Holland Occupational Themes

Holland Occupational Theme Codes (theme codes) are used to classify people and work environments to assist in finding a career that fits who you are. Both careers and people can be described by combining six different theme codes. Discover your codes, then find occupations with the same codes to ensure your future career taps into your interests, values, strengths, and work personality.

Take assessments to find your Theme Codes

In addition to picking theme codes that interest you based on the video and descriptions above, you may want to take a formal assessment. Answer questions about your likes and dislikes to uncover your top theme codes and the careers that match.

Choose an option to start:

• Career Coach Assessment: Take a free 30- or 60-question assessment online at ECC’s Career Coach Website.
• FOCUS 2: Use the Spartan access code to register for a free account through EECC’s FOCUS 2 Website. Then, take the “Work Interest Assessment,” which will give you a side-by-side comparison of how your theme codes link to careers.
• Career Assessment Package (CAP): Sign up to find your Holland Occupational Theme Codes and more. The Strong Interest Inventory assessment will rank your theme codes and compare you to people with similar themes in careers they enjoy. Meet with a Career Development Specialist to help you interpret your results.

How can ECC help you discover and use your Theme Codes?

Meet one-on-one with a Career Development Specialist to guide you in identifying your Holland Occupational Theme Codes and/or review your assessment results. Knowing your top three theme codes will help you partner with your Specialist to:

• Create your career vision
• Identify careers and majors that most naturally fit you
• Learn the day-to-day job responsibilities/tasks for different careers
• Choose a career and major with confidence

Find more careers that match your top occupational themes.

• Click on the Holland Occupational Theme Codes at the top of the page to see a sample of careers for each code.
• Find careers that combine multiple theme codes. O*Net is a career research site from the U.S. Department of Labor that allows you to search nearly 1,000 different careers and their corresponding theme code (which they call “Interests”).
1. Search O*Net careers
2. Click on your highest theme code to see a list of careers that match.
3. Enter a second or even third code (remember that three theme codes will reduce the number of career options significantly).
4. View results sorted by level of education needed.
5. Click on individual careers to learn more.
6. Also, use the search box in the upper right to find a career and see its code in the “Interest” section.
• Visit other career research sites to see the tasks, skills required, salary pay range, education, etc., in the Career Exploration and Planning page.