7 Things to Look for When Hiring for Emotional Intelligence - CareerMetis.com

7 Things to Look for When Hiring for Emotional Intelligence Hiring an employee based solely on their intelligence level and work experience isn’t enough anymore. These days, business relationships When you have all of those attributes going for your company, that’s when the magic happens: Fewer problematic Sorrow, frustration, and exhaustion are often thought of as weak emotions. The fact is, they are perfectly legit human responses that everyone experiences often. The same is true of positive emotions.But, if someone refuses to acknowledge their own feelings and is incapable of relating to basic emotions expressed by others, that is a true sign of an emotionally immature person.Recognize this EI trait in an interview by expressing some of your own emotions and observing the response.Does your applicant laugh in discomfort or shift in their seat silently or do they nod their head in understanding and as an act of solidarity? Do they seem to hit an emotional wall or do they reciprocate with an honest, vulnerable response?2. They Acknowledg e Weaknesses Without Self-DeprecatingThere is a big difference between taking personal responsibility, admitting fault, and being sincerely sorry about making a mistake versus losing focus on the issue, getting worked up about all your faults, and turning to self-pity.evalThe first response is a positive and healthy way to handle a mistake while the second response shows immaturity and selfishness You understand that each past and present event affects personality and moods. You also tend to give others the benefit of the doubt.Recognize this EI trait in an interview by asking the applicant to describe their most challenging supervisor. Why was that person so difficult? How did the applicant manage the professional relationship?Listen for empathetic responses explaining why the supervisor was difficult, such as work pressures or background differences. If the applicant explains that they had a successful working relationship despite the difficulties, that’s a good sign.4. They Kno w How to Be FlexibleMany people brag about being a perfectionist or someone who likes to maintain control of any situation. The truth is, however, being flexible is a more emotionally mature trait to possess.Being able to change course quickly while maintaining focus, or having the ability to reassess and reestablish a new focus mid-plan, is necessary in modern business.Recognize this EI trait in an interview by asking how the applicant handles surprises. Ask them to give an instance of a time when everything went wrong and how they kept going anyway.You’re looking for responses that prove they maintained their composure, confidence, and maybe even their sense of humor until they found an alternative way to reach their goal.5. They Live a Balanced LifeevalWhile you want an employee who is extremely motivated and capable, you still want someone who is self-aware enough to naturally know the importance of living a healthy, happy life.If they take care of themselves physically, menta lly, emotionally, and spiritually on top of their work life, you’ve got someone who is well-adjusted and won’t risk burnout.evalRecognize this EI trait in an interview by asking how the applicant defines success Recognize this EI trait in an interview by walking the applicant through a scenario such as a dissatisfied client complaining about unmet expectations. Ask them what red flags could have been waving before the client spoke up. Also, how would they prevent similar situations from happening in the future?CONCLUSIONThe thing with emotional intelligence is that you won’t recognize it, or know if someone else has it, if you don’t possess it yourself. Even if you do think have it, continually fine-tuning your own emotional intelligenceis a life-long endeavor, not one that stops once you find it.An interviewee could easily give you the “correct” answers to any of your EI questions, but if you are emotionally intelligent you will be able to catch disingenuous, canned res ponses immediately. When you do happen to find a truly emotionally intelligent applicant, you will feel a human connection that can’t be faked. This is when you know you’ve found the right candidate for the job.