Putting Emotional Intelligence Into Your Recruiting Practice

Erica PepeSenior Recruitment Evangelist,Indeed

We’re going on a journey together—a “choose your own recruiting adventure”

Can you identify with

this busy day?

Where’s your candidate?

What is emotional intelligence?

Primitive section of the brain’s frontal lobe that is triggered by emotions

Amygdala:

The amygdala physically primes

your body

for response

Source: Why Emotional Intelligence Matters for Talent Professionals, Indeed

Emotional Intelligence

Source: Why Emotional Intelligence Matters for Talent Professionals, Indeed

Self-Awareness Social Awareness

Self-Management Relationship Management

Emotional Intelligence

01Self-Awareness

Source: Why Emotional Intelligence Matters for Talent Professionals, Indeed

Self-Awareness

Emotional Intelligence

What I know

What I do

Self Others

Self-awareness:Understanding your strengths and weaknesses and recognizing your emotions and their impact on yourself and others

“In our nearly 5-year research program [on self-awareness], we’ve discovered that although 95% of people think they’re self-aware, only 10 to 15% actually are … and nearly 99% [of working adults in the U.S. across several industries] report working with at least one such person.”

Tasha EurichPrincipal, The Eurich Group

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecteturadipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod“Why do I feel bad at work?”

“What situations make me feel bad and what do they have in common?

AdventureBalanceControlEfficiencyHumorKindnessLoyaltyQualitySecuritySubstance

AchievementAwarenessCompetencyDeterminationFunJoyLovePopularityResponsibilitySpirituality

AuthenticityBeautyCreativityFairnessInfluenceKnowledgeMeaningful workRecognitionSelf-respectTeamwork

AuthorityChaosDataFriendshipsIntegrityLeadershipPeaceRespectServiceWisdom

Source: Why Emotional Intelligence Matters for Talent Professionals, Indeed

How do you bring your values to

recruiting decisions?

Awareness of values + appropriate

application to social situations = EI

Where’s your candidate?

Your candidate isn’t here, and that important interview is looming.

How are you feeling?

02Self-Management

Self-Awareness

Self-Management

Emotional Intelligence

Source: Why Emotional Intelligence Matters for Talent Professionals, Indeed

What I know

What I do

Self Others

An amygdala hijack is like a car on an

incline: ready to roll

Change is often a source of stress

Assess your physical reactions to reveal

emotional triggers

Breathing exercisesConsciously slowing your breathing rate and focusing on a steady rhythm calms the nervous system

6-second ruleA short, internal countdown allows all the chemical reactions from an amygdala hijackto dissipate

MindfulnessPut yourself back in your surroundings and out of those emotions by looking around and noticing things in your environment

Source: VeryWellMind, ”Amygdala Hijack and the Fight or Flight Response,” June 16, 2020

Emotional intelligence makes your workplace happier and more productive

Do you believe that being a happier place to work than your competitors would:

Make it easier to retain talent?

96%Say YES

Make it easier to attract talent?

94%Say YES

Give a significant competitive edge?

87%Say YES

Be better for society?

85%Say YES

Source: Harvard Business Review Analytics Services Survey, February 2020

Your candidate isn’t here, and that important interview is looming.

What do you do?

Your candidate says they’ll be 15

minutes late

03Social Awareness

Self-Awareness Social Awareness

Self-Management

Emotional Intelligence

Source: Why Emotional Intelligence Matters for Talent Professionals, Indeed

What I know

What I do

Self Others

Empathy:The ability to see and understand another’s values

SKILLS THAT DEVELOP SOCIAL AWARENESS INCLUDE

• Identifying verbal and physical cues to determine others’ feelings

• Hearing and understanding through restating (reflective listening)

• Recognizing how individuals and groups are affected by inequalities and privileges

• Understanding others’ feelings and reactions

Social awareness is closely tied to diversity,

inclusion and belonging

“The now worn tagline, ‘We’re all in this together,’ deserves an empathetic dissection. We’re all in the same raging ocean, but not in the same boat.”

Cheryl CarpenterLeadership faculty member, The Poynter Institute

Candidates whose resumes show employment gaps are 45% less likely to land a job interview

Source: SHRM, “How to Evaluate Resume Employment Gaps,” July 29, 2019

Be a door opener, not a gatekeeper

Blind unnecessary resume informationDoor openers reduce bias by focusing on “must haves” for role success instead of resume info, such as employment timelines

Review job description languageDoor openers eliminate jargon and gender-biased language to broaden talent reach and communicate their best message

Standardize formats and questions in interviewsWhether you’re coordinating the interview or holding it yourself, door openers equalize the candidate experience to remove subjectivity

Your candidate has called to say they’ll be late.

What do you think?

04Relationship Management

Self-Awareness Social Awareness

Self-Management Relationship Management

Emotional Intelligence

Source: Why Emotional Intelligence Matters for Talent Professionals, Indeed

What I know

What I do

Self Others

Which factors are the most important for you to develop a feeling of positive connection or camaraderie with a company during the interview stage?

How comfortable the company’s employees make me feel

How authentic and genuine my interviewers are with me

Responsiveness and transparency from the recruiter or hiring manager

Getting a sense that the company promotes a work culture I will thrive in

45%

41%

38%

35%

Source: Worldwide Decipher/Focus Vision Data (2019)—The Human Side of Hiring

85% of recruiters agree that “building connected relationships with candidates is an essential part of being a great recruiter”

Source: Worldwide Decipher/Focus Vision Data (2019)—The Human Side of Hiring

81% of recruiters say they’ll work more closely with hiring managers as a result of the pandemic

Source: Lever, The 2020 State of Recruiting Report

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecteturadipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod

Source: HR Daily Advisor, “How Talent Leaders Can Improve the Hiring Manager-Recruiter Relationship,” Aug. 7, 2019

57% of recruiters feel hiring managers don’t understand recruiting

63% of hiring managers feel recruiters don’t understand the roles they’re filling

Your candidate has called to say they’ll be late.

How will you manage this relationship?

With emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence helps you recruit better

5 takeaways you can apply now

Identify your emotional triggers

Pause before reacting

Reduce underlying stress

Use empathy in next steps

Make self-awareness, self-management and social awareness part of your relationship management toolkit

Identify your emotional triggers

Pause before reacting

Reduce underlying stress

Use empathy in next steps

Make self-awareness, self-management and social awareness part of your relationship management toolkit

Identify your emotional triggers

Pause before reacting

Reduce underlying stress

Use empathy in next steps

Make self-awareness, self-management and social awareness part of your relationship management toolkit

Identify your emotional triggers

Pause before reacting

Reduce underlying stress

Use empathy in next steps

Make self-awareness, self-management and social awareness part of your relationship management toolkit

Identify your emotional triggers

Pause before reacting

Reduce underlying stress

Use empathy in next steps

Make self-awareness, self-management and social awareness part of your relationship management toolkit

What adventure will you choose?

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Putting Emotional Intelligence Into Your Recruiting Practice

Erica PepeSenior Recruitment Evangelist, Indeed