Emotional intelligence is the ability for individuals to recognize their own and other people’s emotions, to distinguish and understand feelings, to use emotion to guide thinking and to manage those emotions to adapt to an environment or situation. A term coined by psychologists, emotional intelligence (EI) has gained traction in the field of recruitment, and the reason is simple. EI encompasses social skill, motivation and empathy, as well as self-awareness and self-regulation. People who possess these qualities work well with others tend to be natural leaders. Beyond just skills, experience and “book smarts,” many savvy recruiters are factoring EI into their hiring processes. While this can take some extra thought up front, the payout is in an employee who not only grows with the company, but also helps take it to the next level. It can be tempting to take shortcuts, but standard personality tests are not an accurate gauge of EI. Instead, take these things into consideration. Start with the job description First, when establishing a job posting, don’t just focus on the qualifications and responsibilities of the role. Consider the primary behaviors that would make someone successful in that position. Discuss with the client, consider the qualities they will need in an employee and what type of employee will fit the company’s culture. Interview with EI in mind This may sound obvious, but most of the time, it doesn’t happen. Often, recruiters and hiring managers accept vague answers without asking strong follow-up questions. Instead, ask questions […]