Hiring: IQ or EQ?

Emotional Intelligence series

Hiring has always been one of the most critical tasks for any organization. Finding the right person to join a team can make or break projects, influence company culture, and drive overall success. Traditionally, employers have leaned heavily on assessing candidates’ IQ – their intellectual quotient – through standardized tests, academic achievements, and technical skills. However, the last decade has seen a significant shift towards evaluating candidates’ emotional intelligence (EQ) or emotional quotient.

In this short article we examine this transition, how EQ is measured, the ongoing debate between hard and soft skills, and the importance of EQ in today’s workplace.