The role of emotional intelligence in graduate employability in innovative firms: implications for curriculum design

The purpose of this work is to explore whether high levels of emotional intelligence as a competence enhance students’ and graduates’ perceived fit with innovative organizations, thereby increasing the likelihood of employment. Our empirical analysis is conducted using original data from an online survey of 478 respondents, including both current students and employed alumni in business studies at an Italian university. Findings highlight EI as a significant predictor of employment in innovative organisations, regardless of their size (SMEs vs larger firms) and industry (manufacturing vs services). These results suggest that universities should design their courses and curricula to focus on both technical and soft skills that foster students’ employability in innovative organizations.