A talent acquisition specialist is a type of recruiter who assists in the task of locating and qualifying potential employees for employment by a specific company. A specialist in this field may work as an independent contractor, collaborating closely with key personnel at each client company to develop a strategy for locating talented individuals for that company’s employment. A full-time employee of a company, a talent acquisition specialist works with managers, human resource personnel, and others to research, locate, and qualify individuals for potential employment in a variety of positions within the company structure.
One of the most important responsibilities of someone in this position is to conduct research in order to identify sources of potential job candidates. This will typically entail a variety of techniques, such as cultivating relationships with professional associations, employment agencies, and even using websites that allow people to post professional resumes online. The goal of the research is to find talented individuals who are a good fit for both the open positions within the company structure and the company culture.
Another important function of the talent acquisition specialist is to screen potential employees who have been located and contacted for interviews. The initial interview is usually conducted by the specialist. Further interviews with human resource personnel and possibly departmental managers can be scheduled if the individual passes this first layer of qualification. In this case, the specialist assists in the screening of potential candidates, allowing the employer to eliminate those who are unlikely to be a good fit. This allows hiring managers to focus on candidates who are highly likely to be a good fit for the positions that are currently available.
While a talent acquisition specialist’s specific responsibilities will vary depending on the company’s needs, almost every scenario will require the specialist to locate and screen potential job candidates in a way that prioritizes candidates with the right skill sets, experience, background, and attitude to be a valuable asset to the company. The specialist is constantly on the lookout for qualified individuals who could fill current and future positions within the company structure, from attending networking events to using online tools. The specialist’s work is ongoing, as the goal is to maintain a list of screened candidates who can be called upon to fill positions that become vacant unexpectedly, or to assist in increasing staffing as the company grows.