There are many factors to consider when assessing potential employees. The obvious things, such as skills and experience, are important. But a candidate’s emotional intelligence (or EQ, emotional quotient) can be just as important.
The resume covers their hard skills, but it’s not until the interview when you can see if they possess the soft skills to get along well in your company. Soft skills are traits like ability to identify one’s own feelings and empathy toward others. Are they a team player? Do they possess the traits that will make them a joy to work with?
So how do you measure someone’s emotional intelligence?
Ask the Right Questions
If an interviewee convinces you they’re good at their job, that’s one thing. But someone who’s good at their job, but not good with people, can make it hard for your existing workers to do their jobs.
Asking them about a conflict they had at a former place of employment can clue you in to how emotionally intelligent they are. What you’re listening for is if they sympathized with the other side of the conflict.
Because handling conflict involves compromise, if their answer doesn’t involve any, it could be a sign they have trouble considering other people’s feelings.
Make an EQ Test Part of Your Hiring Process
The best way to judge a potential hire’s emotional intelligence is to have them take an EQ test.
Of course, not all EQ tests are made equal, so it’s important to do your research and find an EQ test with scientific backing to give you a legitimate portrayal of someone’s emotional intelligence.
An EQ test can be helpful, but it shouldn’t be a replacement for your own in-person assessment. Also, someone may know the answers you want to hear, and their conduct during a real-world conflict could prove drastically different.
Consider Temp Roles
Asking the right questions and testing people’s EQ are suitable methods, but not always 100% accurate. Using a temp-to-hire model is a popular method for expanding your workforce that could also help you gauge a prospective employee’s EQ in real-world scenarios—not to mention it’s a great way to assess their hard skills.
Contact our Recruiting Experts Today
Partnering with a recruiting firm can streamline your entire hiring process and help you try out temps with no obligation to hire permanently. It can also lower your company’s risk by having the firm handle the temp’s payroll.
Nordstrom Williams is just such a recruiting firm with expertise in several industries—engineering, architecture, and construction, just to name a few. We pride ourselves on providing quality candidates with hard and soft skills alike. Contact us today to find out more about working with a talent acquisition partner.
