Interviews Aren’t Just About You, They’re About Them Too
If you’re preparing for an interview, chances are someone’s told you:
“Just be yourself.”
Or maybe: “Sell yourself well.”
Here’s what’s equally important:
Interviews aren’t just about you. They’re about them too.
Behind every interviewer is someone who’s spent years inside a specific industry or organization, absorbing its values, tone, and culture. Over time, these ways of thinking become second nature. People begin to carry the identity of the brand or sector they represent. It’s not just where they work, it’s who they are.
And with that comes a sense of pride.
Sometimes even ego.
Especially in prestigious companies or legacy industries, you’ll often find that this unspoken culture of “we’re the best” subtly (or not so subtly) shapes the interview dynamic. It can feel guarded, performance-driven, or even intimidating (not because you don’t belong, but because you haven’t yet learned their cues).
That’s why preparing for an interview is also about understanding the lens through which it will be heard.
For Gen Z professionals, this is strategic adaptability: preparing so well that you can flex in the moment, respond with clarity, and connect on their terms without losing your own voice.
Because confidence is also about knowing your audience.
Industry Culture Shows Up in the Interview Room
Over the years, through both personal experience and coaching others, I’ve seen how interviewers often reflect the culture of their organization. Here are some examples that highlight the subtle (but important) differences across industries:
Business Roles in Luxury Retail: Substance + Sophistication
In luxury, the brand identity is everything, and internal teams are expected to carry that same level of refinement.
For roles in merchandising, business development, marketing, or training, interviewers are looking for:
Polished communication — articulate, poised, and confident.
Presence — you’re not just presenting ideas; you’re representing the brand.
Brand fluency — an appreciation for craftsmanship, heritage, and the psychology of high-net-worth clientele.
Here, how you show up is as important as what you bring. You’re expected to mirror the luxury experience from the inside out.
Finance & Consulting: Structured, Driven, and Globally Aware
In high-stakes environments like investment banking or strategy consulting, expectations go beyond technical know-how.
They’re looking for:
Structured thinkers — can you synthesize ideas under pressure?
Evidence of discipline — competitive extracurriculars like sports, debate, or Model UN.
Clarity under stress — are you calm, confident, and decisive?
Global awareness — do you understand how world events impact markets and business?
In these fields, being informed isn’t optional. A well-read candidate who can connect geopolitical trends or economic shifts to financial strategy demonstrates maturity and real-world relevance.
Sustainability & Green Jobs: Purpose, Proof, and Pragmatism
In ESG roles, climate tech, circular economy startups, or social impact consulting, mission alignment is essential but so is depth.
Interviewers here tend to look for:
Systems thinking — can you connect business, policy, and environment?
Action over aspiration — have you moved beyond passion into implementation (e.g., projects, activism, internships)?
Balanced perspective — are you purpose-driven yet commercially aware?
Being well-versed in global frameworks like the UN SDGs, carbon markets, or regulatory trends isn’t just impressive, it’s expected.
Tech Startups: Show Don’t Tell
In lean, fast-moving teams, what matters most is what you can build or think through, not how polished your resume sounds.
They’re looking for:
Initiative and output — GitHub repos, side projects, prototypes.
Agility — can you pick up new tools, work across functions, and learn fast?
Candor and clarity — show your thought process, including your failures and iterations.
Startups value people who bring energy and ideas to the table not just credentials.
So… How Do You Prepare With “Them” In Mind?
Here are a few coaching questions I use with young professionals to help them prepare:
🔹 What’s the tone of voice used in their public comms?
Casual or corporate? Warm or prestigious?
🔹 Who works there now?
Look at employee LinkedIn profiles: what kinds of degrees, experiences, or industries do they come from?
🔹 What does the company value, and how is that lived, not just stated?
Glassdoor reviews, sustainability reports, leadership talks, and job descriptions offer clues.
🔹 What’s the unspoken “edge”?
Are they traditional, disruptive, people-first, product-first, status-driven, or impact-led?
The more fluent you are in their world, the more naturally you can adapt during the interview without scrambling or losing confidence.
It’s Not About Changing Who You Are. It’s About Being a Better Communicator.
This isn’t about faking it: it’s about aligning with their culture, it’s about fitting the message to the moment.
You’re still you. But just like you’d speak differently to a panel of professors vs. a group of teen interns, you’re tailoring how you show up so that your story lands.
In interviews, they want to know who you are. So they can evaluate your potential to fit into their world.
That’s why preparing to adapt is one of the most powerful forms of self-confidence you can develop.
Your Coach,
Jocelyne
Suggested Reading & Resources
📘 “The Culture Map” by Erin Meyer
Understanding cross-cultural (and cross-industry) communication.
🎧 Decoded Podcast by Jay Acunzo
Great for learning how to tell stories with your audience in mind.
💼 LinkedIn Learning: “Mastering Common Interview Questions” by Valerie Sutton
Teaches structured approaches to adapting across roles.
🌱 “Green Jobs: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Careers” by Aileen Weintraub
For those exploring sustainability or ESG-related paths.
🗞️ Follow for finance world awareness:
Financial Times, Bloomberg, The Economist
Daily newsletters like Morning Brew, Finimize, or Carbon Brief (for ESG updates)
🧠 HBR: “Why Emotional Intelligence Is the Secret to Acing Job Interviews”
On using self- and social-awareness to navigate high-stakes conversations.
