Emotional Aptitude, Career Commitment, and Career Success

This study examined whether attributes of emotional intelligence and career commitment predicted career success using both objective and subjective indicators of career success. Survey results from 60 adult education students with full-time employment indicated that career commitment predicted salary attainment and career satisfaction. Career commitment was also found to mediate the relationship between emotional aptitude and salary attainment. INTRODUCTION The general topic of careers has been studied for many years. Career success in particular has attracted a lot of attention among both academic and practitioners. An examination of the relevant literatures reveals several individual difference variables that influence career success. Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to perceive, access, and generate emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions, and to regulate emotions so as to promote better emotion and thought. This study sought to examine the effect of a set emotional intelligence attributes (which we term emotional aptitude) on career success using an objective indicator (i.e., salary earned) as well as subjective indicator (i.e., career satisfaction) of career success. In addition, the study examined the relationship between career commitment and career success and the potential mediating role of career commitment in the emotional aptitudecareer success relationship. CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUND Objective career success comprises visible outcomes such as pay and promotion, whereas subjective career success refers to one's feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction with one's career and is conceptualized as consisting of current job satisfaction with one's career satisfaction. Emotional intelligence scholars suggest that emotional intelligence is a crucial determinant of job and career success and may even be more important than general mental ability for determining career success. Why should people high on emotional intelligence be more successful in their careers than those low on emotional intelligence? One possible explanation that people who are emotional intelligent are able to recognize and use their own and other's emotional states to regulate behavior and deal with the environment. Another important determinant of career success is career commitment. Career commitment refers to identification with and involvement in one's occupation. Finally, career commitment should also be related to emotional intelligence in that people high on emotional intelligence are likely to be more committed to their career than those low on emotional intelligence.