Annmarie Bedard, Brittany

Baggett, Colleen Calcagni,

Christina Hannon

• Native Americans students

• Students of color

• Undecided/Undeclared students

• Non-religious students

• In this context students who have not yet declared a major are referred to as undeclared

• Overwhelmingly, today’s college student report that the primary purpose for attending college is to prepare for a career

• In order to retain the undeclared student we need to be able to help students uncover their potential and find their “niche” – major/career

• People are most satisfied if there is some degree of fit between their personality and their field of study & work environment.

“Why go to college?”Today’s student: “To

get a good job.”

Undeclared Student: “But, I can’t decide

on a major?”

(runs risk of attrition)

Higher Ed. professional: “I can

help you find a major/career.”

Graduation!

• Apply student development theory

• John Holland’s Theory of Career Choice/Holland

Occupational Themes (RIASEC) also know as “The

Holland Codes”

• Holland’s theory of careers and vocational choice is

based upon 6 personality types.

• Each letter or code stands for a particular “type”

(RIASEC)

• The six personality types are: Realistic (R), Investigative

(I), Artistic (A), Social (S), Enterprising (E), and

Conventional (C), which are also the six basic types of

work environment.

• Likes to work with animals, tools, or machines

• Generally avoids social activities like teaching, healing,

and informing others.

• Has good skills in working with tools, mechanical or

electrical drawings, machines, or plants or animals.

• Some examples of Realistic work environments and

respective major include: police officer (criminal justice

major), fire fighter (fire science major), farmer/forester

(ecology /environmental science major).

• The Investigative type likes to study and solve math or

science problems.

• Generally avoids leading, selling, or persuading people.

• The Investigative type is good at understanding and

solving science and math problems.

• This type values science and sees self as precise,

scientific, and intellectual.

• Some examples of the Investigative work type along with

major include: chemist (chemistry major), mathematician

(math major), or biologist, dentist, physician, veterinarian,

pharmacist (biology major).

• Likes to do creative activities such as drama, crafts,

dance, music, or creative writing.

• Generally avoids highly ordered repetitive activities.

• Has good artistic abilities in creative writing, drama,

crafts, music or art.

• They see themselves as expressive, original, and

independent.

• Examples of Artistic work environments and their major

field of study include: dancer (dance major), book editor

(English/creative writing major), art teacher (art/education

major), musician (music major), graphic designer

(graphic design major), or actor (theatre major)

• Likes helping people; such as teaching, nursing, administering first aid or providing information.

• Usually avoids using machines, or tools to achieve a goal.

• This type is good at teaching, counseling, nursing, or giving information; they see themselves as helpful, friendly and trustworthy.

• Some examples of the Social work environment along with their respective major are: counselor or social worker (social work major), nurse (nursing major), physical therapist (physical therapy major), occupational therapist (occupational therapy major), teacher (education major), librarian (library science major), or athletic trainer (athletic training major).

• Likes to lead, persuade people, sell things/ideas.

• Generally good at leading people and selling things or

ideas. They value success in politics, leadership or

business.

• See themselves as energetic, ambitious, and sociable.

• Some examples of enterprising work environments

include: sales/marketing (business major with marketing

concentration), travel agent (business with hospitality

management concentration), lawyer (political science

major), manager (business with a management

concentration), or recreation/camp director (sport

management or leisure studies major).

• Likes to work numbers, records or machines in a set

orderly way

• Generally avoids ambiguous, unstructured activities.

• Good at working with records and numbers in a

systematic orderly way; they value success in business.

• See themselves as orderly, and good at following a set

path. Some examples of Conventional work

environments & major include: accountant (accounting

major), computer analyst (computer scientist), statistician

(mathematics major), financial analyst (business major

with a concentration in finance), or economist (business

major with a concentration in economics).

• Most Student have some interest in, and similarities to several

of the six groups.

• Students choose the top 3 areas that they are primarily

attracted to

• The three letters of their choices are called the “Holland

Code.”

• Example: a code of “CIE” would most resemble the

Conventional type, somewhat the Investigative Type, and a bit

less of the Enterprising Type. One of the recommendations for

this code would be a financial analyst.

• The types that are not in the code are the types the student

resembles least of all.

• Most people, and most jobs, are best represented by some

combination of two or three of the Holland interest areas.

• http://www.cacareerzone.org/quick