Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

Maureen Walsh

Abstract

AbstractEmotional intelligence (EI) skills are an important factor in the successful entry in the labor market of the fresh graduates of urban community colleges. Even though previous studies provided substantial evidence to the importance of these skills, these studies also recognized a lack of preparedness for the newly community college graduates and add to the voices of local business communities who manifest concern in this regard. The purpose of this basic qualitative research project was to explore local hiring manager perceptions of the EI skills of community college graduates they have hired for knowledge work roles. Goleman’s theory of EI guided the two research questions, which asked which EI skills hiring managers consider essential for professional success in knowledge work, and, respectively, what are local hiring managers perceptions of EI skill gaps of community college graduates they have employed as knowledge workers. Thematic analysis of interviews with eight purposively sampled hiring managers revealed core themes that emerged from the data analysis: (a) situational awareness, (b) communication for relationship management, (c) assertiveness in knowledge work, (d) generational understanding of EI, and (e) EI coaching for professional success. The findings were used to design a 3-day online EI professional development seminar, which could create positive social change by bridging the communication gap between college administrators and employers and could also serve as a supplemental tool for community colleges to equip graduates with essential EI skills necessary for knowledge work roles.

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