Emotional Intelligence at the Job Interview

EI is a critical factor for success and growth at the workplace. It also leads to increased productivity and benefits the bottom line of the Company.

Repeated Surveys by the World Economic Forum in recent times, have been ranking Emotional Intelligence among the top 3 Skills employers have been and will be looking for in the future

EI has always been a critical skill for workplace success.

However, with the Pandemic, it has become even more imperative. The unprecedented increase in Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity calls for increased Emotional Intelligence, Empathy and Kindness, as people struggle to cope with new health and financial and financial challenges

Jobs as well as In Demand Skills are constantly evolving and today’s skills become obsolete or redundant in a matter 3-4 years.

Daniel Goleman  in a recent article mentions, that the level of EI of employees, determines the quality of the organizational citizenship.

What are the ways in which we can showcase Emotional Intelligence at the job interview?

Why is Training Important? And When is Training important? Are 2 different questions.

1.Active Listening.  Instead of diving in with  the answer you have prepared, listen intentionally to the question.

On a similar note is the story of a Principal who enters a classroom while a Math lesson is going on. He asks the students this question. ‘A father had 4 daughters. Each daughter had a brother. How many sons did the father father have. The entire class, including the maths topper shouts – four! Until one girl tentatively puts up her hand and says “Sir, the father had only ONE son”

Such misunderstandings can be costly at the work place.

2. Remember the Interview is always, about the Company and thevrole.

Answer all Behavioural questions keeping this lens in mind. .. . Tell me about a Time Questions are never about Yourself. The Interview is never about you. It’s always about Them. It always was!

3.Don’t shy away from speaking about a genuine shortcoming or mistake you made in your professional past, while linking it to lessons learnt. Vulnerability makes you human, makes you likeable and memorable.

4.Stay calm and composed when the pressure gets high. It shows your Resilience.

5.Be strategic when negotiating salary. Be assertive to improve your chances without being aggressive to defeat the purpose.

6.Ask questions about the culture and values of the company. This shows that you are not interested in just getting the job, but also in succeeding at it.

7. Be discreet when asking for  financials of a start-up or private company. They may not in a position to disclose such details to safeguard their own privacy.

8. Show interest in the interviewer and curiosity about her journey. Everyone likes to talk about themselves. You also gain brownie points, because you are genuinely interested in others’ journey, not just your own.

The above are only some pointers. Please add to the above perspectives in the comments.