PREFERENCE IN HIRING: EQ OR IQ?

"A high IQ will get you through school, a high EQ will get you through life."
IQ gets you hired, EQ gets you promoted.
IQ, or intelligence quotient, is a score derived from one of several standardized tests
designed to assess an individual's intelligence.
EQ, on the other hand, is a measure of a person's level of emotional intelligence.
This refers to a person's ability to perceive, control, evaluate, and express
emotions.
IQ is used to determine academic abilities and identify individuals with off-the-chart
intelligence or mental challenges.
EQ is a better indicator of success in the workplace and is used to identify leaders,
good team players, and people who best work by themselves.
Comparison Chart

So Which One Is More Important?

At one point in time, IQ was viewed as the primary determinant of success. People
with high IQs were assumed to be destined for a life of accomplishment and
achievement and researchers debated whether intelligence was the product of

genes or the environment (the old nature versus nurture debate). However, some
critics began to realize that not only was high intelligence no guarantee for success
in life, it was also perhaps too narrow a concept to fully encompass the wide range
of human abilities and knowledge.

IQ is still recognized as an important element of success, particularly when it comes

to academic achievement. People with high IQs typically to do well in school, often
earn more money, and tend to be healthier in general. But today experts recognize
it is not the only determinate of life success. Instead, it is part of a complex array of
influences that includes emotional intelligence among other things.

The concept of emotional intelligence has had a strong impact in a number of areas,
including the business world. Many companies now mandate emotional intelligence
training and utilize EQ tests as part of the hiring process. Research has found that
individuals with strong leadership potential also tend to be more emotionally
intelligent, suggesting that a high EQ is an important quality for business leaders
and managers to have.

So you might be wondering, if emotional intelligence is so important, can it be

taught or strengthened? According to one meta-analysis that looked at the results of
social and emotional learning programs, the answer to that question is an
unequivocal yes. The study found that approximately 50 percent of kids enrolled in
SEL programs had better achievement scores and almost 40 percent showed
improved grade-point-averages. These programs were also linked to lowered
suspension rates, increased school attendance, and reduced disciplinary problems.
Amidst higher stress levels and economic uncertainties, employers are placing greater
emphasis on emotional intelligence when hiring new employees and promoting existing
ones.
When 2,600 hiring managers and human resource professionals were asked why
emotional intelligence is more important than IQ, employers said (in order of
importance) that those employees with high EQ:
Are more likely to stay calm under pressure
Know how to resolve conflict effectively
Are empathetic to their team members and react accordingly
Lead by example
Tend to make more thoughtful business decisions
HR managers and hiring managers assess their candidates and employees EQ by
observing a variety of behaviors and qualities. The top responses from the survey
indicated that employees with high EQ:

Listen as much or more than they talk

Take criticism well
Show grace under pressure
Can keep emotions in check and have thoughtful discussions on tough issues

People with high EQs tend to have five qualities or competencies in common:
1. Optimism -- ability to anticipate the best possible outcome of events or
actions
2. Self-Awareness -- knowledge of current emotional state, strengths and
weaknesses
3. Empathy -- understanding of others' points of view and decision-making
processes
4. Impulse Control -- ability to mitigate an urge to act (as in: think first and act
later)
5. Reality Testing -- ability to see things as they are, not as we want them to
be
RESEARCH GETS MORE BELIEVABLE
Thirty-four percent of hiring managers said they are placing greater emphasis on
emotional intelligence when hiring and promoting employees post-recession.
Fifty-nine percent of employers would not hire someone who has a high IQ but a low
EQ.
For workers being considered for a promotion, the high EQ candidates will beat out
the high IQ candidates 75% of the time.
Perhaps the best news about EQ is that it can be learned.
We live in an era when cradle-to-grave employment is a thing of the past and
instability is the order of the day. The skill set that comes with EQ can give you an
edge in the workplace and give you the personal resilience to survive and thrive.

"IQ alone is not enough; EQ also matters. In fact, psychologists generally

agree that among the ingredients for success, IQ counts for roughly 10% (at best
25%); the rest depends on everything elseincluding EQ."
(Bressert, 2007)

Why the Preference for Eq?. http://www.hiringeq.com/employers/

More managers value emotional intelligence over IQ. Bowers, Toni. 24 August 2011.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/career-management/more-managers-valueemotional-intelligence-over-iq/
IQ gets you hired, EQ gets you promoted. Campbell, Phil.
https://www.lawsociety.bc.ca/page.cfm?cid=159&t=IQ-gets-you-hired,-EQ-gets-youpromoted
IQ or EQ: Which One Is More Important? Cherry, Kenda.
http://psychology.about.com/od/intelligence/fl/IQ-or-EQ-Which-One-Is-MoreImportant.htm
EQ vs. IQ http://www.diffen.com/difference/EQ_vs_IQ
IQ vs. EQ: Hire Smart People Who Understand More Than Just the Job. Fernley,
Taylor. http://www.fernley.com/bestpractices/industry_cco/IQ_vs_EQ.asp