Recruiting Emotional Intelligent Candidates
Business leaders have known for a while that there is a significant benefit to recruiting emotional intelligent candidates.
For years, many people associated having a higher IQ with a person who outperformed others mentally. People with higher IQ’s have indicated a better ability to learn and understand than lower scores. As an employer, there’s no doubt that we want smart people working for us.
But anymore higher IQ’s aren’t the only factor contributing to success. Emotional intelligence (EI) tests have shown that people with average IQ’s outperform those with higher IQ’s throwing a curve ball to the assumption that IQ was the sole source of success.
Candidates with high EQ are confident. Confident employees are ambitious, honest, and able to interact with colleagues, clients, and leadership with sincerity and conviction. They are more likely to be engaged than intimidated by the challenges their work presents, and they’re willing to step outside their comfort zones. It’s important for companies to know how to recruit and hire confident employees.
So, what is emotional intelligence? We all have it. Research has shown that emotional intelligence is THE critical factor that sets star performers apart from the rest, particularly in the workplace. In general, the actions of people that are well-liked correlate with strong emotional competence and emotional intelligence. Here are some characteristics that someone with strong emotional intelligence would have:
They are empathetic.
People with strong emotional intelligence can sense pain and intuitively ease pain. Thus, emotionally intelligent people can cultivate and establish stronger relationships because they can empathize and intuitively understand others better.
They are grateful.
Emotionally intelligent people see that small wins are STILL wins. They realize that gratitude brings the best and help others celebrate their success. More people who cultivate an attitude of gratitude improve mood, energy, and physical wellbeing in themselves and others.
They have little to no expectations.
Emotionally intelligent people realize that everyone has an individual journey. They realize that expectations drive reactions and limit the potential for growth.
They take risks and embrace change.
They understand risk reaps rewards. Emotionally intelligent people are flexible and constantly adapting, making them able react to change quicker and succeed.
They can effectively communicate emotions.
All people experience emotions, but not all people can effectively articulate them. Emotionally intelligent people are masters at understanding and communicating their emotions. They are capable, confident, and unafraid of using kind words and actions to identify how they are feeling, what caused it, and how to cope with it.
They aren’t afraid to ask for help.
Emotionally intelligent people not only understand their emotions, but they understand their strengths and weaknesses. They are not afraid to ask for help. This vulnerability helps build relationships with those around them and makes them more self-aware. In the workplace, this is extremely important in relation to job performance- emotionally intelligent people are already aware of what needs improvement, and aren’t afraid to ask for help getting better.
They are confident.
Confident employees are ambitious, honest, and able to interact with colleagues, clients, and leadership with sincerity and conviction. They are more likely to be engaged than intimidated by the challenges their work presents, and they’re willing to step outside their comfort zones. It’s important for companies to know how to recruit and hire confident employees.
So, why is emotional intelligence important to recruiting?
Research published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education has proven that a strong propensity in emotional intelligence increases one’s ability to make sound decisions, build and sustain collaborative relationships, deal effectively with stress, and cope to a greater degree with constant change.
At Artemis, it is important to connect with both employers and job seekers that share these skills. Why? Because Artemis understands that strong teams are built on the right candidates, ones who are open and transparent throughout the process. Research shows that people with high levels of emotional intelligence have greater career success, job performance, stronger personal relationships and have more effective leadership skills. As the workplace continues to evolve, the qualities of an emotionally intelligent person are more valuable than the one with the higher IQ.
