People with a Realistic (R) theme often prefer to deal with objects or things rather than with ideas or with people. They prefer realistic careers such as mechanical engineer, production planner, building inspector, safety engineer, and marine surveyor. They are more likely than others to have mechanical and athletic abilities, enjoy creating things with their hands, and using tools or machines. Some prefer large, powerful machines, such as tractors, cranes, and big trucks, while others prefer precision machinery, such as X-ray machines or electronic testing equipment. It is not uncommon that they work with cars, boats, electrical equipment, construction machinery, or build houses roads or equipment. 

People with this theme also express preferences for outdoor activities which permit movement and physical coordination. Many enjoy working with animals or natural resources. They more often take pride in their physical abilities and technical skills than in social skills or abstract-thinking abilities. 

Co-workers are often rugged, robust, and handy with tools. They often like outdoor sports, such as hunting and fishing, and they are not likely to talk about their feelings when interacting with others. They have some tendency to see the world in simple, tangible, and traditional ways. They are inclined to spend extra money on cars, campers, motorcycles, boats, and equipment such as CB radios. They prefer concrete activities to abstract problems. People usually describe the R type as being: conforming, frank, genuine, humble, modest, practical, natural, persistent, and thrifty. 

People with Realistic themes like to have straight forward tasks and see the results of their labors. Their efforts can usually be related to results which are observable and immediate. This makes life more direct and uncomplicated by intricate problems involving people or organizations or conflicting philosophies. 

The following flavors are often in evidence: mechanical; technical; physical; blue-collar; athletic; masculine; practical; concrete; outdoor. 

When the Investigative (I) theme is also strongly in evidence, there is a greater likelihood that the person likes scientific work and will take more training or education. It is not uncommon for such people to major in engineering or move into technical jobs requiring some mathematical abilities. 

When the Conventional (C) theme is also in evidence, the person may be more traditional in lifestyle and get along better in larger companies which provide structure and security. These individuals often move from mechanical and construction jobs to supervisory or foreman positions. 

If the Realistic theme is connected with a higher Artistic (A) theme, the person often has skills and interests in the crafts and natural lifestyles. 

People with an Investigative (I) theme generally favor working with ideas rather than with people or things. They have more desire than most to make sense out of the world, understand causes and effects, have mathematical and scientific abilities, and solve puzzles and problems. They often work in jobs which are scientific or laboratory in nature. They often develop rich vocabularies for classifying and distinguishing between different aspects of the world. Their work often involves research, the analysis of data, using formulas, graphs, and numbers. They like to think through problems and work with ideas, words, and symbols in solving them. 

Preferred working conditions include a minimum of structure and supervision. Independence and originality are valued. People with this theme dislike repetitive activities, and they often like to work by themselves. They prefer investigative careers such as biochemist, orthodontist, anthropologist, economist, researcher, and management analyst. 

Co-workers are often individualistic and unconventional, even asocial and aloof. They are often exploring new ideas or approaches, and they often like to deal with abstract ideas. 

The following common flavors are associated with the Investigative theme: analytical; scientific; precise; intellectual; complex; curious; critical; methodical; rational; unconventional; abstract; enjoy problems and puzzles; independent; socially reserved; modest. 

When the Realistic (R) theme is in evidence with the Investigative, the person is often more mechanical and oriented towards data and physical objects. This may mean they are more concrete and involved in applied scientific tasks, such as engineers and technicians. 

When the Artistic (A) theme is higher than the Realistic, the person with an Investigative theme is more likely to stress creativity and idea-oriented activity. This person is likely to desire freedom from excessive structure and repetitive activities dealing with tangible or concrete objects. 

If the Artistic and Social themes are both in evidence along with the Investigative, the person is likely to enjoy psychological work. 

The person with an Artistic (A) theme prefers to be expressive and aesthetic. This often means that they like to create new forms of design environments or experiences which capture something they value. The A type usually has artistic skills, enjoys creating original work, and has a good imagination. 

Jobs having this flavor are found in settings such as art galleries, music stores, theaters, interior design shops, photography studios, television studios, libraries, newspapers, etc. They also prefer artistic careers such as architect, copy writer, technical editor, story editor, composer, stage director, interior decorator, and commercial designer. The A type usually enjoys working with ideas rather than things. 

Co-workers are often unconventional, individualistic, concerned about beauty, focusing on momentary experiences and the aesthetic aspects of environments. They don't like a lot of structure or conformity, and they like to come up with new ways and effects. They often need to work alone to permit individual expression. They tend to describe themselves as disorderly, emotional, imaginative, intuitive, non-conforming, impractical, open, original, independent, idealistic, and unconventional. 

They want the opportunity to create new things and have new stimulation. This means that innovation is encouraged by persons having the Artistic theme. Bureaucratic, conventional organizations cause much frustration for employees with a high Artistic theme. 

When the person with a high Artistic theme also has a high Investigative (I) theme, they are often more inclined to like interactions with others but without a specific, clear-cut agenda. The A-S person often enjoys counseling and teaching, if plenty of self-expression and freedom are permitted during interactions. 

Since few jobs exist which are strongly Artistic in nature, individuals with this theme often need to earn money in non-Artistic settings and satisfy many of their needs in hobbies and non-vocational settings. Many with Artistic themes develop in a lifestyle which requires little income, and they often look down upon people who stress material possessions and dependency on technical/mechanical objects. 

People with a Social (S) theme prefer working with others, often in a supportive way, rather than things. They tend to be verbal and to have interpersonal skills. The S type usually has social skills, is interested in human relationships, and likes to help others with problems. They like to train, instruct, cure, and enlighten other people. People with a Social theme will select group activities often and may have religious or humanistic interests. They often do not like highly ordered activities or activities involving materials, tools, and machines, and do not like a lot of paperwork or routine work. 

They usually express themselves well and get along well in groups. They often become engaged in complex social relationships and seek out small groups when free time is available. Jobs with a Social theme include teaching, counseling, clinical psychologist, psychiatric case worker, paralegal assistant, speech therapist, administering public or social agencies, and providing welfare and personal services. 

People with a Social theme describe themselves as generous, cooperative, warm, idealistic, sociable, tactful, kind, sympathetic, patient, friendly, understanding, responsible, and helpful. They like to talk about philosophical questions. They get rewards from helping others, and their co-workers are often supportive and make each other feel wanted. Therefore, they often get a lot from their work, especially if they can interact a lot with co-workers. 

A Social theme combined with an Artistic (A) theme increases the likelihood of preferring a non-business, non-bureaucratic setting, with lots of opportunity for freedom and expressiveness. People with this combination of themes often have a real aversion to structure, lack of humanistic values, and conformity, and work best in a small, unstructured organization. 

The Social theme combined with the Enterprising (E) theme increases the likelihood of fitting into a business or agency which realizes profits. People with this combination of themes are also more likely to move to leadership or supervisory positions. They may even accept sales or promotional work if it doesn't involve a "hard-sell" or if people need the product to get along. 

People with an Enterprising (E) theme usually have leadership and speaking abilities, and is interested in economics and politics. They often prefer activities which involve selling, promoting, or leading others. They like to have power and to be able to influence others. They are good with words which they use in selling, leading, and dominating. They seem to enjoy convincing people and being powerful or influential. The E type likes to work with people and ideas rather than things. They are likely to be impatient with routine, systematic and precise work or work involving long periods of intellectual effort or concentration. 

Besides power, they often like material wealth and working in expensive settings. Enterprising individuals prefer enterprising careers such as public relations representative, financial planner, real estate agent, sales representative, stockbroker, and attorney. They usually get their biggest rewards in business settings where there is higher financial payoff, but they can work well in public agencies if promotional and political skills are rewarded with more power and influence. 

They describe themselves as adventuresome, ambitious, argumentative, energetic, optimistic, extroverted, popular, sociable, agreeable, self-confident, talkative, and domineering. They like competitive activities, and they like to see things happen. They are often known as "wheeler-dealers," and they like to meet famous, rich, and powerful people. 

People with an Enterprising theme combined with a high Conventional (C) theme are more likely to fit into a larger company or organization which requires more stability and order. They may even deal with administrative tasks without becoming as bore as the person with more of the Social (S) or Artistic (A) themes. 

Combined with the Social theme, people with an Enterprising theme are more likely to like a lot of people interaction, sometimes in soft-sell sales or even promoting social programs or other non-business enterprises. Many detest the need to keep records and tend to details, and this hampers their sales potential because they don't keep track of inventories and paper work. 

People with a Conventional (C) theme enjoy working with words and numbers. They often prefer orderly, systematic work with data, such as keeping records, organizing written and numerical materials according to some plan, and are more likely to seek clean working conditions where rules and procedures are clearly stated. C type individuals prefer conventional careers such as accountant, cost clerk, bookkeeper, budget analyst, and business programmer. They fit well into large organizations, but they do not seek out leadership, which means they like to be in the chain-of-command. This permits them to avoid responsibility for dealing with ambiguous situations without clear-cut rules. 

People describe the C type as being: conforming, practical, careful, obedient, thrifty, efficient, orderly, conscientious, and persistent. They are usually dependable and can get along without constant stimulation or intensity of relationships. They like to see things run efficiently and smoothly, which means they will pay attention to maintenance tasks, administrative considerations and details required to make complex organizations function on a day-to-day basis. They frequently keep an organization running long after the initiator or developer has gone on to new challenges. 

The Conventional theme combined with the Realistic (R) theme increases chances of the person's liking to work along with a lot of concrete structure and specific direction. This may increase chance that the person will be comfortable working with technical machines; and the combination may decrease the chance that they will want to become a supervisor or deal with ambiguous situations not described in the rule book. 

The Conventional theme combined with the Enterprising (E) theme increases chances that the person will move into supervisory positions and deal more with people. They may deal with the public more easily and seek limited responsibility for selling if they really know and believe in their product.