Job opportunities depend on high EQ
Last Thursday, Ginny Mackin, Duke Energy's chief communications officer, delivered a lecture as a part of USC's "Executives-in-Residence" series that left me extremely perplexed. Her discussion was based on her theory, or "secret weapon," of emotional intelligence. The lecture had me thinking, Doesn't everyone know this?
Listening to Mackin speak, I learned that what seemed to be the basics of the job-hunting industry to me was a completely different language to others.
Mackin described her secret weapon of emotional intelligence (EQ) as a measure of the ability to forge relationships, read a room and connect and empathize with others. This seems like a basic skill, yet success in a job or in a general career depends so heavily on it. Not all job-seekers possess this crucial trait, and its absence can weigh heavily on both current opportunities and future hopes.
For me, and others, Mackin's presentation was a basic review. The "secret weapon" of EQ seemed to me more common sense than an acquired skill, one that occurs just almost naturally. However, her lecture gave me the opportunity to realize that many students may be leaving USC with the degree of their dreams, but without the interpersonal and perceptive skills that make someone an impressive job candidate. For those graduates lacking in EQ, Mackin's lecture was perfect to give the exact tips that a graduating student may need.
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