We have all been there. You choose a career path because it seems sensible, or because someone told you that you would be good at it. But after a few years, the shine wears off. You realise that being 'good' at something isn't the same as being interested in it. This is where an interests assessment becomes your most valuable tool for navigating the modern workplace.
At Compono, we have spent over a decade researching what actually makes people thrive at work. We have found that when your daily tasks align with your natural curiosities, 'burnout' starts to look a lot more like 'balance'. It is not about finding a perfect job that feels like a holiday; it is about finding work that doesn't drain your battery by 10:00 am on a Tuesday.
Most of us are taught to build our careers around our skills. We are told to look at our degrees, our previous job titles, and our technical certifications. While these are important, they only tell half the story. Skills are about competence – what you are capable of doing. Interests are about motivation – what you actually want to do.
Imagine a professional who is an incredible The Auditor. They are meticulous, accurate, and can spot a decimal point error from a mile away. They have the skills to be a world-class accountant. However, if their true interest lies in creative storytelling and human connection, they will eventually feel stifled. No amount of skill can replace the lack of genuine interest.
An interests assessment helps you peel back the layers of expectation and social pressure. It forces you to look at the activities that actually energise you. When you align your work personality with your interests, you stop fighting against your own nature. You start working with it.
Have you ever been told you are 'too analytical', 'too social', or 'too much of a dreamer'? Usually, these labels are thrown around when we are in the wrong environment. If you are a natural The Campaigner working in a silent, isolated data-entry role, your enthusiasm will be seen as a distraction. But in a role that matches your interests – like brand strategy or community organising – that same energy is exactly what makes you a superstar.
The problem isn't your personality; it is the misalignment between your interests and your environment. An interests assessment provides the data you need to advocate for yourself. It gives you the language to say, 'I thrive when I am solving complex problems, not when I am managing repetitive schedules.'
At Hey Compono, we believe that self-awareness is the ultimate career superpower. Our platform uses a personality-adaptive approach to help you understand why certain tasks feel like a breeze while others feel like pulling teeth. We don't try to fix you – because you aren't broken. We just help you find the right 'fit'.
We have heard the advice a thousand times: 'Follow your passion and you will never work a day in your life.' It is a lovely sentiment, but for most people, it is completely unhelpful. Passions can be fleeting, and not every passion can (or should) be turned into a career. An interests assessment is different because it focuses on stable, long-term patterns of behaviour and curiosity.
Instead of looking for one single 'passion', an interests assessment looks at categories of work. Do you prefer working with people, data, things, or ideas? Most of us are a combination of these. For example, The Evaluator might be interested in data and ideas, while The Helper is deeply invested in people and community.
When you understand these broad categories, your career options expand. You realise that you don't need one specific job title to be happy. You just need a role that allows you to spend 70–80% of your time engaged in the types of activities that match your interests. This is a much more realistic and sustainable way to organise your professional life.
You don't always have to quit your job to find career satisfaction. Sometimes, small adjustments – or 'job crafting' – can make a world of difference. Once you have completed an interests assessment, take your results to your next 1:1 with your manager. Use them as a blueprint for your development.
If your assessment shows a high interest in pioneering new ideas, ask to be involved in the next 'blue sky' project. If you are a The Coordinator who loves structure, volunteer to overhaul the team's project management system. Most managers are thrilled when employees take initiative to do work they are actually interested in, as it almost always leads to better results.
The Hey Compono app is designed to facilitate these exact types of growth. By understanding your unique work personality, you can identify the gaps between what you are doing and what you are wired for. It is about making your current work work for you.
A personality test looks at your natural traits and how you interact with the world. An interests assessment specifically measures your preferences for different types of work activities and environments. While they are related, interests are more focused on 'what' you like to do, whereas personality is 'how' you do it.
While your core interests tend to remain relatively stable throughout adulthood, they can evolve as you gain more experience. However, the fundamental categories – such as a preference for working with people versus working with data – usually stay consistent. This is why they are such a reliable guide for career planning.
Most modern assessments, like those found within Hey Compono, are designed to be completed in about 10–15 minutes. We respect your time and focus on the most impactful questions to give you immediate, actionable insights without the fluff.
In most cases, yes! Sharing your results can help your manager understand how to get the best out of you. It shifts the conversation from 'I'm unhappy' to 'I am most productive and engaged when I am doing X'. It is a proactive, professional way to manage your career path.
Not at all. It is just as valuable for people who want to improve their current situation. Understanding your interests helps you manage your energy, say 'no' to the right things, and lean into the tasks that lead to promotions and professional satisfaction.
Ready to understand yourself better?