Holland's RIASEC model

RIASEC (Holland Codes)

RIASEC is John Holland's six-type model of vocational interests: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. People and work environments are both described by the same six codes, and career fit is the alignment between the two.

Holland published the model in 1959 and refined it through 1997. It is the foundation of the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET system and most modern career-interest inventories. A person's "Holland code" is usually the top three types in order (e.g., SAE for Social-Artistic-Enterprising). Adjacent types on the hexagon (Realistic↔Investigative, Investigative↔Artistic, etc.) overlap more than opposite types (Realistic↔Social, Artistic↔Conventional).