Be prepared to discuss your previous compliance experience. If you do not have previous experience as a compliance officer, perhaps because you are switching careers, discuss transferable skills. Keith Darcy, executive director of the Ethics & Compliance Officers Association says that “the most important skills include leadership, writing, public speaking, ethical decision-making, communications and training and instructional design.” He goes on to say, "compliance officers should also possess a high degree of courage and integrity due to the confidential nature of the job.”