Look out for EQ!

One of the most common skill needed in today’s business world is emotional intelligence. We want our employees to have social skills, be mature and confident due to self-awareness.

We are looking to recruit people who have the right technical skills and overlook one of the most important skills: emotional intelligence.

How can we make sure that we are recruiting emotionally intelligent people?

  1. Ask the right questions during interviews

When you are interviewing people, see that you ask behavioural questions and listen attentively to their answers. Candidates who answer by focusing on their feelings when they answer behavioural questions are more likely to be ‘emotionally charged’. You may also ask questions that evoke emotion and again, pay attention to their answer and the depth of their explanation.

Ask probing questions to understand how the person adapts to challenges and different scenarios. Ask specifically about their experiences with people.

  1. Conduct group interviews

Group interviews provide a perfect setting to see how people interact with one another. You can see their social skills much easier this way. You can also see how well they fit within a team.

  1. Before and after the interview

The way people act before, during and after the interview are equally important. How did they interact with front office when they got to your offices? Did they greet and thank people?

  1. Check references

Don’t just ask for a recommendation letter. When checking for references, speak to their referees and ask for a few stories about how the person performed within a team, or how s/he dealt with people.


About the author

Maria Bartolo Zahra is Managing Director and HR Advisor at SurgeAdvisory. She has over fifteen years of human resources and business advisory experience.