Why Emotional Intelligence Is Crucial for Job Seekers, and How to Increase It

Why Emotional Intelligence Is Crucial for Job Seekers, and How to Increase ItWhy Emotional Intelligence Is Crucial for Job Seekers, and How to Increase It1Looking for work? Then you need to prioritize beefing up your emotional intelligence (EI). A CareerBuilder study of more than 2,600 hiring managers and HR professionals showed that over two-thirds- 71%- value EI even more thanIQ in employees. Three-quarters said theyd be more likely to promote someone who had a high EI once theyre in the job, and over half (59%) said theyd pass on a candidate with a high IQ but low EI.In the study, employers noted a number of reasons why they believe EI is more important for job candidates than IQ, which included that they thought employees with high EI are better at staying calm under pressure, knowing how to effectively resolve conflict, and being empathetic to their team members. And when we look at skills demand, not only is EI in the top 10 according to the World Economic Forums The Future of Jobs Report 2018, but its also identified on the list of trending skills for 2022.Knowing that current employers value EI so highly and that future employers are predicted to care about it just as much, its critical that job seekers first understand what emotional intelligence really is, and then take steps to increase their EI, to help them excel both in interview situations and on the job.Psychology Todaydefines EI as the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others, noting that this includes three complementary skillsAwareness of both your emotions and others emotionsBeing able to geschirr emotions and apply them toward specific tasks like problem-solving and thinkingEmotion management (both regulating your own emotions and helping others manage theirs- for example by cheering them up or calming them down)With this in mind, lets look at some simple strategies that job seekers can implement right away to immediately increase their EIStop talking star t listening.A basic tenet of EI involves learning how to be a better listener. While this advice may seem counterintuitive in an interview situation, it can certainly be applied thoughtfully, so that you demonstrate your EI to the hiring committee through your listening skills while also showcasing your background and experiences. How do you balance these two goals, which may seem on the surface to be at odds? As clinical psychologist and cognitive behaviorist Dr. Jennifer Guttmanexplained in a recent blog post, when you listen to others and discard assumptions that their experiences are the same as your own, you build your ability to empathize and improve your emotional intelligence. Thisin turn makes you someone that other people want to be around, which is your goal when being interviewed.Guttman writes When youre learning about emotional intelligence, its essential to avoid telling people about a similar experience youve had. People tend to not like to have tables turned on them and hear about a similar experience that youve had. You may think it will make them feel validated, but what usually happens is that it makes them feel like either youre not listening or that makes them feel like youre diminishing the importance of an experience theyve had.Dont jump to conclusions.Psychology Todaysingles out learning to manage your own negative emotions as key to increasing EI. This technique can be particularly useful during the job search process, where it can be easy to misinterpret a hiring managers reaction (or lack of reaction) to something you say or do during your communications with the employer.As just one example of how you can avoid being overwhelmed by a negative perception that can cloud your judgment, think about the situation of receiving no feedback after an interview. If you find yourself assuming the worst, having thoughts like, Clearly, theyve chosen another candidate, step back and consider other more positive or neutral options that are just a s likely. Perhaps the manager is simply very busy, and plans to respond when all interviews are completed. The point is to avoid personalizing things that other people do during your job search so that you can be more objective and perceptive.Practice stress management and self-care.People with high EI take proactive steps to avoid being emotionally reactive. This can definitely help during a job search, when stresses and tensions often run high, particularly in high-stakes interactions. Have you ever found yourself projecting visible anxiety during a stressful job interview? Perhaps you become so worried that you start losing your train of thought, or jumping in at the wrong time with your answer to a question.To improve your EI in this area, practice stress relief techniques beforestarting the interview- for example, exercising in the morning, or doing some deep breathing or visualization of success before you enter the conference room. If coffee keys you up too much and makes you act nervous, skip it before your interview. Practice self-care to help you stay on an emotionally even keel during your job search.Emotional intelligence isnt just a nice-to-have skill- it has become a necessity for todays and tomorrows workforce. If you dont feel strong enough in this area, take some time to develop your EI as part of your preparation for your job search.Know someone looking for a job? Refer a friend to with this link- youll get a month free service and theyll get 30% off