Talent Acquisition Consultants

Another job that is out of the ordinary for financial grads is that of a talent acquisition consultant. Talent
acquisition consultants can work independently, for consulting firms, or in-house for many different
types of organizations. Their main goal is to help business managers locate employees who will best
meet their companies’ needs. While many of their responsibilities involve making suggestions as to the
most effective recruitment methods, they are also responsible for such things as creating job
descriptions, posting job opening advertisements, suggesting appropriate salaries and benefit packages,
and creating and maintaining recruitment budgets.

A talent acquisition consultant seeks out talented candidates to fill open positions within an
organization. Individuals interested in this career can learn more about the educational requirements
and job duties.

A talent acquisition consultant specializes in determining an organization's hiring needs and finding
qualified candidates to meet those needs. These consultants often conduct full lifecycle recruiting for
organizations, including posting job ads, reviewing candidates, and selecting and interviewing qualified
ones. The focus of this position is not only sourcing new talent for an organization, but also retaining that
talent. Talent acquisition consultants can serve as in-house recruiters for organizations or work for
staffing agencies that specialize in filling positions for clients.

A primary responsibility for talent acquisition consultants can be creating and implementing a recruiting
process that is inclusive of equal employment hiring practices. Another primary responsibility for these
consultants is educating organizational management on current job trends and the best ways to attract
candidates. Talent acquisition consultants will need to both understand and employ a variety of
recruiting methods, including utilizing social media platforms and search engine optimization techniques
for job ads. Other job responsibilities can include participating in setting budgets and creating recruiting
materials, managing a comprehensive system for tracking candidates, and creating a positive hiring
experience for all candidates.

Educational Requirements Bachelor's degree

Job Skills Excellent interpersonal skills, strong critical thinking abilities, effective project
management skills, and technical aptitude

Median Salary (2018)* $61,946

Job Outlook (2016-2026)** 7% (Human Resources Specialist)

Sources: *PayScale, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Required Education

A talent acquisition consultant will need a bachelor's degree in human resources or a related discipline.
Candidates will need a strong background in recruitment strategies, such as researching and analyzing
current salary trends and the ability to network. In addition, many employers may require a minimum
number of years of relevant work experience.

Required Skills

As a talent acquisition consultant, individuals should have excellent interpersonal skills. They must be
able to interface with internal colleagues, network with industry colleagues, and build relationships with
candidates. These consultants should also have strong critical thinking abilities in order to develop and
implement diversified sourcing strategies. In addition, talent acquisition consultants will need effective
project management skills. These consultants may be tasked with overseeing several projects at once
and must be able to meet project deliverables. Finally, talent acquisition consultants should have
technical aptitude to effectively perform their job duties. They will need to enter candidates' information
into a tracking database, as well as utilize electronic recruiting strategies.