RIASEC assessment: Explore your career interests

The Holland Code (RIASEC) assessment test was originally developed by John Holland. It tells you what types of careers are ideal for you based on your interests.

When it comes to choosing a career, taking into account your interests can have a significant impact on your job satisfaction levels.

Of course, things such as the general work environment, co-workers, and reward structures matter too, but, in my view, interests (often shaped by needs) come first.

This test is based on the theory that work environments and people can be broadly classified into six groups. Each letter in the acronym RIASEC stands for one of these groups.

RIASEC stands for Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. This interests-based career assessment test will tell you where you lie on each of these scales.

This test reveals which of these six RIASEC domains are your strongest areas and suggests career choices based on the same.

When you’re done with the test, you’ll obtain your three-letter Holland Code that you can use to get very specific career recommendations based on the combination of your strongest domains.

RIASEC dimensions

Taking the RIASEC test

The test consists of 48 items, each describing an activity. You have to answer based on how much you’d enjoy doing these activities on a 5-point scale ranging from ‘Dislike’ to ‘Enjoy’.

You don’t necessarily need to have done each of these activities, and don’t worry if you don’t have the relevant qualifications. Just ask yourself what your enjoyment level is likely to be if you were asked to do these activities.

Your personal information will not be collected, and your results will not be stored in our database. The test takes around 5 minutes to complete.

RIASEC questionnaire

1. Test the quality of parts before shipment.

2. Study the structure of the human body.

3. Conduct a musical choir.

4. Give career guidance to people.

5. Sell restaurant franchises to individuals.

6. Generate the monthly payroll checks for an office.

7. Lay brick or tile.

8. Work on an offshore oil-drilling rig.

9. Assemble electronic parts.

10. Study animal behavior.

11. Do research on plants or animals.

12. Develop a new medical treatment or procedure.

13. Direct a play.

14. Design artwork for magazines.

15. Write a song.

16. Do volunteer work at a non-profit organization.

17. Help people who have problems with drugs or
alcohol.

18. Teach an individual an exercise routine.

19. Sell merchandise at a department store.

20. Manage the operations of a hotel.

21. Operate a beauty salon or barber shop.

22. Operate a grinding machine in a factory.

23. Fix a broken faucet.

24. Conduct biological research.

25. Study whales and other types of marine life.

26. Write books or plays.

27. Play a musical instrument.

28. Help people with family-related problems.

29. Supervise the activities of children at a camp.

30. Manage a department within a large company.

31. Manage a clothing store.

32. Assemble products in a factory.

33. Operate a calculator.

34. Work in a biology lab.

35. Make a map of the bottom of an ocean.

36. Perform stunts for a movie or television show.

37. Maintain employee records.

38. Teach children how to read.

39. Help elderly people with their daily activities.

40. Sell houses.

41. Run a toy store.

42. Inventory supplies using a hand-held computer.

43. Use a computer program to generate customer bills.

44. Design sets for plays.

45. Compute and record statistical and other numerical data.

46. Install flooring in houses.

47. Handle customers’ bank transactions.

48. Keep shipping and receiving records.

Reference:

Liao, H. Y., Armstrong, P. I., & Rounds, J. (2008). Development and initial validation of public domain Basic Interest Markers. Journal of Vocational Behavior73(1), 159-183.