Evaluating Holland’s Career Theory to Enhance Career Decision-Making in Beauty Vocational Education Students

The beauty industry’s diversity presents both opportunities and challenges for vocational students in making informed career choices. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Holland’s Career Theory in improving career decision-making among Beauty Studies students at SMK Negeri 3 Payakumbuh. Utilizing a quantitative, true-experimental posttest-only control design, 67 students were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received personalized career counseling using the RIASEC model, while the control group followed standard guidance. A career decision-making questionnaire, validated for the Indonesian vocational context through expert review, pilot testing, and reliability analysis (Cronbach’s α = 0.82), was used to measure post-intervention outcomes. Findings show that the experimental group scored significantly higher on the post-test (M = 89.45) compared to the control group (M = 77.82), with a high effect size (d = 0.77), confirming the intervention’s practical significance. These results underscore the value of aligning personality traits with career environments to facilitate more confident and informed career decisions. The study recommends adapting Holland’s theory across other vocational fields to test its versatility and suggests longitudinal research to evaluate the sustained effects on career satisfaction. Furthermore, by addressing societal stereotypes and offering a structured, theory-driven approach to career counseling, this research contributes to elevating vocational education as a pathway to meaningful and fulfilling careers, particularly in fields traditionally undervalued. Integrating Holland’s model into career counseling curricula can support students' long-term career development and improve their transition into the workforce.