What's the meaning of "see through the veneer"?

Question

a wily interviewer is likely to see through the veneer if you really know nothing about the company.

I guess its meaning is something like "see the inner side(,which is hidden or covered by its appearance or its look)"?

Answer 1

This should be answerable by dictionaries, and you should've been able to understand the whole phrase see through the veneer if you knew the meaning of see through and veneer.

Because see through (something) is a common phrase, I presume that you're not familiar with this sense of veneer (meaning, a cover or disguise). Here is the meaning of veneer in that sentence:.

veneer: [in singular] An attractive appearance that covers or disguises someone or something’s true nature or feelings:
'her veneer of composure cracked a little'

Just to cover the whole phrase, here is a definition of see through:

see through: Not be deceived by; detect the true nature of:
'he can see through her lies and deceptions'

So a wily interviewer is likely to see through the veneer means that it's likely that he or she will not be deceived or tricked by your cover or your pretending to know. They would see through your cover (read veneer). They would see through you. They would know better.

Answer 2

Yes, you are somewhat right. The quote in concerned is used as an idiom,

to see through the veneer: to realise easily that your knowledge is not very detailed

So, if the interviewer is witty, be careful. You'll be caught for your shallow knowledge.