How to hire an acquisitions assistant

How to hire an acquisitions assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step acquisitions assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an acquisitions assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new acquisitions assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your acquisitions assistant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an acquisitions assistant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect acquisitions assistant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents acquisitions assistant salaries for various positions.

   Type of Acquisitions Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Acquisitions Assistant	Library technicians and assistants help librarians with all aspects of running a library. They assist patrons, organize library materials and information, and perform clerical and administrative tasks.	$8-26
   Library Clerk	Library clerks help librarians by primarily doing sorting, shelving, updating database and files, and cataloging several library materials such as books, newspapers, magazines, and multimedia resources. They check books and other resources in and out of the library assist in the procurement of library supplies, work with audio-visual equipment most of the time... Show more	$11-18
   Library Page	A library page is a professional who is responsible for organizing all returned books and other items while putting them in their proper places on the shelves. This library page must retrieve materials that are kept in secured areas and checking items that are returned from patrons... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • HR
   • Data Entry
   • Background Checks
   • Interview Process
   • Linkedin
   • Library Materials
   • Purchase Orders
   • Administrative Tasks
   • Travel Arrangements
   • OCLC
   • ATS
   • I-9
   • Cooperative Agreements
   • Library System

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead post-award conferences on behalf of USAID.
   • Coordinate with cataloging department and manage all receivable materials.
   • Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, cassette tapes, cds, and dvds.
   • Shelve, sort, and pull books and DVDS.
   • Search and download records off OCLC.
   • Train and mentor newly hire FSN staff members and technical teams regarding USAID policies.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your acquisitions assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An acquisitions assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, acquisitions assistants' average salary in missouri is 59% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level acquisitions assistants earn 67% less than senior-level acquisitions assistants.
   • Certifications. An acquisitions assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an acquisitions assistant's salary.

   Average acquisitions assistant salary

   $15.56hourly

   $32,357 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level acquisitions assistant salary

   $18,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing an acquisitions assistant job description

   A good acquisitions assistant job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an acquisitions assistant job description:

   Acquisitions assistant job description example

   + Department: MIT Press
   
   + School Area: Libraries, MIT Press, Tech Review
   
   + Employment Type: Full-time (Hybrid)
   
   + Employment Category: Non-Exempt
   
   + Visa Sponsorship Available: No
   
   + Schedule:
   
   Email a Friend Save Save Apply Now
   
   Information on MIT's COVID-19 vaccination requirement can be found at the bottom of this posting.
   
   ACQUISITIONS ASSISTANT, MIT Press (MITP), to assist two acquisitions editors with project management for the MITP's book programs in education and learning, new media, digital humanities, game studies, science fiction, and design. Will manage distinct and critical phases of project development for approximately forty projects per year across a range of publication types, including trade books, textbooks, and professional monographs; and work with authors and MITP staff to facilitate effective review and consideration of project proposals and manuscripts and manuscript production. Responsibilities include working with authors to prepare manuscripts and artwork for production; data entry and maintenance; coordinating the peer review process by querying potential reviewers and ensuring the review process stays on schedule; soliciting endorsements for forthcoming books; sending contracts and tax documents to authors for signature, coordinating advance payments, and handling assigned projects following contract signing; identifying competing books, potential course adoptions, and areas of growth in emerging fields; developing financial projections; researching and preparing contracts and other documents; locating copyright holders of artwork for jackets and interiors; ensuring that final manuscripts have been prepared according to guidelines; liaising with other departments; representing the Press at conferences; and performing general administrative and other duties as requested.
   
   Job Requirements
   
   REQUIRED: high school diploma or its equivalent; three years' administrative experience; excellent organizational and communication skills; proficiency with administrative software (e.g., MS Word, FileMaker, Excel, PowerPoint); ability to coordinate and prioritize multiple task demands, effectively manage time, and work as part of a team; discretion and judgment with confidential information/issues; attention to detail; and self-motivation. PREFERRED bachelor's degree in a related field and publishing experience. Job #21819-49/8/22

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right acquisitions assistant for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with acquisitions assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit acquisitions assistants who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your acquisitions assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit acquisitions assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit acquisitions assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new acquisitions assistant

   Once you've found the acquisitions assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new acquisitions assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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