John L. Holland

John L. Holland was born October 21, 1919, in Omaha, Nebraska, and was one of four children. He is best known for the career development model, Holland Occupational Themes. Holland is also the creator of the vocational tool the Self-Directed Search, which allows individuals to rate their skills, abilities and interests in order to receive a Holland code that can guide them to careers they would be interested in and excel at.

 Holland's theory boasts that individuals more than likely will fit into one of six main personality types: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, conventional. Those with realistic personality types enjoy working outdoors or with their hands, assembling machines or tools. Investigative personality types enjoy discovery and research and often take pleasure in problem-solving. Artistic personality types are drawn to designs and patterns and enjoy expressing themselves through various art forms. Social personality types enjoy working with people, teaching or counseling others. Enterprising personality types also enjoy people, but are more drawn to leading or encouraging others and often times have a business sense. Conventional personality types like working indoors with organizational tasks, dealing with numbers or other data.

Holland honed his career development theories during his career, working at Western Reserve University, the Veteran's Administration Psychiatric Hospital, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the American College Testing Program and John Hopkins University. He passed away on November 27, 2008, in Baltimore, Maryland, at 89 years old. His Self-Directed Search and other career development theories are still used today by career counselors and those in related fields.