In contested labour markets in developing countries, vocational interest inventories
could potentially match applicants to speciality occupations. This
descriptive study investigated the appropriateness of career interest, represented
by the SDS, to guide vocational placement in a developing country.
The study applied Holland’s concepts of congruence, differentiation, and consistency
of vocational profile to South African Navy divers as a case study. The
81 navy divers generated an S/R/E code, but with questionable congruence,
and poor differentiation and consistency. The results suggested that the profile
might reflect socio-economic dynamics rather than the expression of personality-vocational
matching, and such scales might not be useful for vocational
placement in local environments. The study cautions the use of vocational
guidance instruments in context of developing countries, where socio-economic
considerations may outweigh personality characteristics in career choices.