What Are the Best Careers for the Investigative Holland Code? Investigative Personality Type Jobs

In this article, we will talk about the second personality type included in John Holland’s internationally acclaimed Holland Code—the Investigative Personality Type, and what someone with this type should aim for when deciding on a career path.

Understanding your dominant personality traits can aid you on your journey of self-discovery. With its six main personality types, the Holland Code model could help you find the best career for you, your interests, and your abilities. These codes, known as RIASEC, are a game changer for working professionals or those looking to enter the job market. The first step is finding out which type you classify as.

What are the best careers for Holland’s Investigative Personality Type? Let’s find out.

What Is the Investigative Personality Type?

The Investigative Personality Type usually refers to an individual who is intellectual, scientific, analytical, and, as indicated by its name, investigative. Someone who prefers to rely on data and research to obtain solutions to problems and who can be somewhat introverted or prefer to dwell in the background rather than take on a leading role.

While it isn’t always the case, Investigative Personality Type individuals generally do well when getting to be the silent backbone of an operation. You are one of those who love to analyze and make sense of data—finding answers in statistics and information.

Reading and studying are common practice for someone with the Investigative Personality Type. You don’t just want to find information—you seek to comprehend it. Ideal Investigative jobs are positions that include these elements.

Investigative Holland Code: What Jobs Match My Personality?

People with an Investigative personality type — often referred to as “Thinkers” — tend to be curious, analytical, and independent. They thrive in environments where problem-solving, research, and exploration are central to the work. 

If you're someone who enjoys diving deep into complex questions and working autonomously, there are many career paths that may suit you well. While most Investigative types gravitate toward research-heavy roles, your personal preferences may also be shaped by traits from other Holland Code categories.

Careers for the Investigative Personality Type (RIASEC)

• Marketing Research Analyst
• Information Security Analyst
• Audiologist
• Economist
• Food Scientist
• Zoologist
• Environmental Scientist
• Computer Support Specialist
• Civil Engineer
• Statistician
• Electronics Engineer
• Biochemist
• Science Journalist
• Data Scientist
• Mathematician
• Clinical Psychologist
• Technology Consultant

How Do I Know If I Have an Investigative Personality?

Knowing your personality type can be hugely beneficial when finding your dream career. Most people spend a large portion of their lives working, and the best way to make this time count is to pick a field where you get to thrive. Research indicates that enjoying your job is the key to success.

The first step toward finding the right job for you is knowing your personality type, so how can you know if you have an investigative personality?

Are you an intellectual problem solver drawn to anything involving math, science, and investigation? Perhaps you are a thinker on the constant mission to expand your understanding and knowledge of the world? Someone who thoroughly analyzes everything to solve even the simplest problems — still loving the challenge of the complex ones! Your motivation is not to be a leader or to convince others of your beliefs, but instead, it is to reach beneficial conclusions and use this to present facts.

If you have made it this far and this sounds like you, chances are you already suspect that you belong in this category. Take an Investigative personality test to discover and learn more about your Investigative Holland Code.

RIASEC Code Combinations for Investigative Personality Type

Understanding your dominant personality type is a start, but it is rare for someone to have interests and traits in a single area. To make the most of this knowledge when choosing your work field, you must also understand how your personality type functions alongside the other five Holland personality types. Most people have secondary and tertiary Holland codes that more accurately reflect who we are as complex individuals.

Thinkers, or those with an Investigative Personality Type, tend to be most compatible with the Artistic and Realistic personality types, but you can have other traits, too. The Investigative Holland Code test tells you everything you need to know about your personality type and traits, including your RIASEC code combinations.

Depending on your unique traits and interests, there are hundreds of possible Holland code combinations, with 25 of them having the Investigative personality as the primary interest type. Here are some examples of RIASEC code combinations for people who are predominantly thinkers by nature.

Investigative-Artistic-Social Careers: RIASEC CODE IAS Jobs

Two or more personality types can be combined when on the hunt for the right career choice, and it can often lead you to a few interesting alternatives you might not have considered. The Artistic Holland Code is known for being innovative and great at coming up with fresh ideas and could be an excellent complement to your Investigate Type traits. Add Social Code traits, and you get an outgoing, friendly, ingenious, and analytical person with leadership skills.

Below are some career paths to consider when combining an Investigative Personality type with an Artistic and Social Personality Type.

• Speech-Language Pathologist
• Counseling and Clinical Psychologist
• History Teacher
• Political Scientist
• Music Therapist
• Sociologist
• Psychiatrist
• Literary Teacher
• Mental Health Counselor
• Marriage Counselor

Investigative-Realistic Careers: RIASEC CODE IR Jobs

Just like the Investigative Code, the Realistic Holland Code is also known for its independence, and those with these traits are often great at obtaining and handling data. For someone who is practical and likes being hands-on, jobs combining an investigative and a realistic personality type could be potential career opportunities.

Perhaps you have already found your dream job, but if not, obtaining knowledge regarding your Holland Personality Type and personality traits could help point you in the right direction. Here are some possibilities for people who have interests that are both investigative and realistic.

• Aerospace Engineer
• Veterinary Assistant
• Animal Breeder
• Audio/Video Technician
• Welder
• Rigger
• Carpenter
• Coroner
• Agricultural Inspector
• Logging Equipment Operator

Investigative-Enterprising Careers: RIASEC CODE IE Jobs

Combined personality codes aren’t always comprised of the most compatible codes; instead, you may have traits from opposing personality types! An example of this is the combination of Investigative and Enterprising personality types. While the Investigative Code Type may avoid the spotlight—the Enterprising Code Type thrives in it! Confidence and the ability to persuade others are traits that come in handy for careers in law, business, criminal investigation, and more.

These are considered inconsistent patterns but can coexist, and having this personality profile can open up some exciting career options for the right person. Here are just a few examples:

• Economist
• Regional/Urban Planners
• Lawyer
• Web Administrator
• Paralegal/Legal Assistant
• Criminal Investigator
• Industrial Engineer
• Business or Law Teacher
• Nanosystem Engineer
• Web Administrator

Investigative-Conventional-Realistic Careers: RIASEC CODE ICR Jobs

The structured and self-controlled Conventional Holland Code Type shares many similarities with the Investigative Type, such as being drawn to data and information rather than to social aspects of a professional environment.

Conformity and structure are essential to someone with Conventional traits. Combine this with the hands-on approach of the Realistic Personality Type and the investigative nature of the Investigative Holland Code and you could be destined for one of the following career paths.

• Carpenter
• Rail Car Repairer
• Electrician
• Food Service Technician
• Phlebotomist
• Embalmer
• Machinist
• Nuclear Technician
• Chemist
• Civil Engineer

Investigative-Social Careers: RIASEC CODE IS Jobs

When you combine the Investigative Type with the Social Type, you get someone with friendly, outgoing, talkative, and empathetic qualities. These aren’t typical traits in someone with only the Investigative Personality Type, but they could make you more suited for a data or research-focused job role with social aspects, such as patient interaction.

The cooperative nature of the Social Holland Code will add traits to the mix that are great for teamwork and for pursuing a career where you get to utilize all your strengths. Need some ideas? Here are a few careers to consider.

• Critical Care Nurse
• Neurologist
• Urologist
• Anesthesiologist
• Radiologist
• Athletic Trainer
• Dentist
• Cardiovascular Technician
• Hearing Aid Specialist
• Acute Care Nurse

What Career Should I Go Into If I Have an Investigative Personality?

Your personality type can give you a good idea of where to start your search for the perfect job, but you also need to consider your individual preferences and traits. If you have taken a career interest test to establish your personality type and secondary traits, you are one step closer to finding a work field where you’ll fit in and thrive.

Having a job is something most of us can’t get away from, but that doesn’t mean we should have to spend years of our lives doing work we don’t enjoy. While there are tricks to help you learn to love your job, the best thing you can do for yourself is to find a job matching your personality and needs.

Take the test and start your journey towards your ideal professional career.

Learn more about the other Holland RIASEC personality types:  
Realistic 
Artistic 
Social 
Enterprising 
Conventional