Title: Dear Candidates: If You Can’t Spell “Mortgage,” Please Don’t Apply to Be a Mortgage Broker
Recruiters, you know the drill.
You post a job for an experienced mortgage broker with 3+ years of industry experience, CeMAP qualification, and a proven track record in protection assurance sales.
Within an hour, you get:
Why Does This Happen?
1️⃣ The “Easy Apply” Epidemic
That shiny blue LinkedIn button is a trap. One click, no CV edits, and boom — someone with zero finance experience is suddenly “passionate about compliance.”
2️⃣ Optimism (a.k.a. Ignoring the Job Description)
“I’ve never worked in finance… but I love numbers!”
That’s lovely. Truly. But in mortgage lending and protection assurance, you need more than affection for arithmetic — you need legal knowledge, product expertise, and the ability to survive an FCA audit without crying.
3️⃣ Career Change by Stealth
Some folks think the quickest way into a new sector is to apply for a senior role and hope no one notices the 15-year gap in relevant experience. Spoiler: we notice.
For the Record…
We do like ambition. We do want fresh talent.
But if your current job title is “Assistant Barista” and you’re applying for “Senior Mortgage Compliance Manager,” the only thing you’re brewing is recruiter frustration.
What You Should Do Instead
✅ Look for entry-level roles or trainee mortgage adviser programs.
✅ Get your CeMAP (or other relevant qualifications).
✅ Actually read the job description before you click “Apply.”
Bottom line:
The mortgage, mortgage broker, and protection assurance industries are heavily regulated. You can’t just wing it — and no, “I’m a quick learner” won’t cut it when we’re talking about someone’s financial future.
Apply smart. Save everyone’s time. Especially yours.