Learning Exercise
From interest code to career options: a RIASEC reflection session (45 min)
A 45-minute career guidance activity. Students take a free RIASEC interest inventory, obtain their three-letter Holland code, then compare it with the occupations they are already considering, to open a discussion on fit, surprises and next steps.
- Material:
- RIASEC Career Interest Inventory (Holland codes), with all six scores
- Date last modified:
- September 25, 2026
- Created by:
- Adrien Albuquerque
- License:
-
A free online self-report inventory based on John Holland's RIASEC model of vocational interests (1959). Learners answer... see more
Exercise
- Before the inventory (5 min). Each student writes down two or three occupations or fields of study they are currently considering.
- Inventory (10 min). Each student completes the RIASEC inventory individually and notes the six scores and the three-letter code (for example SAE).
- Comparison (10 min). Students look up the typical Holland codes of the occupations they wrote down (for example on O*NET Interest Profiler pages) and mark where their code matches, partly matches or differs.
- Pair discussion (15 min). In pairs, students discuss one match and one mismatch: what the mismatch might mean, and which options their code suggests that they had not considered.
- Debrief (5 min). Close on the limits: an interest inventory describes preferences, not abilities or chances of success. A code is a starting point for exploration, not a verdict.
Disciplines
Technical Notes
Free, no sign-up required. Works in a web browser on phone or desktop.
Requirements
None. Students need a phone or computer with internet access.
Topics
Career guidance, vocational interests, Holland RIASEC model, self-assessment, career exploration.
Type of Task
Learning Objectives
- Describe the six Holland interest types.
- Relate a personal three-letter code to the typical codes of occupations.
- Explain why an interest inventory informs, but does not decide, a career choice.
Assessment
Short written reflection: one occupation the student will explore further and why, with reference to their code.