all possible work activities. Those who score high in this theme are often described as ambitious and enthusiastic. They tend to prefer social environments in which they can assume leadership and enjoy persuading others to their viewpoints. Some of the careers in this category include human resources director, marketing executive, investments manager, and store manager.

Conventional

This category consists of occupations with an interest in organization, data and finance. Math, data analysis, record keeping and attention to detail are all important skills for these occupations. A high score in this theme indicates that an individual is most effective when dealing with well-defined tasks. In addition, these individuals prefer to know precisely what is expected of them and could be described as orderly and dependable. Some of the careers in this category include accountant, banker, credit manager, secretary, small business owner, and paralegal.