Assume limited prior knowledge: The reader may not understand terms like LoD, SMRs etc. Unless an abbreviation is already used in the job ad, you’ll need to briefly explain it. Or consider if it’s worth including at all as you don’t want to overwhelm them with irrelevant detail.
Tailor your CV: Align it with the language used in the job ad. Spell out clearly how your experience matches the role. They may not have the ability to read between the lines or make connections on their own.
Clarify your job title: If your current title is industry-specific or different from what they’re scanning for, add a one-line summary underneath explaining what you do in simple terms - as if you were explaining it to a friend. If the duties are the same but the titles differ, make that abundantly clear.
Follow up with a phone call: It never hurts to speak directly with the person reviewing your application. If they tell you on the spot that you weren’t successful, take the opportunity to politely ask what was missing. If they’ve misunderstood your experience, this is your chance to clarify.
Judge them on their willingness to learn and invest, over their existing processes: Show patience and understanding for how far along they are in their AML journey. Your main goal in a first meeting is to assess where they are at, how much work will be involved in getting them where they need to be, and how much support they appear to be putting behind the function.
Expect to educate: It won’t be like a typical interview with an employer who knows exactly what they are looking for and you trying to hit the right answers. Think of it more as a discovery session where they are spending an hour with you to learn.
Avoid jargon and give details: Just like in your CV, be mindful of certain things you say that are industry-specific and may need further explanation.
Demonstrate awareness of the commercial realities of their industry: For example, in real estate they'll want reassurance that AML won’t slow down deals. In law, they’ll want to onboard clients quickly and efficiently. Consider how your role applies in their world and how you plan to deliver compliance while supporting business outcomes.
