Overview of Using RIASEC Interest Types to

Support Career Exploration

Main Points

• Describe steps for examining career interests

• Examine nature of the six RIASEC codes

• Introduce how to interpret RIASEC results

• Use RIASEC to support career exploration

Steps to Interpreting RIASEC Codes

• Step 1: Individual completes career interest assessment such as the PGI

• Step 2: Individual receives results organized around six RIASEC types

• Step 3: Career Professional explains to students the nature of the RIASEC codes

• Step 4: Career Professional explains why we focus on the top three codes and why all six are being provided

• Step 5: Career Professional describes link between RIASEC type and Occupations

• Step 6: Career Professional explains how beginning with RIASEC code can facilitate career exploration.

• Step 7: Career Professional must be cautious in interpretation

• Step 1: Individual completes career interest assessment such as the PGI

• Step 2: Individual receives results organized around six RIASEC types

• Step 3: Career Professional explains to students the nature of the RIASEC codes

• Step 1: Individual complete career interest assessment such as the PGI

• Step 2: Individual receives results organized around six RIASEC types

• Step 3: Career Professional explains to students the nature of the RIASEC codes

• Step 1: Individual completes career interest assessment such as the PGI

• Step 2: Individual receives results organized around six RIASEC types

• Step 3: Career Professional explains to students the nature of the RIASEC codes

Realistic Investigative Artistic

Mechanical

Conservative

Practical

Analytical

Scientific

Curious

Creative

Unique

Original

Social Enterprising Conventional

Extraverted

Helper

Empathic

Dominant

Confident

Leader

Precise

Dogmatic

Practical

• Step 4: Career Professional explains why we focus on the top three codes and why all six are being provided

• Step 5: Career Professional describes link between RIASEC type and Occupations

Hexagonal Model

Realistic

Conventional

Enterprising

Investigative

Artistic

Social

• Step 4: Career Professional explains why we focus on the top three codes and why all six are being provided

• Step 5: Career Professional describes link between RIASEC type and Occupations

Linking RIASEC Results to Occupations

RI – Mechanical Engineer

SE – Educational Administrator

AS - University Professors

RC - Computer Technician

SAE - Career Counselor

• Step 6: Career Professional explains how beginning with RIASEC code can facilitate career exploration.

• Step 7: Career Professional must be cautious in interpretation

Facilitating Career Exploration• Online career portal automatically matches

pattern of individual results to occupations

• Once a few options are identified, the next step is to explore them further

• PGI provides all six RIASEC scores and allows students to examine different two and three type patterns

• Step 6: Career Professional explains how beginning with RIASEC code can facilitate career exploration.

• Step 7: Career Professional must be cautious in interpretation

Cautions

• Using RIASEC for exploration, not placement

• Occupation/Career fit is due to a number of factors including skills, values, etc.

• One can work in a career with low RIASEC fit

RIASEC type influenced by a combination of heredity and learning

RIASEC characteristics reflect how well the learning context has helped students realise his or her true abilities, interests, and potential.

Review Steps to Support Students

• Step 1: Students complete career interest assessment such as the PGI

• Step 2: Students receive results organized around six RIASEC types

• Step 3: Career Professional explains to students the nature of the RIASEC codes

• Step 4: Career Professional explains why we focus on the top three codes and why all six are being provided

• Step 5: Career Professional describes link between RIASEC type and Occupations

• Step 6: Career Professional explains how beginning with RIASEC code can facilitate career exploration.

• Step 7: Career Professional must be cautious in interpretation

V. Scott Solberg, Ph. D.

Associate Director for Research and

Director of Wisconsin Careers

Center on Education and Work

University of Wisconsin – Madison

cew.wisc.edu