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What is a talent acquisition consultant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Rachel Raymond
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A talent acquisition consultant helps organizations find and hire top talent. They work to understand the company's needs and develop strategies to attract and retain the best candidates. A talent acquisition consultant uses social media, job boards, and networking events to identify potential candidates. They also screen resumes, conduct interviews, and negotiate job offers. Additionally, a talent acquisition consultant may provide guidance on HR policies and offer insights into industry trends and best practices.

What general advice would you give to a talent acquisition consultant?

Rachel RaymondRachel Raymond LinkedIn profile

Strategic talent acquisition sr. manager, Jack Henry & Associates

Entering the workforce for 2020 graduates will be more difficult this year, given the higher unemployment numbers we see across the US. With the uncertainty of Covid-19, companies will be more conservative in increasing headcount across their organizations. Graduates need to think strategically about identifying jobs that are in industries more likely to thrive by the current economic conditions: digital services, remote learning, online gaming, healthcare, remote call centers, delivery and transit (Amazon, Postmates, Instacart), and collaboration technology (Zoom, Citrix), are just a few.

Many graduates will be competing for positions against experienced professionals willing to apply to entry-level jobs. Don't discount internships and apprenticeships as they frequently lead to full-time employment and help graduates gain additional experience for their resume. Through the selection and interview process, hiring managers will interview self-starters who are comfortable embracing a work-life integration mindset, and who can be agile and flexible with the new, remote, working environment. Onboarding and training have become increasingly difficult for many organizations, so new hires need to understand those challenges. Recent graduates have a proven record of successfully navigating new technology and working in any environment - coffee shops, trains, traveling, etc.- so be sure to highlight those traits through the interview process.
ScoreTalent Acquisition ConsultantUS Average
Salary
5.4

Avg. Salary $69,315

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.0

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.61%

Asian 7.60%

Black or African American 10.44%

Hispanic or Latino 18.78%

Unknown 5.11%

White 57.46%

Gender

female 61.47%

male 38.53%

Age - 40
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40
Stress level
8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.0

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a talent acquisition consultant?

Pros

  • High earning potential through commission and bonuses

  • Flexibility in work schedule and location

  • Opportunity for continuous learning and professional development

  • Variety in daily tasks, from sourcing candidates to negotiating job offers

  • Chance to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Cons

  • Stressful situations when dealing with difficult clients or candidates

  • Competitive industry with many other talent acquisition consultants vying for the same clients and candidates

  • Potential for ethical dilemmas, such as conflicts of interest or bias in hiring decisions

  • Administrative tasks can be time-consuming and take away from time spent on recruitment activities

  • Can be emotionally draining when dealing with rejection or unsuccessful placements

Talent acquisition consultant career paths

Key steps to become a talent acquisition consultant

  1. Explore talent acquisition consultant education requirements

    Most common talent acquisition consultant degrees

    Bachelor's

    72.8 %

    Master's

    12.6 %

    Associate

    8.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific talent acquisition consultant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Human Resources11.70%
    Applicant Tracking Systems8.44%
    Customer Service8.22%
    Manufacturing Industry6.06%
    Recruitment Strategies4.70%
  3. Complete relevant talent acquisition consultant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New talent acquisition consultants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a talent acquisition consultant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real talent acquisition consultant resumes.
  4. Research talent acquisition consultant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage scheduling database for healthcare aides and organize timely in-service training.
    • Manage the scheduling and logistics of all interviews between candidates and hiring managers including post-interview calibration/feedback with interview teams.
    • Maintain candidate records, status, and followed-up correspondences in TALEO system.
    • Maintain employer database in HRIS for 10 industrial accounts, including 3 start-up companies.
  5. Prepare your talent acquisition consultant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your talent acquisition consultant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a talent acquisition consultant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable talent acquisition consultant resume templates

    Build a professional talent acquisition consultant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your talent acquisition consultant resume.
    Talent Acquisition Consultant Resume
    Talent Acquisition Consultant Resume
    Talent Acquisition Consultant Resume
    Talent Acquisition Consultant Resume
    Talent Acquisition Consultant Resume
    Talent Acquisition Consultant Resume
    Talent Acquisition Consultant Resume
    Talent Acquisition Consultant Resume
    Talent Acquisition Consultant Resume
  6. Apply for talent acquisition consultant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a talent acquisition consultant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first talent acquisition consultant job

Zippi

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Average talent acquisition consultant salary

The average talent acquisition consultant salary in the United States is $69,315 per year or $33 per hour. Talent acquisition consultant salaries range between $48,000 and $99,000 per year.

Average talent acquisition consultant salary
$69,315 Yearly
$33.32 hourly

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How do talent acquisition consultants rate their job?

5/5

Based on 1 ratings

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Talent acquisition consultant reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Cons

It needs more patience to apply the true solution and satisfy your client


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Cons

need a lot of time


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

I like Bonus and helping people. Sometimes our company cover expanse for networking and meeting. More we do networking more we can earn.

Cons

too much pressure. to hire 1 executive vacancy we have to make connections with 100s of people. We work with people and people are sometimes really hard even we are doing our best. After weeks of hard work right before the placement, some firms reject them without any answers


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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