John Holland's needs theory sees the path of career development as interplay between nature and nurture , assuming genetic endowment is shaped by early environment . Holland reasoned that people come up with their own techniques for handling social and environmental tasks . Holland offered six personality types which parallel six types of work environments .
He believed if a person selected an environment to match or be congruent with his or her personality type , this person would be more successful and happy with his or her career choice . Pictured as a hexagon , the list forms the acronym RISEC . This theory is the foundation of the strong vocational interest inventory . The six types as rice or RYSEC are realistic .
Individuals comfortable in these environments prefer defined tasks requiring physical manipulation and few interpersonal skills . Preferred activities deal with concrete objects , tools , machines and information and require good motor coordination . Examples would be accountants , agricultural workers , engineers , mechanics or technicians .
Investigative , often having poor persuasive and social skills . Individuals functioning well in these environments prefer systematic yet creative investigational activities Without the need for power , status or dominance . These individuals avoid interpersonal relationships .
They prefer abstract concepts and use their intelligence to solve problems , for example chemists , computer programmers , mathematicians and scientists . Artistic People in this category are imaginative and dislike systematic , ordered tasks . Preferring self-expression via physical , verbal or other avenues .
They are comfortable with their feelings , typically non-conforming and difficult to contain . They abhor organizational or administrative tasks that are part of most processes . Examples would be artists , editors , musicians , actors or writers .
Social , clearly social , these individuals prefer activities that inform , develop or enlighten others , seeking vocations that require relationships . They dislike activities that focus upon tools or machines . Examples would be counselors , social workers or teachers . Enterprising , tending to dominate and manipulate others .
People in this category are extroverted , preferring leadership and persuasive roles . They dislike abstractions and caution , seeming always on the edge , they are driven by power and social status . Examples would be managers , politicians , sales personnel , self-employed entrepreneurs . Conventional Content to be subordinated and preferring conformity to rules and regulations .
Conventional types prefer practical , orderly , clean , systematic and structured activities . Ambiguity is abhorrent . Examples would be file clerks , cost accountants or clerical workers . With the sex personality types assigned to the hexagons' angles , related traits run along common lines and incompatible ones sit at opposite sides .
For example , artistic shares more with investigative and social than with realistic and enterprising , because artistic is adjacent to and has consistency with both investigative and social . Therefore , it would prove to be a congruent work environment selection or a good match .