Does emotional intelligence contribute to career success? Evidence from a systematic literature review

Abstract

AbstractThe relationship between career success and emotional intelligence has garnered substantial academic attention, prompting this systematic literature review to critically assess its impact. Spanning from 1995 to 2022, this review adopts the PRISMA and TCCM frameworks to examine 36 studies, focusing on the role of emotional intelligence as a predictor, mediator, moderator, and criterion in career success. The evidences predominantly indicate that emotional intelligence is a critical antecedent for various career‐related outcomes including objective and subjective career success. Further, emotional intelligence serves as a pivotal mediator in linking personality traits, career planning, and self‐efficacy to career outcomes, as elucidated in few studies. Moreover, some studies reveal its moderating role between career commitment and both objective and subjective career success. Additionally, emotional intelligence emerges as an outcome influencing emotional exhaustion and balance. The review synthesizes findings from nine theoretical frameworks, establishing a robust link between emotional intelligence and career success. This review not only affirms emotional intelligence as a substantial contributor to career advancement but also opens avenues for future research and practical applications in organizational contexts.