In this era of Protean Careers, the individuals are themselves responsible for their future and career moves prediction. Career planning is a vital activity here and Self-analysis is the first step. Researchers have proposed and tested many models in this regard. Holland’s RIASEC model is well known for understanding career choices based on personality types of individuals.
The abbreviation RIASEC denotes six categories of occupations environment matching with the personality types. Realistic folks have specific skills and they are more focused on employing and applying their skills as specialists rather than being generalists and social. Occupations like engineering, technicians, mechanics, machine operators etc. are for such persons. Investigative people are fascinated towards analytical abstractions and scientific enquiries. Their inquisitiveness may be well addressed in the professions wherein they get to draw important conclusions at their own for e.g. researchers, programmers, diagnostics, etc.
Artistic tendencies are characterized by sensitivity, creativity, divergent thinking, originality and imagination. People with these characteristics opt for vocations like lyricists, painters, musicians, authors, designers and the like. Social orientation may be prominent in the personalities with strong desire to serve the society and curb social evils like illiteracy, poverty, depression, hunger, disability etc. Having this orientation someone may choose the field of education, nursing, counselling, and the other similar ones.
Enterprising interests are much visible through individuals’ organizing affinities and self-starter tendencies. Persuading, networking, optimizing, problem solving features are important drivers of entrepreneurial, sales, and managerial careers. Conventional choices are for those who love repetitive nature of tasks with less experimentation and innovation. Such people enjoy routine work and predictable consequences of actions. Traditional jobs like accountants, receptionists, bankers, steno typists fall under this category.
Aforesaid six categories have been analyzed and ranked in the order of prestige levels as IEASRC by certain scholars. Also, there may be spillovers of less intense traits in prefix and suffix categories’ personality characteristics in the RIASEC. For instance, Teachers come under Social category, yet they might have minor Artistic and Enterprising tendencies. Managers are Enterprising but they perform conventional duties and social responsibilities also. Suggestively, a proper self-analysis based on RIASEC model can help everyone while deciding about career choice. So just analyze who you are and where you should be?
DR. NEHA VERMA
ASSISTANT Professor
She is M.Com, MBA, Ph.D and has 4 years of experience in Academic.
