The recruitment process and the processing of CVs in banks, as in financial services in general, can often be extremely competitive and complicated.
When a CV receives no response from the HR department or the person in charge of recruitment, it may be due to a combination of several factors that we will try to explain to you in this article. As a matter of fact, several factors make it possible to have or not a response when sending a CV for a position to be filled:
Inappropriate CV for the position to be filled
If you send a CV that does not correspond to the position to be filled, it will most likely be ignored and you will certainly not get a response from the HR department or the recruiter because they will consider that you have not bothered to read the job description. It seems obvious, but a large number of CVs received are clearly not in line with the position to be filled. The CV must correspond at least to the prerequisites of the position as well as the cover letter that accompanies it. Therefore, it is important to highlight the most relevant skills and experiences.
Lack of “appropriate” keywords
The vast majority of banks and financial services use applicant tracking tools (ATS) which automatically filter CVs according to keywords predefined by the HR department. If your CV does not have the necessary keywords, it will be directly discarded by the system and you will probably not receive any response.
You do not have sufficient experience
If you apply for a position that requires more than 10 years of experience, for example, but you only have 4, although you think you have the shoulders to take on such a position, you will most certainly not receive an answer. Even if in some cases, recruiters can be flexible about the experience required for a position, it seems obvious that too large a delta will work against you.
Mistakes in the CV
Many spelling, syntax, grammar, or even formatting errors in a CV will give a bad impression to the recruiter even if your CV is in line with the position to be filled. Indeed, it will show a lack of professionalism and attention to detail.
A CV that is far too long or, on the contrary, far too short
When writing your CV, it is imperative that it be relatively short but reasonably detailed. A 4-page CV (too long) or a half-page CV (too short) demonstrates that the candidate does not know how to present his/her experiences and the skills required for the position to be filled. In practice, a CV should not exceed 2 pages because recruiters will not have the time or inclination to read more.
Your professional network
The network is often very important in the banking world. It is important, when possible, of course, to highlight your referents within the company in which you are applying. This will increase your chances of getting a response and possibly even getting an interview.
Your presence on social networks
More and more recruiters check your profiles on social networks. Unprofessional photos even taken in a private setting can greatly reduce your chances of getting a response after sending your CV. Indeed, banks or financial services will not want to associate with their image, a candidate who does not convey the values of the company.
“Fierce” competition
Banks and financial services when opening a position can receive a very large number of CVs simultaneously. Although your CV is in line with the requests related to the position, it is possible that other more qualified candidates have also applied, and you therefore do not receive a response.
The period during which you will send your CV
Sending your CV as soon as the advertisement has been posted or at the very end of the application period may have negative consequences. Indeed, when you apply at the very beginning with most candidates, your CV risks being drowned in the mass and if you apply too late you will probably be put aside because the selection will have already been made. Therefore, it is advisable to apply between these two periods to have the best chance of being visible.
If despite these tips, you get little or no response when sending your CV, it may be useful to seek external and professional advice from qualified recruiters. Indeed, your CV may need to be modified in order for you to have a better chance of success.