Using Holland's Theory in Employment Counseling: Focus on Service Occupations

This article presents the basic tenets of Holland's (1997) theory of vocational personalities and work environments and discusses its use by employment counselors in service occupations. The authors describe Holland's 6 personality types and research on the theory, as well as formal and informal assessment and counseling strategies within the context of the theory's use and resources for employment counselors. Growth trends within service occupations and the fastest growing occupational groups within the service sector are identified. A case study of a 20-year-old college student that combines Holland's theory with labor market trends in service occupations is presented.