Career Decision Making: Evaluating And Applying Current Theoretical Models

Sally would like to get back into the work force in a job that is both practical and concrete. She enjoys working with numbers and data and likes things to be in order most of the time, but work in an only slightly structured environment. Her past supervisors claim that she takes direction very well, but often needs assistance when dealing with unexpected problems. Sally would like a career with opportunities for advancement, leadership positions, as well as adequate pay and job recognition. Sally mostly spends her time fulfilling her household duties and assisting her mother during her time of need, and is anxious to get back to the work force.
             Holland's Theory.
             John Holland's Theory of vocational choice proposes, "Birds of the same feather flock together- (Jones, 2002). In other words, people like to be around others who have similar personalities. In choosing a career, it means that people choose jobs where they can be around people who are like them. This theory is the best known and most widely researched theory on this topic (Jones, 2002). Many career counselors also use it. In Holland's Theory, as Sharf (2002) explains, "People express themselves, their interests and values, through their work choices and experience. In his theory, Holland assumes that people's impressions and generalizations about work, which he refers to as stereotypes, are generally accurate- (94). By examining these stereotypes, Holland placed people and work environments to various categories.
             There are six different categories that Holland places people and work environments into. Each category has a different behavior that is expected by the worker and the environment in which the worker is placed. The six personality types included Realistic (i.e., practical, concrete), Investigative (i.e., intellectual, curious), Artistic (i.e., creative, expressive), Social (i.e., empathic, people-oriented), Enterprising (i.