Emotional intelligence (EQ) is one of the most important traits that employers look for in candidates. According to LinkedIn, EQ has become one of the most sought after skills in 2020. Therefore, without developing emotional intelligence, you should not expect a solid career.
What is emotional intelligence and why is it so important?
Emotional intelligence influences how we interact with colleagues, how effectively we complete projects and achieve goals.
In other words, EQ is how we recognize and manage our own emotions and how we perceive, interpret and value the emotions of others.
During the interview, employers may ask a variety of behavioral questions that should encourage the candidate to share how he or she handles, manages, and perceives emotions. For example, the question “How do you work on your shortcomings?” Allows the recruiter to find out if the employee is aware of his or her shortcomings and how he or she perceives the feedback.
The good news is that EQ can develop. “I believe EQ has two components,” said Patricia Thompson, PhD, a corporate psychologist and creator of the 21-day Crash Course in Emotional Intelligence. “The first is the ability to understand yourself and your emotions, and the second is the emotions of others.”
Therefore, for a successful interview it is important to know exactly how recruiters assess EQ levels and how to answer the most common questions.
1. Talk about conflict at work
Thompson explains that the purpose of the question is to find out how the applicant approaches solving such problems.
Consider a project or activity that actually involved a conflict with a colleague, client, or boss. Explain the situation and what the misunderstanding was.
Record all the facts and avoid accusations and insults. You can tactfully take responsibility for some conflicts, thus showing self-awareness and leadership. Then explain the assignment or what to do in this situation.
List specific steps you can take to resolve the conflict, such as arranging a meeting with colleagues for open dialogue. Finally, share the results of your efforts and the lessons learned. Remember that you just have to show your thinking process and not prove that you are perfect.
2. Tell us about your failure and how you dealt with it.
Thompson said the question is to determine how stable the candidate is. Those with high EQs tend to learn from mistakes, while those with low EQs blame others for their failures.
Employers in interviews try to understand how the candidate reacted to the failure: was he excited and angry with a colleague? What lessons did he learn from this situation?
Try to inform the employer about the situation when the failure really led to a better outcome. Use the approach in the previous paragraph to understand your answer – Avoid negative comments about your colleagues and remember to focus on the results and lessons learned.
3. How do you react when a colleague tries to hurt you in public?
The main sign of a high EQ is the ability to recognize when you are bored and make the right decisions. “This question is a great opportunity for future employers to understand how you value and resolve the situation,” said Kimberly Prescott, president of Prescott HR, a SME consulting firm.
The answer to this question demonstrates your ability to manage your emotions in stressful situations. Prescott believes that you should beware of those who are easily disappointed and impose their own opinion on others.
To demonstrate a high level of EQ, if possible, describe a real example and the emotions you experienced in that moment. Remember that emotional intelligence is not a lack of emotions but the ability to manage them effectively. If you are upset or angry, you can say so openly. It is also important to describe in detail how you handled these emotions.
4. How do you adapt to the new team?
People with high EQ try to build relationships with managers and colleagues from day one. Such employees value teamwork and understand that projects are not usually created in a vacuum. In addition, the answer to this question will allow the employer to assess the level of self-awareness and ability to read social signals in a new environment.
Give specific examples:
- How easy is it for you to integrate into a new team?
- How do you listen to others to understand the values of the company?
- That you like spending time with colleagues.
So the employer will be able to understand your work style and how you interact with colleagues. The best answer to these types of questions is one that reflects your true self.
5. Describe your strengths and weaknesses
You can meet such questions in almost any interview. They aim not to identify a candidate’s specific weakness, but to assess his or her honesty, reflection ability, and willingness to respond.
You can tell a story about your strengths or weaknesses that helped you achieve a great goal or complete a deal with an important client, for example, or in moments when you could not. Explain to the employer why you have become one of these strengths for your position and how you plan to develop a direction that needs to be improved.
6. How do you maintain a work-life balance?
Employees are experiencing burns more and more often these days, so this question is very important to show that you care about yourself and your mental health. Those who find a balance between personal life and work will be more productive in the long run.
So take this issue seriously. Do not joke that you love work more than anything. You can show a high EQ through self-awareness: Do you know what you need to do your job well? You may be practicing meditation to help you succeed in your endeavors. You can also talk about your hobby, which allows you to relieve stress.
7. What inspires you?
Do not consider interviews as an unavoidable and painful procedure. This is an opportunity to show how passionate you are about your case. By answering such questions you need to show that you are thinking about your own future. Instead of obeying the demands of the employer, you should be extremely sincere.
Tell us about a project that is really interesting to you. It is advisable to focus on the work you will do for the company or something related to it. For example, if you are interviewing for a position as a nurse in a hospital pediatric ward, talk about volunteering with children with rare diseases. How you describe a project is far more important than the work itself.
8. What did you do last year for your professional development?
If this question is difficult to answer, you may need to work on developing your emotional intelligence. This question shows that a person is learning-oriented and capable of self-reflection. Such people can talk openly about what they do for personal and professional growth.
“It’s not worth talking about the various courses required,” Thompson said. Instead, consider what you have learned or visited independently. For example, talk about a hot topic in the field in the book, useful professional contacts, or a skill you have studied.
And no matter what you say, it’s important to add context to how it fits into your professional development plan. For example, you might read leadership books in your field to find out what kind of leader you want to be.
9. What will you do if you notice that a colleague has difficulty doing the job?
The second component of EQ is the ability to recognize the emotions of others and to direct that knowledge in the right direction. “People experience a lot, you never know how much they will suffer,” Prescott said. “You need to be able to read and understand other people.”
When answering this question, state a specific plan of action. For example, talk about how you plan to talk to a colleague, ask how he or she is in an informal setting. High EQ people can also tell when others need real help and not just complicity. If possible, tell a true story from your own experience.
10. What is the main reason for your misunderstanding with colleagues?
This question is asked to understand if you know the atmosphere you create in the team and how you influence others. “If you’re really passionate, employees may take it too seriously,” Thompson said. “And if you keep quiet, people may think you’re shy.”
Instead of talking about what people thought of you in the past, try to openly discuss any possible misunderstandings with the recruiter. For example, if you are quite quiet, you can talk about your cautious and thoughtful approach. So the interlocutor will understand that you are actively listening to others, but you need to think about time before giving a detailed answer.
How to show a high EQ in an interview
- Show emotional intelligence in each response. You do not need to wait for direct questions about emotional intelligence, you can already show your ability to reflect, care for others and how you use these qualities to succeed.
- Ask questions. This way you can show initiative and self-confidence.
- Find a balance between self-confidence and modesty. People with strong emotional intelligence know their worth and know how to present themselves without excessive insolence. Whenever possible you should have all four of these components in place for launch to maximize profits.
- Do not strive for perfection. Prospective employers are well aware that not all people are perfect. Therefore, it is important to be extremely open and honest during the interview. So the employer can see you as a real person and not a robot.
- Give specific examples. Managers love it when employees can not only point out a problem but also find a solution. Prove that you can do it.
Common Mistakes
- Bad reviews on former managers and colleagues. This behavior indicates that you do not know what role you played in this situation and do not know how to perceive other people’s opinions. You may also be embarrassed if a prospective employer knows the people you are talking about.
- Ignoring social cues. It is important to pay attention to the employer’s body language, which may indicate that you have been talking about one topic for too long. This may indicate that you can not read someone else’s emotions.
- Do not admit weaknesses. People with high EQ are well aware of their weaknesses and do everything they can to eliminate them.
You do not need to be an EQ expert to get the job done. However, developed self-awareness and the ability to read other people’s emotions are important. Try to be as sincere, positive and open as possible to new knowledge.
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