Personally, I think this should be near the top, and I think arrogance[1] should be near the bottom. And not just for interviews. If you are known for giving credit where credit is due? that's going to get you more help at this job; that's going to get you better contacts, more recommendations for your next job. You will see your co-workers again. Generally, if you can say something good and true about a co-worker, you should.
There are few times when as an individual contributor where it's in your interest to say something bad about someone else. I mean, I'm not saying to lie, just if you can't say something nice, keep your mouth shut.
[1]Yes, yes, socially skilled people see arrogance as a different thing from confidence, not just a matter of degree. But if you are that socially skilled, you don't need these tips. Me? I see it as a sort of linear progression from low self-esteem through confidence and then into arrogance. For the tech industry, this is a good enough (though incorrect) model. I mean, you can go too far in one direction or the other, but at least for me it seems to be a reasonably tunable thing, and I've seen far more people fail interviews due to being too far on the shy/humble/lacks confidence end of that scale than the other way around.
This is really an exercise in speaking diplomatically. Often we leave jobs because we can't be as productive in the current environment. That's usually code word for other failures in the company. I think at the executive level it can be helpful to have the discussion on what you would do differently. Most adults in my experience will appreciate a candid discussion as long as you are sharing your experiences in a humble and respectful manner.
Personally, I think this should be near the top, and I think arrogance[1] should be near the bottom. And not just for interviews. If you are known for giving credit where credit is due? that's going to get you more help at this job; that's going to get you better contacts, more recommendations for your next job. You will see your co-workers again. Generally, if you can say something good and true about a co-worker, you should.
There are few times when as an individual contributor where it's in your interest to say something bad about someone else. I mean, I'm not saying to lie, just if you can't say something nice, keep your mouth shut.
[1]Yes, yes, socially skilled people see arrogance as a different thing from confidence, not just a matter of degree. But if you are that socially skilled, you don't need these tips. Me? I see it as a sort of linear progression from low self-esteem through confidence and then into arrogance. For the tech industry, this is a good enough (though incorrect) model. I mean, you can go too far in one direction or the other, but at least for me it seems to be a reasonably tunable thing, and I've seen far more people fail interviews due to being too far on the shy/humble/lacks confidence end of that scale than the other way around.