Key Moments: Why Gen Z Must Learn to Show Up When It Counts
Most of your career won't be decided in an application portal or an annual review.
It will be decided in a handful of moments: a five-minute conversation at a recruitment fair, a coffee chat with a senior leader, a chance meeting with someone who can hire you. For those already on the job, it might be an elevator ride with a managing director, a meeting where a senior leader unexpectedly joins, or a question you ask at a company town hall.
These are key moments.
For students, they can end months of endless applications in a single exchange. For early career professionals, they decide whether senior leaders know your name and your work, before it matters most. When a promotion comes up, the people in the room will advocate for those they've noticed. When budget cuts are around the corner, being visible and well regarded can be what keeps your job safe.
Doing great work is essential, but if the right people never see it, it rarely speaks for itself.
What I witnessed
Recently, I attended a recruitment event where a major bank came to meet students. Senior leaders were in the room, people who could open doors most of us spend years knocking on. They were looking for talent: students who think outside the box and ask questions that matter.
Then the Q&A began.
"How long is the internship?"
"What can I do if I don't have all the required skills?"
"When is the application deadline?"
None of these are bad questions. But every answer was already on the website. The leaders left without remembering a single name.
Why this matters to Gen Z
Your generation values authenticity. You are skeptical of performing, of "selling yourselves," of trying too hard to impress. That instinct is healthy in many areas of life. But in a key moment, holding back isn't authenticity. It's invisibility.
This is especially true in Asia, where many of us were raised to listen quietly and respect hierarchy. In many Western classrooms, children learn early that participation and curiosity get noticed. Here, the smartest student in the room might never say a word. The thinking is there. It just isn't seen.
And the stakes are real. An internship in a big firm often leads to a return offer, around 80% of the time. That first impression can shape your entire first job.
What makes a question matter
A question that impresses senior leaders shows you've done your homework and you're thinking beyond yourself. It focuses on their world and the bigger picture, not just your own logistics.
"What's the biggest challenge your team is facing this year?"
"How is AI changing the way our industry works?"
"What separates the people who grow fastest here from the rest?"
"What skills do you think will matter most in five years?"
"What's one priority for the business that people at my level might not see?"
"Where do you see the biggest opportunity for our team to add more value?"
These questions signal curiosity, ambition and strategic thinking, exactly what leaders are scanning for, whether they're meeting a student or someone on their own team.
The questions to ask yourself first
Before any key moment, pause and ask:
Who could I meet today, and what do they care about?
What do I want them to remember about me?
Have I prepared, researched and dressed the part?
Can I explain what I do, or what I want to do, in one clear sentence?
Does anyone senior know the impact of my work, and if not, how can I show it?
Am I ready to give this everything I've got?
Preparing yourself for these moments isn’t extra work, it’s part of showing up for yourself and recognizing the opportunity.
The bottom line
Recruiters and senior leaders don't expect you to know everything.
They expect you to be agile and to recognize when it's the moment to make a good impression. Whether you're a student competing against classmates with similar grades or a young professional among peers with similar skills, the deciding factor is rarely what's on your CV or in your performance review.
When the choice is close, they choose attitude over aptitude. Make sure yours is visible.
Your coach,
Jocelyne
Further Reading
A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger. A guide to the art of asking questions that spark new thinking, perfect for anyone who wants to stand out in a Q&A.
Quiet by Susan Cain. A reassuring read for introverts, showing how quiet people can use their strengths while learning to speak up when it counts.
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay. A clinical psychologist explains why your twenties matter more than you think, and how small choices now shape your career later.
Presence by Amy Cuddy. A practical look at how to bring your boldest, most confident self to high-pressure moments like interviews and networking events.
