Blog post 2

            In chapter two, Brown cites and spends a great deal of time on Holland’s trait and factor theory revolving around career choice. This theory is based on a few assumptions. First, that a person’s personality is the primary driving force in career choice. Second, interest inventories are personality inventories. Next, stereotypes in addition to daydreams play a major role in career choice. Holland also assumes that identity is related to having smaller, more focused career goals. Finally, in order to feel successful, one’s career must be congruent with one’s personality. The assumption that I most agree with is that having clarity in oneself, goals, and characteristics leads to very focused vocational goals. Perhaps I agree with this assumption the most because I strongly relate to it. One of Holland’s assumptions that I disagree with is that personality is the primary factor in career choice. I often find people choosing a career based on a number of factors including pay, benefits, necessary education or training requirements, “perks” (such as teachers having summers off and coaching opportunities), and a variety of other factors. I do believe that personality influences career choice to an extent. For example, if a person is more introverted they may not seek out a career being an event planner; however, I do not think it is the end all and be all in what someone will choose to do with his or her life.  

            In Holland’s theory, he describes six “pure” personality types. These types include realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional. While reading through this section, I became very interested in what my Holland code might be. As I read through the six personality types however, I found that I would see myself fitting into one or another only slightly. For example, I consider myself very investigative. I enjoy reading, rely on intellect to maneuver various environments, as well as thrive in an academic setting. However, I do not enjoy art, I am more extraverted and enjoy social situations, and have had numerous jobs in which I was in leadership roles and feel as though I was very successful in them.  I also found that I fit into some aspects of the social personality type, but not all. I see myself as sociable, nurturing, cheerful, achieving, responsible, and self-accepting. I also relate well to others in social situations. However, I am not a very religious person and would not prefer church activities. I am lost when it comes to anything that deals with government, and I do not have a need for social interaction per se; I also enjoy my own private time. The fact that I feel as though I fit some aspects of some of the types Holland describes, but contradict other aspects of the personality types, I am very interested in what my results would be if I ever received my Holland code.