Finding the perfect fit for one role is not an easy job. Sometimes, people thought that only recruiters do this job. Having this in mind, talent acquisition (TA) is the right role. Even though both of them have the same job task, they are slightly different. TA is the first gate for candidates who want to join the company.
In this article, we are going to break down what talent acquisition is and its responsibility for the company. As it has been tasked to find a good quality candidate, this article will explain how they can find that for the company's growth and future. Let’s continue reading this article till the end!
What is talent acquisition in HR?
Talent acquisition in HR is the process of recruiting and coordinating with the HR department to ensure the candidate is the perfect one to fit the role. TA's main job is to attract and find good quality human resources. They help the company achieve its goal. Besides inbound marketing, they also do outbound marketing to search for candidates actively.
In the outbound marketing process, they may apply for ads, blast emails, and post the job vacancy on the job site. This is to find the right candidate for the role, as they mainly search for managers and top-level management positions. After that, they will filter and select based on the candidate's education, skill, character, and culture.
Talent acquisition will get the right one to fit the position, and will be in charge of the onboarding process. This is to ensure the new employee is comfortable joining the company. In this process, they will learn about the company culture and so on. A TA role is an important part of the HR department to not only focus on the company but also the employee.
Talent acquisition roles
Talent acquisition jobs are in high demand, aligning with companies wanting to find the right person for the business. It is not only about having a good-quality candidate, but also about ensuring they have the same values. With that in mind, this role will always be needed in the long term. They not only conduct the recruiting process but also maintain the current employees. Here are the TA's roles:
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Attraction: One of the talent acquisition jobs is employer branding to the candidate to attract them joining the company.
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Selection: TA will select the candidate and find out which one of them has good potential talent that matches the company's culture and values.
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Attrition: In this process, if they find the wrong candidate, they will either stop the hiring process, or the candidate will choose to leave. With that in mind, companies will only keep those who have value and characteristics that the company is searching for.
Talent acquisition soft skills
Talent acquisition works by doing a job analysis to find skilled workers. After that, they are screening, interviewing and selecting those who fit the role they are searching for. TA also works to improve employee retention. A study shows that 30% of new employees decide to quit within their first 90 days of work. This is to make sure they can improve employee retention.
To prevent that from happening, talent acquisition needs to do its job to keep the professional and skilled workers in the company. With that in mind, they need this soft skill to smooth their work:
Communication skill
Communication skill is the key skill for a TA, as they need to create a bond and relationship with a good candidate that matches the company's perspective. Not only that, they will also interact with many divisions in the business, including external teams or third parties.
Empathy
A talent acquisition also needs to have empathy, as there will be a place where people can talk to them about their concerns regarding workload, and so on. Without empathy, they will find it hard to understand them and struggle to find a solution for what the candidate should do.
Problem solving
Problem-solving is an essential skill in talent acquisition roles. Since TA professionals interact with many people, they are likely to face various challenges. That’s why a problem-solving mindset is crucial. They must consider multiple perspectives and find fair, unbiased solutions that work for everyone involved.
Negotiation
Talent acquisition needs to deal with candidates from various backgrounds, education levels, and careers. They need negotiation skills, especially when it comes to negotiating the salary. Many candidates may have high expectations of their salary but companies have a budget for that.
Industry knowledge
Having a clear knowledge of certain industries where your company focuses will help you to excel in this career. This knowledge will make it easier for TA’s to find the right fit for the position they are searching for. It is important for them to know what the criteria and requirements are for the role.
Talent acquisition vs recruitment
As we have mentioned, talent acquisition is slightly different from recruitment. For that reason, recruitment is a reactive process that focuses on filling the vacancies immediately. Meanwhile, TA is doing strategic planning for long-term human resources in the company, specifically when companies want to find individual contributors, top management leaders, and future executives.
However, both of these roles focus on the hiring process. They engage candidates throughout the hiring process and post them on the job portal for the vacancy. They also create an assessment for candidates to take part in before continuing the interview session. By this, the user will know whether the candidate is a good fit or not.
Becoming a TA specialist
To become a talent acquisition specialist, you need at least a relevant education and skills in this field. For example, psychology, law, business administration, and human resources. By having relevant education, it will be easier for you to do the task as a TA specialist. After that, find courses that offer you professional certification to boost your credibility.
By taking a course in HR and recruiting, you will have a broader overview of what you can do for this role. With this in mind, developing knowledge in this field, along with recruitment strategies and tools in HR, will help you stay updated with the latest trends in the industry.
Final consideration
The talent acquisition role is an interesting job that is in high demand today. This is because the company wants to focus on having a good person in charge of the role in terms of achieving the company's success. As a result, they do not like a person who has resigned within a month, and tend to find someone who can fit the role for a long time. Therefore, TA is needed for that reason.
Finally, if you want to learn more about how to become a TA specialist, the College of Contract Management has many courses you can apply to. As TA’s need to have wider knowledge from many industries, you can learn about construction, engineering, and healthcare with CCM. Keeping that in mind, you can build a strong professional career. Look no further and enrol now!
