SELF DIRECTED SEARCH
FORM R : 4th Edition : John L. Holland, PhD
Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc. SDS
DO NOT WRITE ANYTHING IN THIS BOOKLET
This booklet may help you explore what occupation to follow. If you have already made up your mind
about an occupation, it may support your idea or suggest other possibilities. If you are uncertain about
what occupations to follow, the booklet may help you to locate a small group of occupations for further
consideration. Most people find that filling out this booklet is helpful and fun. If you follow the directions
carefully, page by page, you should enjoy the experience. Do not rush; you will gain more by approaching
the task thoughtfully.
Given below are number of activities that people like to do or do not like to do. Read each activity
carefully. Put a cross on the circla ‘L’ for the activity you would like to do in a separate answer sheet
provided to you. Put a cross on the circle ‘D’ for the activity you would dislike doing or would be indifferent
to. In case, on second thought, if you want to change your answer, draw a horizontal line on the center
of cross and put another cross on appropriate circle.
1. Fix electrical things. 22. Study scholarly or technical problems
2. Repair cars 23. Sketch, draw, or paint
3. Fix mechanical things 24. Design furniture, clothing, or posters
4. Build things with wood 25. Play in a band, group, or orchestra
5. Take a Technology Education (e.g., 26. Practice a musical instrument
industrial arts, shop) course
27. Create portraits or photographs
6. Take a Mechanical Drawing course
28. Write novels or plays
7. Take a Woodworking course
29. Take an Art course
8. Take an Auto Mechanics course
30. Arrange or compose music of any kind
9. Work with an outstanding mechanic or
31. Work with a gifted artist, writer, or sculptor
technician
32. Perform for others (dance, sing, act, etc.)
10. Work outdoors
33. Read artistic, literary, or musical articles
11. Operate motorized machines or equipment
34. Meet important educators or therapists
12. Read scientific books or magazines
35. Read sociology articles or books
13. Work in a research office or laboratory
36. Work for a charity
14. Work on a scientific project
37. Help others with their personal problems
15. Study a scientific theory
38. Study juvenile delinquency
16. Work with chemicals
39. Read psychology articles or books
17. Apply mathematics to practical problems
40. Take a Human Relations course
18. Take a Physics course
41. Teach in a high school
19. Take a Chemistry course
42. Supervise activities for mentally ill patients
20. Take a Mathematics course
43. Teach adults
21. Take a biology course
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44. Work as a volunteer 71. I can refinish furniture or woodwork
45. Learn strategies for business success 72. I can make simple electrical repairs
46. Operate my own service or business 73. I can repair furniture
47. Attend sales conferences 74. I can use many carpentry tools
48. Take a short course on administration or 75. I can make simple plumbing repairs
leadership
76. I can build simple articles of wood
49. Serve as an officer of any group
77. I can paint rooms of a house or an apartment
50. Supervise the work of others
78. I can use algebra to solve mathematical
51. Meet important executives and leaders problems
52. Lead a group in accomplishing some goal 79. I can perform a scientific experiment or
survey
53. Participate in a political campaign
80. I understand the “half-life” of a radioactive
54. Act as an organizational or business
element
consultant
81. I can use logarithmic tables
55. Read business magazines or articles
82. I can use a computer to study a scientific
56. Fill out income tax forms
problem
57. Add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers
83. I can describe the function of the white
in business or bookkeeping
blood cells
58. Operate office machines
84. I can interpret simple chemical formulae
59. Keep detailed records of expenses
85. I understand why man-made satellites do not
60. Set up a record-keeping system fall to earth
61. Take an Accounting course 86. I can write a scientific report
62. Take a Commercial Math course 87. I understand the “Big Bang” theory of the
universe
63. Take an inventory of supplies or products
88. I understand the role of DNA in genetics
64. Check paperwork or products for errors or
flaws 89. I can play a musical instrument
65. Update records or files 90. I can participate in two- or four-part choral
singing
66. Work in an office
91. I can perform as a musical soloist
92. I can act in a play
Given below are a number of skills which
people can do well or competently. Read each 93. I can do interpretive reading
skill carefully. Put a cross a on the letter ‘Y’
94. I can do a painting, watercolor, or sculpture
for those skills that you can do well or
competently and on the letter ‘N’ for those 95. I can arrange or compose music
skills you have never performed or perform
96. I can design clothing, posters, or furniture
poorly against the appropriate number of
statement in the answersheet. . 97. I write stories or poetry well
98. I can write a speech
67. I have used wood shop power tools such as 99. I can take attractive photographs
a power saw, lathe, or sander
100. I find it easy to talk with all kinds of people
68. I can make a scale drawing
101. I am good at explaining things to others
69. I can change a car’s oil or tire
102. I could work as a neighborhood organizer
70. I have operated power tools such as a drill
press, grinder, or sewing machine 103. People seek me out to tell me their troubles
104. I can teach children easily
105. I can teach adults easily 133. Airplane Mechanic
106. I am good at helping people who are upset 134. Auto mechanic
or troubled
135. Carpenter
107. I have a good understanding of social
136. Truck Driver
relationships
137. Surveyor
108. I am good at teaching others
138. Construction Inspector
109. I am good at making people feel at ease
139. Radio Mechanic
110. I am much better at working with people
than things or ideas 140. Locomotive Engineer
111. I know how to be a successful leader 141. Machinist
112. I am a good public speaker 142. Electrician
113. I can manage a sales campaign 143. Farmer
114. I can organize the work of others 144. Helicopter Pilot
115. I am an ambitious and assertive person 145. Electronic Technician
116. I am good at getting people to do things my 146. Welder
way
147. Meteorologist
117. I am a good sales person
148. Biologist
118. I am a good debater
149. Astronomer
119. I can be very persuasive
150. Medical Laboratory Technician
120. I have good planning skills
151. Anthropologist
121. I have some leadership skills
152. Chemist
122. I can file correspondence and other papers
153. Independent Research Scientist
123. I have held an office job
154. Writer of Scientific Articles
124. I can use an automated posting machine
155. Geologist
125. I can do a lot of paperwork in a short time
156. Botanist
126. I can use simple data processing equipment
157. Scientific Research Worker
127. I can post credits and debits
158. Physicist
128. I can keep accurate records of payment or
sales 159. Social Science Researcher
129. I can enter information at a computer 160. Environmental Analyst
terminal 161. Poet
130. I can write business letters 162. Musician
131. I can perform some routine office activities 163. Novelist
132. I am a careful and orderly person 164. Actor / Actress
165. Free-Lance Writer
Given below is an inventory of your feelings 166. Musical Arranger
and attitudes about many kinds of work. Show
the occupations that interest or appeal to you 167. Journalist
by putting a cross on the letter ‘Y’ while those 168. Artist
that you dislike or find uninteresting by
putting a cross on the letter ‘N’ against 169. Singer
appropriate number in the answersheet. 170. Composer
171. Sculptor / Sculptress
172. Playwright 211. Financial Analyst
173. Cartoonist 212. Cost Estimator
174. Entertainer 213. Payroll Clerk
175. Career Counselor 214. Bank Examiner
176. Sociologist 215. Accounting Clerk
177. High School Teacher 216. Audit Clerk
178. Substance Abuse Counselor
179. Juvenile Delinquency Expert ***
180. Speech Therapist
181. Marriage Counselor
182. Clinical Psychologist
183. Social Science Teacher
184. Personal Counselor
185. Youth Camp Director
186. Social Worker
187. Rehabilitation Counselor
188. Playground Director
189. Buyer
190. Advertising Executive
191. Manufacturer’s Representative
192. Business Executive
193. Master of Ceremonies
194. Salesperson
195. Real Estate Salesperson
196. Department Store Manager
197. Sales Manager
198. Public Relations Executive
199. TV Station Manager
200. Small Business Owner
201. Legislator
202. Airport Manager
203. Bookkeeper
204. Budget Reviewer
205. Certified Public Accountant
206. Credit Investigator
207. Bank Teller
208. Tax Expert
209. Inventory Controller
210. Computer Operator
