What does the SDS reveal about an individual?

The Strong Interest Inventory (SDS) specifically assesses an individual's preferences and interests in relation to various career fields and vocational paths, aligning these interests with Holland's personality types. By yielding the individual's three highest scores based on these personality types, the SDS provides insight into career environments that may be most satisfying and suitable for the individual. Holland’s framework categorizes personalities into six types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional, which helps in matching individuals to corresponding occupational environments based on their scores.

In contrast, educational background, salary expectations, and work experience history do not fall within the scope of what the SDS measures; these aspects relate more to concrete qualifications or external factors rather than inherent interests and personality traits that influence career satisfaction. Therefore, focusing on the personality types aligns perfectly with the purpose of the SDS in guiding individuals toward careers that resonate with their core preferences and values.