Being good at something doesn’t mean you should build a dream career around it. Yet that’s what many people do—becoming an accountant because they’re “good with numbers,” a doctor because they’re “good at science” or an attorney because they’re “good in a debate.”. This approach often leads to feelings of frustration, unfulfillment and discouragement.
“Our abilities can be disabilities if they lead us into the wrong career,” as Maura Koutoujian, a career and life coach in Jody Michael Associates’ Chicago office, explains. Thankfully, tools like the Highlands Ability Battery™ (HAB), a scientifically validated career aptitude test, can help you uncover your natural abilities and gain a deeper understanding of how you think, tackle challenges, and learn.
What is the HAB?
When you hear the word “test,” it might bring back memories of high school geometry finals or college entrance exams like the SAT or ACT. But what is an aptitude test, really? The HAB is a comprehensive aptitude assessment designed to uncover your natural abilities and provide valuable insights into how you think, learn and solve problems. Widely regarded as a top aptitude assessment, the HAB helps individuals identify their innate strengths and align them with career opportunities or personal development tools. Administered online, the HAB consists of a series of timed work samples that measure a range of abilities, such as problem-solving, learning preferences and creative thinking.
You can’t study for it. You can’t get an A (or an F) on it. There is no “right” or “wrong” answer. Because it is not a test of knowledge or skill, the HAB won’t tell you what you’re “good at.” A low score on any work samples isn’t inherently bad, nor is a high score something to boast about. This natural abilities assessment evaluates tendencies that emerge early in life and remain consistent into adulthood. The HAB insights offer profound clarity on how your abilities align with career paths and personal development goals.
Whether by nature or nurture, by the time we are in our mid-teens, our abilities show up, and can be tested. Over time, we accumulate skills, both complementary and compensatory. Following the assessment, a certified career coach provides a personalized debrief, explaining your results and offering actionable insights to support your career planning or personal development journey.
4 Surprising Insights the HAB Can Reveal About You
1. Why you do this “weird, quirky thing”
It may seem odd to your co-worker in the next cubbie that you like to color-code your files. But your affinity for organization may reflect a linear style of thinking that culminates in one of your strengths. Your high score in the HAB’s Concept Organization work sample might explain your love for color-coding files or creating order from chaos. Understanding these traits can offer surprising insights into your natural problem-solving skills and highlight strengths that contribute to career growth insights.
2. Your penchant (or apathy) for detail
Your score on the HAB’s Specialist versus Generalist scales will likely reflect whether your focus tends to go narrow and deep, or wide and broad. If you score in the mid range of both scales, it doesn’t mean that you’re neither one, but that your strength may be in assimilating a “just-right” amount of detail in order to maintain an ability to see the big picture. This insight can enhance professional growth by identifying roles where your strengths, like “translating” between details and overarching strategies, shine. You might be well-suited for a “translator” or liaison role, a valuable asset to your team or company. It can also be a great advantage in leadership roles.
3. Your time frame preferences
The HAB provides valuable insight into your preferences for short- or long-term tasks. This knowledge can help you manage projects effectively, whether you’re pursuing professional goals or personal development.
4. What it’s like not to be you
In addition to helping you identify your best career fit, professional goals and most conducive work environment, the HAB can enhance your ability to understand, interact and communicate with others. With a high score in the extrovert range, you might thrive on back-to-back meetings, but your partner may need cushion time to process what she’s heard quietly. On the Extrovert range, you might thrive on back-to-back meetings, but your partner may need cushion time to quietly process what she’s heard, and to recharge. Your high Specialist tendencies might tempt you to provide your boss with frequent, detailed updates, when all he really wants (as a Generalist) is a monthly report on the bottom line. Rather than making the faulty assumption that your Introverted partner is giving you the cold shoulder, or that your Generalist boss doesn’t care, the HAB can help you develop an appreciation of — and respect for — people with styles different from your own. These insights contribute to understanding innate talents and career coaching assessments.
The HAB: A Journey and a Destination
Because the HAB provides insight into how you reason and approach problems, the test-taking experience can spark self-awareness. “Before we begin the debrief session, I like to ask clients about any thoughts they noticed running through their mind during the process. Their answers are often just as enlightening as the results of the test,” Maura says. “One client told me that she was really energized by the work samples that were a challenge, while another told me that he would rather leave a field blank than enter a potentially wrong answer.”
One of the most common observations is that the self-talk people engage in while taking the test can be very powerful in either a positive or negative direction. The messages you tell yourself in these kinds of situations (e.g., I’ve got this or My memory is atrocious ) can determine the tone of the experience. “During the debrief meeting, I emphasize to clients that this is not a ‘here-you-go/now-you-know’ exercise. Digesting the results — and living them — is where the truest value lies.” This process not only highlights your natural abilities in career planning but also shapes your perception of personal strengths.
The Highlands Ability Battery benefits extend beyond test results. They lie in the practical application of insights gained, leading to better alignment between your abilities and your career. Whether you’re exploring how aptitude tests reveal personal strengths or seeking career guidance assessments, the HAB is a powerful tool.
How to Take the HAB
Included in JMA’s Career Discovery program or as a stand-alone offering, the Highlands Ability Battery provides a comprehensive career aptitude test analysis. Certified career coaches ensure you gain actionable insights for lasting professional growth.
