Talent acquisition is more than a fancy word for recruitment
Traditional recruitment is in jeopardy, and many are looking to talent acquisition instead. But if talent acquisition becomes more than a corporate buzzword, it's important to get the difference between recruitment and talent acquisition right.
Recruitment is based on the need to quickly fulfil immediate vacancies. It is a linear process reacting to an immediate vacancy within the company. It tends to use short term strategies that end when roles are filled.
Talent acquisition, on the other hand, has a goal to find specialists and leaders as a part of long-term-planning within a company. It takes an ongoing approach to developing a talent pipeline.
Recruitment is part of talent acquisition, so comparing talent acquisition and recruitment is misleading. Recruitment is a reactive approach whereas talent acquisition allows you to proactively respond to future hiring needs. The biggest difference is that recruitment focuses on the present moment, while talent acquisition focuses mostly on the future.
Talent acquisition is a more modernistic and strategic approach to recruitment. In addition to traditional recruiting activities, talent acquisition also includes:
Consultation:
A talent acquisition partner will sit down with the clientele to understand what they look for in a candidate, what qualities are most important to succeed in the role that's vacant, and how best to interact with the candidate. This consultation can occur over email or phone calls or through one-on-one meetings.
Assessment and planning:
After an initial consultation, the agency assesses the client's current workforce and develops a plan to fill skill and experience gaps. It also helps to develop strategies for finding new employees that work within your budget and schedule.
Branding and engagement:
Talent acquisition agency creates a brand that attracts top talent at all levels of employment - from entry-level to leadership positions. They also work with clients to create a strategy for attracting potential candidates throughout their hiring process, from resume screening to final interview.
Marketing:
Whether it's posting job descriptions on various websites or interacting with employees at a job fair, a talent acquisition agency will help advertise vacant position to the widest audience possible. They also help reach passive candidates (those who are currently employed but are looking for other opportunities).
Candidate sourcing & selection:
Candidates are approached from various places like job boards, employee referrals, social media platforms like LinkedIn, etc. A talent acquisition partner helps the client with the process by showing which recruitment methods are most effective in attracting candidates with the skills the company needs.
Strategic input:
A talent acquisition agency also helps the client to create a strategic hiring plan in order to guide growth over time. This may include developing clear goals for each position and the total number of people needed over time. It may also include recommendations on methods that may be useful for finding new hires (such as job boards).