Hollandcodes.com has created career test tips videos to answer some of your common questions about the Strong Interest Inventory. Check back to see our growing video library - http://www.hollandcodes.com/tips.html - View the Look Inside the Self Directed Search video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJLcf-e3ul4

1. Choose the right career and college major!
Look inside the Self Directed Search …
one of the most respected and widely used
career planning instrument in the world!

2. • Ease of use
• Cost
• Format - paper/pencil,
computerized
• Links to Internet resources
• References to other
resources
• Age of the individual
completing the assessment

3. • Holland Career Model is the basis for
the SDS.
• There are six Holland types:
Realistic, Investigative, Artistic,
Social, Enterprising, and
Conventional.
• People are more comfortable when
they are in a compatible work
environment.
• Using a 2 or 3-letter code, the Self-
Directed Search matches interests
and abilities to a list of careers and
college majors.
• The SDS has been used by over 22
million people worldwide.

4. SDS Assessment & Finder Form R is for adults
and students who are interested in going to
college or graduate school.
SDS Assessment & Finder Form E is for adults
and students who are interested in working,
going to 2 year college or entering an
apprenticeship.
SDS Assessment & Finder Form Career
Explorer is for middle school students.

5. The SDS has been used by over 22 million people worldwide.
Self - Directed Self - Directed
Self - Directed Self - Directed
Search Form E Search Explorer
Search On-Line Search Form R
(E for Easy) (Junior High)
Format On -Line Printed Printed Printed
Holland Codes Yes, 3 letter Yes, 3 letter Yes, 2 letter Yes, 2 letter
Holland Codes
Yes Yes Yes Yes
matched to careers
Holland Codes
matched to college Yes Yes No No
majors
Career Profiles Yes 1,309 jobs Yes, 1309 jobs Yes, 860 jobs Yes, 400
Time to Complete 35 to 45 minutes 35 to 45 minutes 35 to 45 minutes 35 to 45 minutes
Cost for Workbook
$10 $10 $12 $15
Per Person

6. In the Activities section,
• You read over a list of activities.
• Under the L (Like) column, you mark
the activities that you would like to do or
interests you.
• Under the D (Dislike) column, you mark
the activities that you do not like to do or
do not interest you.
• Count the number of L (Likes)
responses.
• Place the number of L (Likes) responses
in the corresponding R, I, A, S, E, C
boxes.

7. In the Competencies or Skills section,
• You read over a list of competencies or
skills.
• Under the YES column, circle the Y
(YES) for the competencies or skills that
you do well, have, or would like to learn.
• Under the NO column, circle the N (NO)
for the competencies or skills that you
do not do well, have, or would not like to
learn.
• Count the number of Y (YES)
responses.
• Place the number of Y (YES) responses
in the corresponding R, I, A, S, E, C
boxes.

8. In the Occupations/ Jobs section,
• You read over a list of Occupations/
Jobs.
• Under the Y (YES) column, you mark
the Occupations/ Jobs that you would
like to do or interests you.
• Under the N (NO) column, you mark the
Occupations/ Jobs that you do not like to
do or do not interest you.
• Count the number of L (Likes)
responses.
• Place the number of L (Likes) responses
in the corresponding R, I, A, S, E, C
boxes.

9. In the Self-Estimates/ Rating Your
Abilities section,
• Rate your abilities against other
people of your own age.
• Circle the number for the following
abilities –
• Mechanical • Teaching
• Scientific • Sales
• Artistic • Clerical

10. From the Activities section, write the number
of the L (Likes) responses from the
corresponding R, I, A, S, E, C boxes.
From the Competencies or Skills section,
write the number of the Y (YES) responses
from the corresponding R, I, A, S, E, C boxes.
From the Occupations/ Jobs section, write
the number of the L (Likes) responses from the
corresponding R, I, A, S, E, C boxes.
From the Self-Estimates/ Rating Your
Abilities section, write the numbers from the
corresponding abilities -
• Mechanical • Teaching
• Scientific • Sales
• Artistic • Clerical

11. Write the RIASEC letters with the three
highest numbers.
These letters represent your Holland Code.
You will use these letters or Holland Code to
identify potential careers.
The Occupational Finder, Job Finder, or
Career Booklet lists careers according to
Holland Codes.
For example, examples of REC careers are –
• Locksmith • Police Officer
• Roofer • Truck Driver
• Jeweler • Pharmacy
Technician

12. Business Contact Business Operations
(Conventional)
Da t a
(Enterprising)
Social Service Technical
People Things
(Social) (Realistic)
I deas
Arts Science
(Artistic) (Investigative)
In the Holland Hexagon Model, there are six
vocational personalities show the relationships
between Ideas, People, Data, and Things.

13. Holland Personalities
Realistic Investigative Artistic Social Enterprising Conventional
Careers Engineer Chemist Designer Teacher Manager Accountant
Careers Technician Physician Musician Nurse Lawyer Office Clerk

14. Thank you for your interest in the
Self Directed Search.
If you have additional questions,
• Visit our web site – Hollandcodes.com
• Call us at 877-667-6565
• Email us at hollandcodes@gmail.com