The RIASEC Game: Matching

Famous Personalities to Holland’s

Types

Authors

Kevin Glavin, Ph.D., PC

kg585@nova.edu

Pia Smal
ps617@nova.edu

Jessica Gonzalez
Jg1124@nova.edu

Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale FL

 Instructions
1. Provide students/clients with a brief overview of John Holland’s theory of
vocational choice and personality types
2. Explain several core constructs related to Holland’s theory:
1. Most people can be categorized as resembling one of 6 types (RIASEC)
2. Most work environments can be categorized using the same typology (RIASEC)
3. Explain Holland’s construct of congruence, which suggests that individuals will
seek work environments that are congruent with their personality types.
4. Explain the idea that congruence is likely to lead to greater work satisfaction
3. Describe each of the RIASEC types
4. Arrange individuals into groups of 4-6.
5. Open the PowerPoint Exercise for the RIASEC Game
6. Give groups an appropriate amount of time (approximately 10 minutes) to
determine the PRIMARY type of each individual, i.e. R, I, A, S, E or C.
7. Discussion: Have groups discuss why they choose to match a particular
person to a RIASEC type.
 R I A
Realistic Investigative Artistic J.K Rowling Condoleezza Mother
Rice Teresa

S E C
Social Enterprising Conventional Mia Ham Fawn Hall Dr. Mae C.
Jemison
 R I A
Realistic Investigative Artistic Carl Rogers Stephen Barack
Hawking Obama

S E C
Social Enterprising Conventional Kanye West Kevin LeBron
Malone James
 For Instructor
RIASEC Types Defined

• Realistic individuals prefer to work with their hands and

generally avoid social activities. They value concrete things
that you can see and touch, to be outside, and they describe
themselves as practical (i.e. mechanics, farmers, etc.).

• Investigative individuals have an aptitude for math and

science. They enjoy problem solving and prefer to work with
ideas rather than people (i.e. researchers).

• Artistic individuals have artistic ability and value the creative

arts. They avoid repetitive activities in which they cannot
express their imagination (i.e. musicians, actors, etc.).

Holland (1997)
 For Instructor
RIASEC Types Defined

• Social individuals have strong interpersonal skills and value

relationships. They enjoy helping others and avoid using
machines or tools (i.e. teachers, counselors, etc.).
•
• Enterprising individuals are skilled speakers that seek out
leadership roles. They enjoy persuading people and selling
ideas. They prefer to work with other people (i.e. sales
people, politicians, etc.).
•
• Conventional individuals are very orderly/organized. They
would rather work with numbers and words as opposed to
other people (accountants, clerical workers, etc.).

Holland (1997)
 References
Gottfredson, G. D., & Holland, J. L. (1996). Dictionary of Holland occupational codes (3rd
ed.).Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.

Holland, J. L. (2000). Self-Directed Search occupations finder. Odessa, FL: Psychological

Assessment Resources.

Holland, J. L. (1997). Making vocational choices 3rd ed. Odessa, FL: Psychological
Assessment Resources, Inc.

Holland, J. L., Fritzsche, B. A., & Powell, A. B. (1997). Self-Directed Search technical
manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.

Holland, J. L., Powell, A. B., & Fritzsche, B. A. (1997). Self-Directed Search professional
user’s guide. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.

Holland, J. L. (1994). The Self-Directed Search. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment

Resources, Inc.

Rayman, J. R. (1998). Interpreting Ellenore Flood's Self-Directed Search. Career

Development Quarterly, 46, 330-338.