Emotional
Intelligence is a Vital Trait
Kansas City Star - 08.13.00
By Jim Dugan, Ph.D, Fortisan Group
Looking for a job is like being on an emotional
roller coaster except you can't even see when
the twists and turns are coming. Emotional
intelligence may help you steady that harrowing
ride. You can have a knock'em dead job interview
and feel like you really dazzled the interview
team. The 'big boss' tells you of bonuses and
benefits and promises a call within 24 hours.
You are elated with dollars signs dancing in
your head.
Unfortunately, the call from the 'big boss'
never comes. You feel terrible; rejected and
disappointed. You vow to take the next available
job, no matter what. Unfortunately, these wild
swing of emotions are fairly typical in many job
searches. In looking for a job, managing your
emotions and building your "emotional
intelligence" may be as important as a good
resume, active networking and solid interviewing
skills. Emotional intelligence is a relatively
new theory that is rapidly wending its way
through the business world. It has been
described as "extraordinary people skills." Its
proponents suggest that learning to manage and
regulate your emotions may be more important to
your business success than your IQ or technical
skills.
In the rocky and unpredictable pace of a job
search- optimism and resilience are two skills
of emotional intelligence that have proven to be
especially valuable. A University of Michigan
study confirmed that laid-off auto workers who
boosted these skills found jobs faster and
"higher quality jobs" than other workers.
Optimism - more than just seeing the glass as
half full.
Optimism is not sitting back and waiting by the
phone for friends to call with hot job leads.
Optimism is taking action and having a plan.
Optimists also have the ability to fine tune a
little voice in their head that says "these
setbacks while disappointing--are only
transitory and there is a right job out there
for me."
Resilience - more than just a quiet persistence.
Resilience is digging in and viewing the job
search as an adventure and challenge. You feel
energized by the opportunities. Rejections and
defeat bounce off your tough outer shell and you
don't get demoralized. Optimism and resilience
are two important traits of emotional
intelligence that boost your immunity to the
inevitable highs and lows of any job search.
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