Hiring Without an Office

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is often more critical to success in the workplace than intelligence or IQ. EQ determines the ability to relate to others, navigate difficult situations with grace, and understand social cues in a virtual room.

Questions that can inform you about a person's EQ:

• Tell me about a workplace conflict you were involved in. How did you manage it, and could you resolve it?
• What inspires you?
• Tell me about a time when you received feedback on your performance that you disagreed with.

There is a certain intimacy that screens facilitate during a remote interview. The interviewer and interviewee sit close to one another's faces, creating a sense of psychological safety that allows people to open up more than otherwise.

Employers can use this phenomenon to draw candidates out more quickly. For example, you can immediately go to the interviewee's story - where they're from, their family, etc.

The pandemic caused a huge number of challenges. Exploring how a person navigated the disruption of the pandemic can help you learn a good deal about someone.

For example, ask, "What was the biggest challenge you faced during Covid, and how did you overcome it?" Then pay attention if the answer is authentic. Does the candidate take a moment to reflect? What is the expression on their face, and does it match the tone of their voice?