| Have you ever felt like you weren't living up to your | | | | 9. Occupational Therapist |
| potential or something was missing in your life? Finding | | | | 10. Community Service Director |
| one's life purpose is a constant struggle for many | | | | Now let's go over this list and the conversation I had |
| people. Fortunately, there are resources available to | | | | with her about each of them. |
| help with the process. One such resource is a career | | | | Rachel at one time, majored in Art Education. She was |
| interest test that I utilize in my Expressive Arts | | | | planning on teaching elementary art classes and had a |
| Coaching practice. The test is based on John Holland's | | | | couple temporary jobs doing it. The children with whom |
| Theory which concludes six personality types exist: | | | | she worked adored her energy and instruction but |
| Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and | | | | Rachel concluded that even though she was good at |
| Conventional. Most people are a combination of these | | | | this occupation, she did not want to make it her career. |
| and the test reveals which ones by producing a three | | | | Therefore #1 and #2 aligned with her values and |
| letter code, such as RIE (realistic, investigative, | | | | interest but it wasn't her soul's calling. |
| enterprising). Knowing your code is beneficial for | | | | She has no interest in flowers. So #3 florist isn't a |
| self-awareness and aids in career planning. | | | | career to consider. |
| The test provides other information such as: if the | | | | #4, #9, #10 are all careers she thinks are honorable but |
| test-taker prefers to work alone or with others, do | | | | nothing she wants to do. She doesn't have any |
| they prefer practical learning or academic | | | | interest at this time to work in a non-profit or |
| environments, are they suited to be a leader or not, | | | | community setting. |
| and a list of ten possible occupations is given. | | | | #5 and #8 are positions that do not interest her |
| Rachel M. is a 26 year old undergraduate art student in | | | | because she foresees being her own boss and not |
| Chicago. After switching her major a few times, she | | | | working for someone else. As she explained, "I don't |
| came to me seeking career clarification since she will | | | | want to work so hard so someone else gets the profit |
| be graduating soon. | | | | and the glory." |
| According to Rachel's test results, her Holland Code is | | | | #7 In 2007 Rachel enjoyed working as an ESL (English |
| SAE = Social, Artistic, and Enterprising. | | | | as a second language) instructor in China. Traveling |
| She scored highest as a Social type implying that she | | | | and learning about other cultures is a hobby of hers. |
| enjoys and prefers working with people not data (like | | | | However, these days she's more interested in planting |
| an accountant) nor objects (like a stained glass artist). | | | | roots than working/living abroad again. She informed |
| The way she enjoys working with people isn't by | | | | me that she doesn't have any interest in teaching ESL |
| protecting them (like a police officer) but instead by | | | | classes in the United States. |
| helping, teaching, counseling or training them. The test | | | | Now #6 Cosmetologist was her Aha! moment. Rachel |
| stated that her Social skill set includes, but not limited to, | | | | shared that she has always enjoyed makeup, beauty |
| being comfortable around all kinds of people including | | | | products, health and wellness. She once considered |
| strangers, feels comfortable engaging people, and is a | | | | becoming a licensed esthetician or a massage |
| good listener. Rachel concurred that she is confident in | | | | therapist. However, the idea of providing the same |
| these areas. | | | | service every day bored her. |
| Her second highest type was Artistic, which indicates | | | | END RESULT |
| that she values originality, imagination, independence, | | | | What will this social, artistic young lady, who has the |
| and beauty. She enjoys a variety of ways for | | | | entrepreneur spirit, do with her life? How will she |
| self-expression (multiple tattoos adorn her body). | | | | incorporate her passion for health and beauty? |
| Rachel again agreed with the test results stating that | | | | Her plan is to open a funky but approachable salon in |
| she is creative, prefers being around people who are | | | | an up and coming Chicago neighborhood that will offer |
| non-conformists, and that she enjoys many types of | | | | mostly organic products and services. |
| music and writing. | | | | Where does the SAE come in? |
| Now her third personality type was a big surprise for | | | | Social = In the salon environment Rachel will work with |
| the both of us - Enterprising. Enterprising people are | | | | people consistently, helping them look and feel their |
| usually the sellers, marketers, managers, the slick | | | | best, while advising them on products and other |
| business wheelers and dealers, or politicians; all of | | | | services. She looks forward to working with women's |
| which Rachel is not. Enterprising folks enjoy | | | | groups and other community groups by offering |
| networking, taking risks, competition, and status. Again, | | | | special salon days or offering services for fundraisers. |
| these aren't traits I would have connected with this | | | | She feels her salon will be an integral business in her |
| funky 26 year old. But Enterprising people are also the | | | | immediate community. |
| entrepreneurs. The ones who want to create | | | | Artistic = She's already envisioning the interior design to |
| something for themselves and have a myriad of ideas | | | | include pieces from her travels and artwork from |
| of how to do it. When talking this over with her, she | | | | friends and connections from art school. Also by hiring |
| revealed how owning her own business is an exciting | | | | creative hair stylists and employees, she'll be |
| prospect. Her mindset shifted after discussing the pros | | | | surrounded by artistic energy. She will also exercise |
| and cons of going into business for herself. Rachel's | | | | her creativity in creating the advertisement and |
| entrepreneurial spirit was realized, awakened, and | | | | marketing materials. |
| verbalized. | | | | Enterprising = Rachel is giddy about becoming her own |
| Top Ten Occupations for Rachel M. | | | | boss and all the duties it includes. She is even excited |
| 1. Special Education Teacher | | | | about her filing system and other office management |
| 2. Elementary School Teacher | | | | systems. She is busy collecting resources for |
| 3. Florist | | | | marketing her business and is gathering ideas for a |
| 4. Speech Pathologist | | | | logo, brand, and website. Two items I advised her to |
| 5. Retail Sales Representative | | | | put on her long to-do list is to visit the SBA, Small |
| 6. Cosmetologist | | | | Business Administration for general information and |
| 7. Foreign Language Teacher/ESL | | | | also to meet with SCORE (Service Corp of Retired |
| 8. Advertising Account Manager | | | | Executives) to obtain a free business consultant. |