CAN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, SELF-REGULATION AND COGNITIVE STYLES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS PREDICT JOB PLACEMENT?

The present study aims to explore whether emotional intelligence, self-regulation and cognitive style (i.e., rational style and intuitive style) can predict job placement. A sample of 371 participants were considered for analysis which consisted of 303 engineering students (81.6 %) and 68 management students (18.4%) in those 176 were males (47.4%) and 195 were females (52.6%) with Mean age = 21.29 and SD = 0.95 selected from Salem and Erode districts of Tamil Nadu state in India. The biserial correlation analysis showed that emotional intelligence, self-regulation, rational style and intuitive style have significant positive correlations with job placement. Further, binary logistic regression showed emotional intelligence, self-regulation, rational style, and intuitive style are significant predictors of job placement. The mediation analysis showed a significant indirect effect of emotional intelligence on job placement through rational style and self-regulation. Further, the direct effect of emotional intelligence on job placement in the presence of rational style and self-regulation was also found significant. This study has practical implications for colleges, organizations, employment counsellors and job placement trainers who are seeking to improve aspirant’s placement outcomes. Moreover, the study adds theoretical value to the existing literature.