World of Work: Term 2 [Career Categories]

LESSON 1 & 2

Holland’s Six Occupational Personality Types

John Holland, professor emeritus psychologist at John Hopkins proposed a theory that personality factors of an
individual influences their career choices.
They intend to work with people who have same
preferences as them at work, chose to prefer job
where their present skill and abilities can be
optimally used to improve their career graphs while
also be satisfied with their job performance.
Holland described six personality types are visually
represented by a hexagonal model.

The types are

Realistic (R)- The ‘Do-er’

Investigative (I) — The ‘Thinker’
Artistic (A) — The ‘Creator’
Social (S) — The ‘Helper’
Enterprising (E) — The ‘Persuader’
Conventional (C) — The ‘Organiser’

The types of personality closest to each other on the hexagon have the most characteristics in common.

Realistic (R) — Realistic individuals see themselves as practical, realistic, and mechanical, involve in activities that
include practical, hands-on problems and solutions and are less likely to work people. They have task-oriented
behaviour are kinaesthetic learners and often do physical task. Typical realistic careers include electrician, engineer,
veterinarian, and the military.

Investigate (I) — Investigative individuals see themselves precise, scientific, and intellectual, involve working with
ideas which require an extensive amount of thinking. They seek independence to work, analyse, organise facts,
hence lack any persuasive skills and do not enjoy leadership positions. They value science and, most would prefer
being employed in investigative and explorative work sectors. Typical investigative careers include medical
technologist, biologist, chemist, and systems analyst.

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Artistic (A) — Artistic individuals see themselves expressive, original, and independent, involve working with forms,
designs, and patterns. They enjoy creative activities, are flexible, impulsive, and emotional and communicate in a
very expressive manner. They value aesthetics would prefer to being employed in creative sectors such advertising,
theatre, fine arts etc. Typical artistic careers include musician, reporter, and interior decorator.

Social (S) — Socialistic individuals see themselves expressive, original, and independent, enjoy helping, training, or
providing service to others. They like working in team, participate in discussion. They would prefer to be employed in
teamwork like work sectors requiring significant interaction with other team-people. Typical social careers include
teacher, counsellor, and social worker.

Enterprising(E) — Enterprising individuals see themselves energetic, ambitious, and sociable. Enjoy activities that
require them to persuade others, such as sales, and seek out leadership roles. They would like to be employed in
those sectors where there is opportunity to engage in activities, such as leadership, management etc. Typical
enterprising careers include salesperson, business executive and manager.

Conventional (C) — Conventional individuals see themselves organised, careful, conscientiousness and effective.
They are responsible but shy away any leadership roles. They prefer to be employed in organizational sectors, record
keeping and data management jobs. Typical conventional careers include secretary, accountant, and banker.

Choosing a career or education program that fits your Holland personality is a vital step toward career well-being
and success–job satisfaction, good grades, and graduating on time. You want to say, "Yes!" to the question, "Do you
like what you do each day?" Your career well-being depends on it.
The Holland theory is the best known and most widely researched theory on this topic. It is widely used by
professionals.
Understanding the theory and using an accurate Holland assessment like Career Key Discovery will help you identify
careers and education programs that fit who you are and put you on a path to career well-being.

Summary of Holland's theory:

1. In our culture, most people are one of six personality types:
Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional.
People of the same personality type working together create a work environment that fits their type. For
example, when Artistic persons are together on a job, they create a work environment that rewards creative
thinking and behaviour -- an Artistic environment.
2. There are six basic types of work environments:
Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional. "Work" includes doing things to achieve a
purpose, like paid and unpaid jobs, volunteering, sports, or hobbies.
3. People search for environments where they can use their skills and abilities and express their values and
attitudes.
For example, Investigative types of searches for Investigative environments; Artistic types look for Artistic
environments, and so forth.
4. People who choose to work in an environment like their personality type are more likely to be successful and
satisfied.

For example, Artistic people are more likely to be successful and satisfied if they choose a job that has an
Artistic environment, like choosing to be a dance teacher in a dancing school -- an environment "dominated"
by Artistic type people where creative abilities and expression are highly valued.
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Choosing work or an education program that matches, or is like your personality, will most likely lead to success and
satisfaction. This good match is called "congruent" (meaning compatible, in agreement or harmony).

Most people are a combination of types–like Realistic-Investigative, or Artistic-Social. Therefore, you will probably
want to consider occupations in more than one category.
In summary, you are most likely to choose a satisfying work if you choose to do something that fits your personality
type.

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Definition of Essential Workers:
The meaning generally applies to workers in law enforcement and public safety, food production, health care
providers and emergency personnel, among others.

We can identify “essential workers” as those who conduct a range of operations and services in industries that are
essential to ensure the continuity of critical functions – this can be within the public or private sector.

As the pandemic continues to spread and states take tough measures to contain it, workers in other industries are
being added to the list
 Workers conducting COVID-19 research and testing.
 Pharmacy employees who are necessary for filling prescriptions.
 Workers who provide security services to hospitals and other critical industries.
 Mass transit and airport workers.
 Food and agricultural workers, to include those who work in grocery stores and restaurants.
 Many restaurants in a growing number of states are only providing delivery and takeout service only.
 Energy sector employees considered critical to sustaining utilities, telecommunications, and natural gas, among
others. Gas station employees are included.
 Mortuary and funeral service workers, including crematoriums and cemetery workers.
 Employees who manufacture safety and sanitary products, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and
food processing.
 Workers who support national security commitments and the military.
 Water and wastewater employees needed to manage drinking water supplies.
 Bank employees needed to process transactions and payments, along with customer service workers at call
centres. Payroll and certain insurance workers also apply.
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 Vendors that provide essential services or products like logistics, childcare services, along with hardware and
supply stores.
 The news media. Building cleaners and janitors.
 Those who work in trash collection and disposal, animal shelters, certain warehouse and fulfilment centres, food
banks and mail and shipping service centres.

LESSON 3 & 4
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To start with, a very quick reminder of the 6 career categories and what they are. Refer to Lesson 1 Notes for any
clarity.

This part of the lesson will look at the other aspects we consider with Career Categories.

THINKING AND LEARNING SKILLS:

SCHOOL SUBJECTS:
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FET SUBJECTS

Investigative Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Sciences, Information Technology, Agricultural

Science
Enterprising Languages, Business Studies, Consumer Studies, Hospitality Studies, Geography, History,
Economics

Realistic Mathematics, Engineering, Physical Science, Agricultural Science, Information

Technology, Computer Application Technology

Artistic Dramatic Arts, Visual Arts, and Design Music, Graphics, Languages

Conventional Mathematics, CAT, IT, Accountancy

Social Languages, History, Business Studies, Life Sciences, Mathematics,

Consumer Studies, Life Orientation, Physical Science, Consumer Studies, Religious
Studies

Career is an occupation or profession that a person does over a long period of time. For many, it is a lifetime
occupation. Careers can either be science, art or commercial related.

Whichever one, the choice of career can be a very daunting decision considering the subjects required. Subject
combination makes a huge impact on every student’s future career. The reason is that most students don’t know
themselves and don’t know university’s requirements. If students do not select the correct subject combination,
they could find themselves unable to enter certain higher Institutions. So, when making this important career choice,
the subject required should be a top priority.

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The subjects selected by a learner can either make career options accessible or possible, or limited in some cases. It
is therefore necessary to take subjects which will optimize possibilities but are also in line with the individual’s
interests.

As stated earlier, choosing subjects is a very important aspect of a student’s education. The decisions taken are
important as it can be very difficult to change subjects at a certain academic level, although this is not to say it’s
impossible.

Ideally, a student ought to know the career path to follow at the early stage of schooling in order to have the
appropriate subject combination, but in most cases, scholars go for any subject combination that is convenient
without having a particular career in mind and in some cases that always poses a problem.

To avoid this, the student shouldn’t make subject choices without carrying out thorough research on the subjects
needed for career choices.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING CAREER CHOICES

Having seen the subject requirements in relation to different career choices, the following factors need to be taken
into consideration when making a career choice.

1. Ability
It is good to dream big and wish to build a career in certain fields but most times people are not realistic about it. It is
very easy to wish to become a Doctor without paying attention to the abilities of the scholar. However, before going
ahead to make career choices, both parents and the student in question should take time to study the performance
and results of the student. Doing this will give an indication of the scholars ability in each subject.

It is important to be realistic with regard to future careers. Basically, ability of the student will influence career
choice as well. For instance, it is not advisable to select Mathematics when the student concerned lacks numerical
ability and cannot cope with the subject.

If the student is lucky to attend a school where teachers are available to give career guidance and counseling, consult
with such teachers because they can provide insight into your individual capabilities and interest. This will enable to
you go for the suitable courses

2. Interests
While some subjects cannot be completely chosen by
the students, a large proportion of it can. This is why
there are core subjects and optional subjects. The
West African examinations board understood this
and gave students the room to select nine subjects.
Hence, if possible, students should choose careers
whose subject requirements fall within their range of
interest.

3. Influence on Careers
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For clearer understanding, it is important to note that subject requirements differ from one tertiary institution to
another. The only subjects where choices made now will seriously affect future careers and studies are Mathematics
and Physical Science.
However, if your score in Mathematics and Physical Science are poor, careers that demand them will not be an
option in the future.

CONCLUSION
Each career or field of study has its own set of subject requirements, which implies that you will have to perform
well at a certain level in specific subjects. Various qualifications require you to have good grades in mathematics.

When it comes to career choices, a scholar must start from high school/ secondary level to select the required
subjects in preparation of what lies ahead in college/University.

Where the student doesn’t have the right subject combination, their choice of career will be greatly affected. The
student must therefore be the center of the decision-making process. The best choice will always be the subjects
with which your student feels they can cope, and those that interest them the most.

What you are is a human being, sensitive and alive, with genius
Inside of you. Not only that, but you are one of a kind. There has
never been anyone like you before. You see the world in a
unique way because you have unique gifts. That's the way
nature made you. And it will feel like nothing less than fulfilling
your destiny to follow those gifts to a rich and exciting life, full
of purpose and meaning and enjoyment.

LESSON 5
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THE ROLE OF WORK IN RELATION TO SA’S SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC NEEDS

Work and SOCIAL and ECONOMIC NEEDS

Remind learners of what NEEDS are – the basic daily needs include things like water, food, clothes and shelter.
There are other things that we cannot survive without. Needs are a necessity – they are things we cannot do
without.

Needs and Wants are two different things – wants are luxury items, things that we may like to have, but are not
essential.

Then we can look at our Social and Economic Needs:

 SOCIAL NEEDS: These are the needs of groups of people- for example, security, health care, education,
transportation, recreation.
 ECONOMIC NEEDS: People need money to meet their basic as well as social needs if people are unemployed,
they do not earn money and are unable to support their economic needs.

Being part of a COMMUNITY:

 As an individual you belong to many different communities- some communities are very small others are very
big. The smallest of which is your family or your neighborhood, it could be your school and from there your
residential area, your province and the biggest community you are part of is your country.
 Every single community has needs, these needs are satisfied by the provision of goods and services.
 South Africa's main social and economic challenges is being able to meet the needs of the unemployed and
counteract poverty.
 The South African government needs to provide goods and services such as shelter security health care
education recreation and transport.

How does work meet our NEEDS?

As discussed, we all have basic needs – and for those needs to be fulfilled, they must be able to pay for them.
For this to happen, people need to be working and earning money.

In return for doing the work, they receive REMUNERATION (payment in money). Some people have their own
businesses and earn an income from their work.
Two of SA’s biggest Economic Needs are Employment and Money. If people are unemployed, they are not able to
pay for goods and services.
People who are employed contribute positively to the country’s economy by: PAYING TAXES, SPENDING MONEY,
and CREATING WORK.

SOCIAL NEEDS are met by the Government – because they supply services such as water, electricity, housing,
police, health services, education, recreation, and transport.
Those services are funded by TAXES – the main source of the Government’s income.
There are THREE MAIN TYPES of TAXES: Income Tax, Company Tax and Value Added Tax (VAT).
Taxes are paid to South African Revenue Services (SARS).

TAXES
People work and in return they get a SALARY  From that salary they pay TAXES  Taxes are collected by SARS and
form the Governments largest income  The Government then uses those TAXES to provide services to the Public.

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 People pay taxes to the Government through
SALARIES + Additional Taxes on goods and
services

People work to earn money to buy goods The Government uses the money to provide
and services services

South Africa’s
Social and
Economic Needs

Why do people pay taxes?

In return for work - people pay taxes as it forms the main income for the Government
How does the Government get money?
Taxes are collected by SARS and then used by the Government
What does the Government use the money for?
Provide goods and services – to fulfil basic needs
What is the relationship between SOCIAL needs and WORK?
Answers may vary – are met by the Government – because they supply services such as water, electricity, housing,
police, health services, education, recreation, and transport.
What is the relationship between ECONOMIC needs and WORK?
Answers may vary - In return for doing the work, they receive REMUNERATION (payment in money). Some people
have their own businesses and earn an income from their work.

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