What Is a Talent Acquisition Specialist? How to Become One, Salary, Skills.

Talent acquisition specialists are responsible for the long-term talent acquisition strategy for the teams and departments with which they partner. Here’s what to know about a talent acquisition specialist’s salary, needed skills and how to become one.

What Is a Talent Acquisition Specialist?

In addition to finding talent for current open roles, talent acquisition specialists also lead programs that aim to build a healthy pipeline of talent to support the company’s ongoing needs and future goals. These programs include talent assessments, employee referral programs, succession planning and apprenticeships.

Although talent acquisition (TA) specialists have recruiting responsibilities, they differ from recruiters because they also act as business partners who develop talent strategies that anticipate future talent needs, conduct talent assessments to identify gaps and opportunities for growth, and partner with company leaders to build succession plans. 

What Do Talent Acquisition Specialists Do?

Talent Acquisition Specialist Responsibilities

• In order to create long-term talent strategies, TA specialists conduct talent assessments for the departments with which they partner. In these assessments, TA specialists will identify gaps and opportunities for a team.
•  Focusing on future needs, talent acquisition specialists work with company leaders to identify potential successors based on their job performance, experience and educational background. 

Talent Acquisition Specialists Within a Company

Unlike recruiters who react to short-term needs by recruiting for current job vacancies that need to be filled, TA specialists collaborate with departments to identify the appropriate long-term talent strategy that meets the company’s growth goals.

Importance of Talent Acquisition Specialists

Deciding on whether to hire a talent acquisition specialist or a recruiter depends upon the needs of your company. There will be instances when prioritizing immediate recruiting for a number of open roles is the right move. However, for a company to scale more effectively, a talent acquisition specialist’s expertise in building a long-term talent strategy that supports the company’s future growth needs is an important skill set to have on your team.

What Skills Are Needed to Be a Talent Acquisition Specialist?

Qualifications to Be a Talent Acquisition Specialist

Different companies may have different skill requirements listed in TA specialist job descriptions depending on needs and top priorities. Here is a list of relevant skills and education to consider if you’re looking to become a talent acquisition specialist:

• Sourcing 
• Interviewing
• Employer branding
• Familiarity with applicant tracking systems (ATS)
• Talent assessment
• Succession planning
• Depending on the company, a degree in HR or a relevant field may be required

Talent Acquisition Specialist Salary and Job Outlook

The salary and benefits for a talent acquisition specialist depends on a variety of factors including the size of a company, industry, experience level needed, location and responsibilities. The overall market salary rate may also change based on economic factors such as inflation. See below for detailed information on the average talent acquisition specialist salary.