I didn’t realize how much emphasis is placed on supplemental criteria (non-design related) until I was out of school. I assumed that great work got you hired and the other things evolved with time in the field.
I think that was the most important thing I learned from a series of interviews last spring: they want the real deal - and you can’t fake it, you have to be it. You really have to stand out in a competitive field. Excellent design skills may get you through the door, but it’s the rest of the package that gets the job.
Thanks for your comment.