How do you signal cultural fit to a bank without explicitly talking about culture?

Show fit through substance and language rather than saying 'I fit the culture.'

• Use the right level of detail for the platform. Boutiques value advisory depth and precision; bulge brackets value polished commercial breadth; specialists value technical sector fluency.
• Reference specific mandates, sectors, or workflow insights.
• Ask questions that match the banker's seniority.
• Describe work preferences that mirror the platform: lean team ownership, global execution, sector depth, or client relationship orientation.

Instead of 'I like Lazard's culture,' say: 'The lean team model and restructuring-heavy DACH mandate mix appeal to me because I learn best when I own analysis directly and can see how senior advice is formed.'

Specificity signals fit; generic culture language signals weak preparation.