How important is emotional intelligence and empathy in a candidate when it comes to building long-lasting relationships with customers, and how can companies ensure they are selecting individuals who possess these qualities during the hiring process?

Emotional intelligence and empathy are crucial for building long-lasting relationships with customers as they help in understanding their needs, concerns, and emotions. Companies can ensure they are selecting individuals with these qualities during the hiring process by incorporating behavioral interview questions that assess empathy and emotional intelligence, conducting personality assessments, and seeking references that speak to the candidate's ability to connect with others on an emotional level. Training programs can also be implemented to further develop these skills in employees.