Scotiabank Plum Profile: How the No-Resume Application Works
Luca from Candidate Falcon
Editorial Team
Scotiabank's internship, co-op and new graduate postings say something unusual: you do not need a resume. Instead, you complete a Plum Profile, take a screenshot of it, record a short one-way video interview and upload the screenshot where the resume would go.
This guide explains each step, what the Plum survey asks you to do, what candidates have learned about the screenshot and the video interview, and how to prepare. We label every source: what Scotiabank says, what Plum says and what candidates report.
The short answer
- Your Plum Profile screenshot replaces your resume. Scotiabank's student postings say so directly.
- There are three steps: the Plum survey, a short one-way video interview and the online application.
- The Plum survey takes about 25 minutes and has five sections: statements, puzzles, adjectives, more puzzles and workplace scenarios.
- There is no answer key. Two of the five sections have no right answers, and the profile describes what you prioritise.
Scotiabank's three application steps
A Winter 2027 internship posting, read in October 2026, sets out the process for students applying to internship, co-op or new graduate programmes:
- Complete your Plum Profile and save it as a screenshot.
- Complete a short one-way video interview through a separate link in the posting.
- Apply to the role. When the application asks for a resume, upload the screenshot of your Plum Profile instead.
Scotiabank says it prefers "relationships over resumes" and wants to learn who you are and what interests you. Only candidates selected for an interview are contacted. Older postings seen in search results add that all steps must be completed to be considered, and some ask for a transcript as well, so read the posting you are applying to.
This has been the model for a while. In 2020, a candidate on r/recruitinghell was surprised that a Scotiabank commercial banking programme wanted only Plum and a one-way interview. In September 2026, a wealth management applicant on r/Scotiabank noticed the same thing: resumes are not reviewed.
What is in the Plum survey
The Plum Discovery Survey has five sections, and Plum's help center describes how you answer each one.
| Section | What you do | Right answers? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Statements | Choose the statement most like you and the one least like you from each set | No |
| 2. Problem solving | Select the missing piece in a sequence of grids, from several options | Yes |
| 3. Adjectives | Choose the words most like you and least like you | No |
| 4. Problem solving | A second set of grid puzzles | Yes |
| 5. Scenarios | Choose the most and least effective response to a workplace situation | In part |
Plum says the survey is not timed and does not record how long you take, and you can pause and come back. When you finish, Plum builds a profile on 10 Talents, such as Communication, Execution and Teamwork. For the full breakdown, read our Plum assessment guide.
What to screenshot
This is the question Scotiabank candidates ask most. Between 2023 and 2026, several asked on Reddit what exactly to capture, because the Plum Profile runs over several pages.
What candidates did:
- One took screenshots of all the pages showing their characteristics and strengths (2025).
- Another listed the skills from their Plum Profile (2026).
The posting asks for "the screenshot", so a sensible approach is to capture the summary page with your top Talents clearly visible. If the upload accepts only one file, combine the pages into a single image or PDF. If your posting also asks for a transcript, check whether it wants both in one file.
Your profile is what the recruiter sees first, in place of a resume. You cannot edit it, which is one more reason to take the survey carefully.
The one-way video interview
The video interview is separate from Plum. What candidates report:
- Format: a question appears, you get about 30 seconds to prepare, then about a minute to answer (2024). A 2026 candidate remembered three questions.
- Questions: behavioural and situational. A Business Systems Analyst candidate in 2024 was asked to introduce themselves, which technology area they like, what they are passionate about and which tools they are comfortable with. Questions differ by role.
- What comes next: candidates describe a coffee chat or panel interview for those selected, and a coding test for technology roles.
Our one-way video interview tips cover setup, timing and structuring short answers.
How to prepare
- Take the Plum survey early. The screenshot is part of your application, so you need the profile before you can apply. Plum says the survey is not timed, but give yourself a quiet half hour.
- Practise grid-sequence puzzles. They are the only sections with one right answer. Check one feature at a time: how many squares are shaded, where they are and which way they move.
- Read every scenario response before choosing. Picture a capable first-year employee at a bank: the best responses solve the problem, respect the client or colleague and follow the rules.
- Answer the statements honestly and consistently. Plum's help center explains that similar statements come back against different ones, so answering for effect tends to produce contradictions.
- Prepare three short stories for the video. One about teamwork, one about a problem you solved and one about why this programme.
- Remember the profile carries over. Plum lets you reuse the same profile for other applications, and a retake is only possible a year after your last attempt.
If you need an accommodation for any step, the posting says to tell Scotiabank's recruitment team.
Practise the Plum formats
Candidate Falcon has independent Plum-style practice for every section: problem-solving puzzles with every rule explained, social intelligence scenarios, the statement and adjective sections with an estimated profile on the 10 Talents, and a full Discovery Survey run. Every puzzle, scenario and statement is our own, not Plum's or Scotiabank's, and practice results are not your Plum Profile. Playing them needs a plan that includes Plum; see pricing. Looking for answer packs? Read why no Plum answer key exists first.
FAQs
Does Scotiabank use Plum?
Yes. Scotiabank's internship, co-op and new graduate postings ask students to complete a Plum Profile and upload a screenshot of it instead of a resume.
Do I need a resume for Scotiabank internships?
Not for student programmes, according to the postings. You can still read the posting carefully: some ask for a transcript as well as the Plum Profile screenshot.
How long does the Scotiabank Plum Profile take?
Plum says the Discovery Survey takes about 25 minutes. It is not timed, and you can pause and come back.
Can I retake the Plum Profile for Scotiabank?
Plum allows a retake one year after your last attempt. Until then, the same profile is used for later applications.
Sources
- Scotiabank: Canadian Banking - Administration & Support Internship/Co-op, Winter 2027 (how to apply; read 24 October 2026).
- Reddit (individual reports, read October 2026): no resumes, only Plum and a one-way interview, 2020, with comments to 2026, Velocity internship, one-way interview and Plum profile, 2025 and resumes not reviewed for a wealth management role, 2026.
- Plum help center: Discovery Survey FAQs, the Plum Talents, retakes and how your profile is used.
Candidate Falcon is independent and not affiliated with Scotiabank, Plum, Phenom or any other company named here.
