Work, it’s a hard fact of life. Sometimes just finding enjoyable work is challenge enough. Some people spend their entire lives searching for the right job. Many don’t know where to even start looking.

In the United States alone, there are more than 150 million people working thousands of different kinds of jobs. From accountants to athletes , from dancers to dentists , from teachers to top executives , every job requires its own set of skills and comes with its own rigors and rewards. And just as not everybody is right for every job, not every job is right for everybody. In fact, one’s personality—those characteristics, traits, and preferences that make an individual unique—is a major factor in determining which occupations are right. People who follow career paths that match their personalities are more likely to be both satisfied and successful with those careers.

In the 1950’s, renowned psychologist John L. Holland developed a theory and a process that helped individuals match their work interests—otherwise known as their “Vocational Personalities”—to their preferred work environments. Holland’s theory says that most people can be described by one or more of six personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. People who share the same personality type tend to group together and create work environments with shared values.

This video introduces viewers to one of the best ways to find work that fits with their personality. It’s called the RIASEC personality theory, and it is a time-tested tool for exploring and deciding on a career that’s right for each individual. Viewers learn how the tasks and work environments of jobs match with personality types and even learn which jobs tend to be a better fit for each type. Along the way viewers may discover careers that match their own interests, likely leading to greater career satisfaction down the road.

High School and Adult
Grades 9 - Adult
30 minutes - 2010
DVD