If you pick up a companion after leveling up and do not chose their default role they do not get their skills/talents/traits etc.
For example I tried picking up both Ifan and Lohse when I was Sebille at level 6. If I took their default role they got 8 Attributes, 4 combat abilities and one each civil ability and trait. If I chose them to be a witch or any another class they both got nothing (they did level up to 5 but got no points).
