The Highlands Ability Battery
The Assessment That Measures Who You Actually Are
Not your personality. Not your interests. Your natural abilities — the things you were born to do well.
What Is the HAB?
The Highlands Ability Battery (HAB) is a comprehensive, scientifically validated assessment that measures your natural abilities — the cognitive and physical aptitudes you were born with, not skills you've learned over time.
Unlike personality tests (like Myers-Briggs or StrengthsFinder) or interest inventories, the HAB uses 19 timed work samples to objectively measure how your brain naturally processes information, solves problems, and engages with the world. The results don't change based on your mood or what you think sounds good — they reflect your actual, hardwired abilities.
The HAB was developed from over a century of research originally conducted by Johnson O'Connor, and has been refined and administered by The Highlands Company since 1992. It has helped tens of thousands of students, professionals, and career changers make better decisions about their education and work.
How It Works
19 Exercises. Objective Results. Real Clarity.
Take the Assessment
Complete 19 timed work-sample exercises online. Each one measures a specific natural ability — from how you process numbers to how you visualize space to how you work with your hands.
Review Your Results
Your results are compiled into a detailed report showing your ability profile — where you score high, where you score low, and what that means for how you work and learn best.
Meet With Me
We go through your results together in a one-on-one session. I help you understand what each ability means, how they interact, and what kinds of careers, programs, and environments are the best fit.
Connect to Real Opportunities
Your HAB results link directly to O*NET — the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database — giving you a concrete, data-backed list of careers, trades, and programs that match your natural profile.
What It Measures
A Full Picture of How You're Wired
The HAB measures abilities across several key domains. Here's a sample of what gets assessed:
Reasoning & Problem Solving
Concept Organization · Idea Productivity · Inductive Reasoning
Working Style
Generalist vs. Specialist · Time Frame Orientation · Pace
Spatial & Visual Abilities
Spatial Relations Theory · Spatial Relations Visualization · Design Memory
Language & Communication
Verbal Memory · Tonal Memory · Rhythm Memory
Numerical Abilities
Number Memory · Number Series
Dexterity
Finger Dexterity · Tweezer Dexterity
O*NET Connection
Your Results, Linked to Real Careers
One of the most powerful features of the HAB is its direct connection to O*NET — the Occupational Information Network maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics. O*NET is the nation's primary source of occupational information, covering hundreds of careers across every industry.
When you complete the HAB, your ability profile maps directly to O*NET occupations that align with how you're naturally wired. That means you don't just get abstract insights — you get a real, actionable list of careers, trade programs, apprenticeships, and opportunities worth exploring. Whether you're considering college, a certification program, or jumping straight into the workforce, the O*NET connection gives your results practical, real-world meaning.
What O*NET Provides
Hundreds of occupations across every industry
Trade, apprenticeship, and certification paths
Education requirements and salary data
Skills, tasks, and work activities per role
Direct match to your HAB ability profile
Who It's For
The HAB Works for Anyone at a Crossroads
High School Juniors & Seniors
Figuring out what to do after graduation — college, trade school, gap year, or work? The HAB gives you objective data to make that decision with confidence.
College Students
Undecided on a major? Feeling like your current path isn't right? The HAB helps you understand why — and points you toward something that actually fits.
Young Adults
Already in the workforce but feeling stuck or unfulfilled? The HAB can clarify what's missing and help you find a direction that energizes you.
See What the HAB Reveals About You
Book a free discovery call and I'll walk you through exactly what to expect, what the assessment covers, and how we'll use your results to build a clear path forward.