"Why do most test engineers fail interviews?" 

That's a great question that I encountered while reading Kodziak's article. Further I realised that I can ask myself that question as a recent graduate, and ultimately help myself to correct my mistakes, or as a potential employer, as it is worth knowing what qualities are important and which ones are red flags. 

There are three major areas to look at:

1. Basic knowledge about testing
2. Compatibility with the team
3. Problem-solving skills and attitude

Basic knowledge about testing

It is possible to start testing and make it habitual without any basic knowlege (someone told you what to do, so you do it), but in the long term that won't make you a good tester (if a tester at all). Constant repetition of tasks doesn't teach you anything new, if you don't try to understand the process behind it. It is essential to get a good grasp of the basic theory of testing because without a soild foundation, something which seems stable can easily fall apart on a basic problem (which can seem unsolvable due to the lack of fundamental knowledge).

Compatibility with the team

Nothing ruins the atmosphere more than a toxic co-worker. There is nothing wrong in having a variety of people in a business: different genders, personalities, culture, life experiences. Actually, it is extremely beneficial to have a variety of people in a team. However, even considering those desirable differences, not everyone will click with each other. It is important to acknowledge that and recognise unhealthy interactions before they become unbearable and difficult to end.

Problem-solving skills and attitude

This point of the article was the most interesting and encouraged me to ask a question - how many people gave up on a problem because it was too difficult to admit their lack of knowledge? How many people prefer to avoid the problem than confront it and try to find a solution?

A good tester will always try to tackle the problem and won't give up on finding a solution.

I dare to think that it is a trait which not every person can aquire/develop. It is essential to understand that if you don't have experience in a given topic, you should still try to approach the problem and use resources you have to try and come up with an answer. And even if the end result is incorrect, it will highlight the effort you put into it.