Holland Code types · I of RIASEC
Investigative — The Thinker
Investigative people like to observe, learn, analyse and solve problems. They are curious about how and why things work — in nature, in technology, in the human body and mind. They are often described as analytical, curious, precise and independent.
What Investigative people enjoy
- Researching questions and testing ideas
- Working with data, science or medicine
- Solving complex, open-ended problems
- Learning deeply about a subject
Work environments that fit
Laboratories, universities, research teams, hospitals and anywhere careful thinking matters more than quick talking.
Careers that often fit Investigative types
- Biochemists
- Medical Scientists
- Veterinarians
- Biologists
- Epidemiologists
- Surgeons
- Dentists
- Astronomers
- Microbiologists
- Environmental Scientists
- Zoologists
- Data Scientists
Few people are a single type. Most Holland Codes combine two or three types — for example, an Investigative first letter with Social second describes someone who wants to do this kind of work with and for people. Your own code comes from your pattern across all 48 activities in the test.
The other five types
- Realistic — The Doer
- Artistic — The Creator
- Social — The Helper
- Enterprising — The Persuader
- Conventional — The Organizer
Please note: interest types describe preferences, not ability or destiny. Educational resource only — see our method page.