Understanding Emotional Intelligence for a job search

Why are we focusing on Emotional Intelligence (EI) or Emotion Quotient (EQ)? In the evolving landscape of job searching, it's clear that mere 'hard skills' are no longer sufficient on their own. Recent years have highlighted the critical importance of 'soft skills,' of which EI is a significant component, particularly for lasting employment.

Yet, despite its importance, EI often seems undervalued.

In this article, we'll delve into the essence of EI and provide strategies for enhancing it. We'll demonstrate how cultivating EI can benefit various facets of your career, extending well beyond just the job search process.

Understanding Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Emotional intelligence encompasses various abilities, primarily centred around effectively managing one's own emotions and understanding those of others, a skill particularly valuable in leadership roles. This development involves continuous self-reflection and adjustment, focusing on key aspects such as self-awareness, empathy, self-regulation, social skills, and motivation.

The urgency for individuals to enhance their EI is more pressing than ever. A recent study by the McKinsey Global Institute Workforce Skills Model suggests a projected 26 percent increase in the demand for emotional intelligence skills by 2030.

In a world facing market fluctuations, layoffs, closures, pandemics, and other global events, emotional tensions are heightened. People often struggle with uncertainty, leading to impaired judgment. This not only affects team dynamics but can also cause individual anxiety, distraction, and confusion.

By developing a foundational understanding of emotional intelligence, you can better connect with employers, forge stronger relationships, maintain composure amidst uncertainty, and present yourself as a more appealing candidate to hiring teams.

Understanding your base line Emotional intelligence

Before we can enhance our EI we need to understand where we are today. To do this you can deploy a mix of self-assessment and feedback sessions from others. The aim here is to get a better awareness of your behaviours and reactions to situations, the good and the bad in which you can then start creating strategies to cope with better in the future.

Self-Reflection

Ask yourself how you typically respond to stress, how well you understand and manage your emotions, and how you interact with others.

Seek Feedback

Ask for feedback from people you trust, like friends, family, or colleagues. They can provide insights into how you handle emotions, interact in social situations, and respond to others' emotions.

Journaling

Keeping a journal of your daily emotional experiences can be helpful. Note situations that trigger strong emotions, how you reacted, and what the outcomes were. Over time, patterns may emerge that can offer insights into your emotional tendencies.

Online Quizzes and Assessments

There are many online quizzes and tools designed to measure aspects of emotional intelligence. While these should not be seen as definitive, they can provide a useful starting point for understanding your strengths and areas for improvement.

Professional Assessment Tools

For a more comprehensive evaluation, consider professional EI assessments like the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal, the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), or the Emotional Competence Inventory (ECI).

Review Past Experiences

Think about your past experiences, especially those that involved strong emotional responses or complex interpersonal dynamics. Analysing how you handled these situations can offer insights into your emotional intelligence.

Linking Emotional Intelligence to a Job Search

Understanding your current position is the first step; the next is to identify the links EI has toward a job search, giving you the opportunity to not only navigate the competitive job market but do so in a way that drives teams from ‘wanting’ to hire you toward ‘needing’ to hire you.

The need is what helps you negotiate a better package.

Building Self-Awareness for your Job Search

The cornerstone of Emotional Intelligence is often seen as self-awareness. Before diving into any job search, dedicate time to introspection to thoroughly comprehend your strengths, limitations, values, and career goals.

Acknowledge the impact of your emotions on your behaviour and how you engage with prospective employers. Fostering self-awareness enables you to portray a more genuine and self-assured persona in interviews and while networking.

It also helps you determine maybe which environments better suit your personality from past experiences. All this information helps not only yourself find the right team long-term but can save countless wasted hours in the wrong hiring processes.

Navigating Emotional Challenges in Job Searching

We have explored this topic at great length in a pervious article () but it is certainly worth re-visiting here. Any job search will bring a mix of emotions from exhilarating successes to disheartening setbacks.

It's essential to adeptly manage these emotions to maintain focus, drive, and resilience. Implement self-regulation techniques to cope with stress, denial, and obstacles. Build your emotional resilience and keep a positive outlook during this journey. Candidates who demonstrate composure, adaptability, and a problem-solving attitude are highly valued by employers.

One keyway to develop resilience in which we learned through our previous article research was for job seekers to keep a valued support network around them, this will help you ride the highs and the lows with others, allowing you to see the situation from different perspectives.

Showcasing Empathy in Job Searches

In the realm of job searching, empathy — the capacity to perceive and resonate with others' feelings is critical. As you engage with potential employers, recruiters, and network contacts, exhibit true empathy by attentively listening, expressing genuine interest, and grasping their viewpoints and requirements. Adopting an empathetic demeanour builds stronger connections, establishes significant relationships, and highlights your ability to be a collaborative and valuable team player in a team-based workplace.

Emotional Intelligence in Job Interviews

Interviewers assess your capabilities in handling stress, resolving conflicts, and collaborating effectively. Exhibiting strong emotional intelligence through relationship management, effective teamwork in diverse environments, adaptability to changes, and clear communication can assure hiring teams of your proficiency in addressing challenges calmly, a vital skill in today's ever-changing market landscape.

In today's dynamic job market, relying solely on technical skills isn't enough to land your dream job. The role of emotional intelligence has become increasingly significant in achieving job search success. Developing self-awareness, controlling emotions, showing empathy, establishing strong relationships, and displaying emotional intelligence in interviews are key to standing out from the competition. By harnessing the power of emotional intelligence, you enhance your job search, opening doors to new opportunities and advancing your career path.

With every article we aim to bring more simplicity to the chaos of recruitment, if you believe someone else could benefit from reading this article, feel free to share it around.

Peritus Partners is a next generation recruitment team that focuses on blending education, business and community together. Interested to see how we can help find the best talent for your team or interested in finding a new job? Reach out today 😎