Before the lists, one important note: your Holland Code doesn't tell you which career you must pursue. It shows you which work environments are most likely to feel motivating to you. The lists below are a starting point for exploration — not a verdict.
Realistic
Practical · Technical · Oriented to objects and tools
Realistic types prefer to work with objects, machines, tools, plants, or animals. They feel more comfortable in concrete environments than in abstract ones. They tend to be direct, persistent, and good at solving physical or mechanical problems.
Degree programs that fit
- Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Computer Engineering
- Architecture
- Veterinary Medicine
- Agronomy or Forestry
- Food Science or Biotechnology
- Geology or Mining Engineering
- Industrial Maintenance Technology
- Surveying or Geodetic Engineering
Jobs and roles
- Electronics or mechatronics technician
- Heavy machinery or industrial equipment operator
- Specialized carpenter, welder, electrician, or plumber
- Commercial or general aviation pilot
- Paramedic or emergency medical technician
- Construction supervisor or builder
- HVAC, refrigeration, or renewable energy technician
- Chef or culinary production specialist
Common code combinations
RI → Engineering with an investigative bent: robotics, automation, biomedical engineering.
RC → Technical roles with order and precision: project accounting, industrial quality control, surveying.
RE → Technicians who lead: construction foreman, mechanical shop manager, manufacturing operations director.
Investigative
Analytical · Curious · Oriented to ideas and data
Investigative types enjoy observing, analyzing, researching, and solving complex problems. They're drawn to questions without easy answers. They work well independently, prefer analysis to persuasion, and feel most comfortable in environments that value rigor over speed.
Degree programs that fit
- Medicine
- Biology, Biochemistry, or Microbiology
- Chemistry or Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Physics or Mathematics
- Psychology (with research or neuroscience focus)
- Computer Science or Data Science
- Economics or Econometrics
- Anthropology, Archaeology, or Sociology
Jobs and roles
- Scientific or academic researcher
- Data analyst or data scientist
- Epidemiologist or public health specialist
- Pharmacologist or drug development researcher
- Cybersecurity analyst or pentester
- Actuary or risk analyst
- Diagnostic medical specialist (radiologist, pathologist, neurologist)
- Business intelligence (BI) consultant
Common code combinations
IR → Applied research with a hands-on component: materials engineering, physical chemistry, biotechnology.
IA → Research with a creative dimension: UX research, computational linguistics, philosophy of mind.
IS → Research focused on people: evidence-based clinical psychology, social epidemiology, anthropological field work.
Artistic
Creative · Expressive · Oriented to originality
Artistic types need room to create and innovate. They're uncomfortable in highly rigid environments and repetitive tasks. They think non-linearly, enjoy ambiguity, and easily see angles others miss. This isn't limited to visual arts — artistic thinking shows up in writing, design, music, theater, film, and also in advertising, fashion, and architecture.
Degree programs that fit
- Graphic, Industrial, or Interior Design
- Architecture (with creative emphasis)
- Communications, Journalism, or Audiovisual Production
- Fine Arts, Music, or Theater
- Advertising and Public Relations
- Literature, English, or Linguistics
- Photography or Fashion Design
- Digital Animation or Game Design
Jobs and roles
- UI/UX designer or digital art director
- Copywriter or creative writer
- Filmmaker, video editor, or photographer
- Illustrator, 2D/3D animator, or concept artist
- Musician, composer, or music producer
- Interior architect or set designer
- Creative-focused content strategist or community manager
- Literary translator or conference interpreter
Common code combinations
AI → Creativity with analytical rigor: information architecture, UX research, technical cinematography.
AS → Expression oriented to people: art teacher, expressive therapist, communicator at NGOs.
AE → Creativity with commercial drive: creative entrepreneur, agency founder, brand creative director.
Degree programs that fit
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Education or Pedagogy (early childhood, primary, secondary, special ed)
- Medicine (primary care, family medicine)
- Nursing or Occupational Therapy
- Political Science or International Relations
- Communications with a human-development focus
- Social Development Management or Community Work
Jobs and roles
- Clinical, school, or organizational psychologist
- University professor, trainer, or corporate instructor
- Career counselor or school advisor
- Social worker or NGO case manager
- Physical, occupational, or speech therapist
- Conflict mediator or group facilitator
- HR specialist (recruiting, well-being, training)
- Volunteer coordinator or community management lead
Common code combinations
SA → People + creativity: art or music teacher, expressive therapist, communicator with artistic sensibility.
SI → Evidence-based help: clinical psychologist-researcher, primary care physician, neuroscience-trained coach.
SE → Leading people: school principal, NGO team lead, head of human resources.
Enterprising
Persuasive · Ambitious · Oriented to leading and convincing
Enterprising types have the energy to start projects, persuade others, and take calculated risks. They're more drawn to influence than to routine execution. They feel comfortable selling ideas, leading teams, and making decisions under uncertainty. It's not just "entrepreneur" — it covers any role that runs on autonomy, initiative, and a results focus.
Degree programs that fit
- Business Administration or International Business
- Marketing or Advertising
- Law
- Public Relations or Corporate Communications
- Economics (with a management emphasis)
- Industrial Engineering with a business management track
- Political Science or Public Policy
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation (where offered as a degree)
Jobs and roles
- General manager, commercial director, or startup CEO
- Technical sales or B2B key-account executive
- Trial attorney or corporate counsel
- Strategy consultant
- Politician, diplomat, or senior public official
- Marketing director or brand manager
- Real estate agent or financial broker
- Founder or franchisee
Common code combinations
ES → Leadership with warmth: HR director, school principal, nonprofit organization lead.
EC → Structured entrepreneurship: CFO, COO, franchise manager.
EA → Creative entrepreneurship: agency founder, business-savvy creative director, founder in cultural industries.
Conventional
Organized · Detail-oriented · Oriented to systems and procedures
Conventional types work well with data, numbers, and procedures. They feel secure when they know what's expected and can deliver it well. They're not the profile that wants to improvise — they prefer clear systems, defined standards, and verifiable results. In environments where order matters — finance, logistics, administration, IT — this type tends to make the difference.
Degree programs that fit
- Accounting and Auditing
- Business Administration with a finance or logistics emphasis
- Information Systems or Software Engineering
- Statistics or Actuarial Science
- Office Administration or Records Management
- Public Administration
- Logistics and Supply Chain
- Database Management Technology
Jobs and roles
- Accountant, internal or external auditor
- Financial or budget analyst
- Backend developer or database administrator
- Compliance specialist or internal control officer
- Logistics manager or supply chain coordinator
- Paralegal at structured law firms
- Tax or customs specialist
- IT support analyst or systems administrator
Common code combinations
CE → Order with leadership: finance manager, operations director, head of administration.
CI → Data with deep analysis: quant analyst, technical-leaning data scientist, research statistician.
CR → Technical precision: quality inspector, metrology technician, industrial process auditor.
How to use your 3-letter code to find a career
The lists above are organized by primary type, but your code has three letters. Here's how to use all three:
- Start with your first letter — it sets the environment. If it's S, you need work that involves people regularly.
- Use your second letter to filter — among S careers, which also fit A? That points you toward roles like art educator, expressive therapist, or socially oriented communicator.
- The third letter adds the final shade — SI with a third letter C points to more structured roles within the social sector: social project management, education program coordination with metrics.
If your top two letters are adjacent on the hexagon (RI, IA, AS, SE, EC, CR), many careers naturally combine both. If they're opposites (RS, IE, AC), look for crossover roles or niches where that combination is an actual edge.
A note on the U.S. labor market
The Holland classification originated with O*NET, a database from the U.S. Department of Labor. Most occupations on these lists map directly to O*NET codes. A few things worth keeping in mind:
- Two-year associate degrees can match four-year bachelor's outcomes in technical fields like nursing, IT support, and the trades.
- Highest-demand sectors in recent years: technology (I and C types), healthcare (I and S types), and skilled trades (R types).
- The freelance and creator economy has opened paths for A and E types that previously depended on corporate structures.
Don't have your code yet?
If you landed here before taking the test, it takes 10 to 15 minutes. No registration required. The result includes your code, your scores on all six dimensions, and a list of recommended careers.
Take the RIASEC test for free
Discover your Holland Code in 10–15 minutes. No mandatory signup. See your scores and recommended careers instantly.
Start the test →
Social
Empathic · Collaborative · Oriented to helping and teaching
Social types do their best work with and for other people. They listen well, explain clearly, accompany, and resolve conflict. They prefer warm environments to competitive ones, and are more motivated by impact on people than by financial outcomes. This isn't just "helping" — it also covers educational leadership, mediation, and community development.