2025, Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part F

Emotional intelligence (EI) has increasingly become a defining factor in determining an individual’s ability to manage emotions, make sound decisions and succeed in professional settings. This study explores the relationship between emotional intelligence and career readiness among business graduates, focusing on three critical dimensions clarity of thought, stress and stability management, and attitude-behavioural balance. A descriptive research design was adopted, and primary data were collected from 317 MBA students through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, including simple percentage analysis and pie-chart interpretation, were used to identify patterns in perception, while Karl Pearson’s correlation was applied to test the strength of relationships between variables.

Findings reveal that a majority of respondents strongly agreed that emotional intelligence contributes to developing mental clarity, emotional stability and career preparedness. Correlation analysis further indicated strong positive relationships between emotional intelligence and clarity of thought (r = 0.863, p<0.05) as well as stress and stability management (r = 0.865, p<0.05). However, the link between emotional intelligence and attitude-behavioural balance was weak and statistically insignificant (r = 0.095, p > 0.05). The results emphasize that emotional intelligence is not only vital for managing stress but also instrumental in enhancing decision-making and employability.