diff --git a/.circleci/bazel.common.rc b/.circleci/bazel.common.rc
index f4c1163eb7..1e8cad37a5 100644
--- a/.circleci/bazel.common.rc
+++ b/.circleci/bazel.common.rc
@@ -4,8 +4,15 @@
 # Echo all the configuration settings and their source
 build --announce_rc
 
-# Don't be spammy in the logs
-build --noshow_progress
+# Print extra information for build failures to help with debugging.
+build --verbose_failures
+
+# Show progress so CI doesn't appear to be stuck, but rate limit to avoid
+# spamming the log.
+build --show_progress_rate_limit 5
+
+# Improve the UI for rendering to a CI log.
+build --curses yes --color yes --terminal_columns 140 --show_timestamps
 
 # Workaround https://github.com/bazelbuild/bazel/issues/3645
 # Bazel doesn't calculate the memory ceiling correctly when running under Docker.
@@ -19,3 +26,10 @@ build --verbose_failures=true
 
 # Retry in the event of flakes
 test --flaky_test_attempts=2
+
+# Run as many tests as possible so we capture all the failures.
+test --keep_going
+
+# Don't build targets not needed for tests. `build_test()` should be used if a
+# target should be verified as buildable on CI.
+test --build_tests_only