38 Common Emotional Intelligence Interview Questions

Understanding the role that emotional intelligence plays in each individual’s life increases the ability for that person to identify and assess their own emotions and that of others or a team. As an employer, incorporating questions about a persons emotional intelligence during the interview process will help to offer some insight as to their natural behaviors. The following compilation of emotional intelligence interview questions that have been used by other companies can help to encourage the integration of a few of your own versions during your next candidate selection process.

Are you aware of your limitations, as well as your personal strengths, as a leader?
Are you usually aware of your feelings and why you feel that way?
Can you adapt smoothly to changing realities?
Can you guide a negotiation to a satisfactory agreement, and help settle conflicts?
Can you usually sense the feelings of the people you interact with and understand their way of seeing things?
Describe a difficult issue you had to deal with.
Describe a time when understanding someone else’s perspective helped you understand them better.
Describe a time when you had to deliver difficult news.
Describe the people in your team and discuss what they need and how they feel.
Do you have a knack for persuasion and using your influence effectively?
Do you keep your focus on your main goals, and know the steps it takes to get there?
Do you work well on a team, or prefer to work on your own?
How do you achieve work/life balance?
How do you build relationships with people?
How do you develop rapport with people?
How do you handle multiple demands?
How do you handle stressful situations?
How do you measure success? What results do you achieve?
How do you overcome obstacles and setbacks?
How do you relax?
How do you understand what your team members are feeling?
How would your colleagues describe you?…tell me more
Tell me about a time when you got angry. What did you do?
Tell me about a time when you had a great success.
Tell me about a time when you made a big mistake.
Tell me about a time when you needed to influence someone.
Tell me about a time when you received feedback.
Tell me about some challenging goals you have set?
Tell me about what you would do to gain respect as a new manager.
Tell me about your strengths and your limitations.
Tell me about yourself.
Tell me how you build networks within your company.
What do you do to stay up-to-date with industry developments?
What do you do to understand someone else’s behavior?
What do you do when someone comes to you with a problem?
What motivates you?
When do you feel most under pressure?
Why do you work?

An individuals emotional intelligence accounts for over half of their daily success. Only 36% of people recognize their current emotional state and recognize its impact on their behavior. The below infographic outlines ten interesting facts to understanding emotional intelligence and its role in our everyday life.