What is a talent acquisition manager and how to become one

Q: Do talent acquisition managers hire people?

Yes, talent acquisition managers hire people. Talent acquisition managers are responsible for recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining workers in an organization. Talent acquisition managers approach the hiring process comprehensively, using strategies such as networking and referrals and brand marketing to create a workplace that appears attractive to good-fit candidates for roles within the company.

Q: Is talent acquisition a good career?

Yes, talent acquisition can be a good career. Talent acquisition is a dynamic and gainful career with high levels of autonomy. Though, the work can be stressful. Talent acquisition managers recruit, hire, onboard, and train workers for an organization. They are tasked with ensuring worker retention beyond the initial hiring and onboarding process, making their work more extensive than a hiring manager.

Q: Is working in talent acquisition the same as being a hiring manager?

No, working in talent acquisition is not the same as being a hiring manager. Though the roles overlap, talent acquisition managers take a more comprehensive approach. All talent acquisition managers are hiring managers but not all hiring managers are talent acquisition managers.

Q: What degree do you need for talent acquisition?

You need at least an associate's degree for talent acquisition, though a bachelor's or advanced degree is preferred. Nearly 80% of talent acquisition managers have their bachelor's degree, and over 13% have their master's.

Q: What does a talent acquisition recruiter do?

A talent acquisition recruiter is responsible for assisting with recruiting and hiring talent. They are often referred to simply as recruiters and work under the supervision of hiring managers.

Q: What is a talent manager's salary?

A talent manager's salary is $79,983 a year, on average. That equates to $38.45 an hour. Talent manager salaries vary significantly, with top earners making in the low six-figures and the bottom 10% yielding average annual salaries of $50,000.

Q: What is an acquisition manager's salary?

An acquisition manager's salary is $109,853 a year, on average. On average, the range for acquisition manager pay is $69,000 to $174,000 a year. Acquisition manager pay varies greatly, depending on location, industry, and education.

Q: What is the role of an acquisition manager?

The role of an acquisition manager is to oversee an organization's purchasing activities. An acquisition manager oversees purchasing market shares, financial holdings, and commercial estates.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Rachel Raymond

A talent acquisition manager identifies, recruits, and hires talent for an organization. They work closely with hiring managers to develop effective recruitment strategies, including sourcing candidates, conducting interviews, and negotiating job offers. Talent acquisition managers oversee the entire recruitment process, from posting job openings to onboarding new hires. They may use job fairs, social media, and employee referrals to attract qualified candidates. Additionally, they analyze recruitment trends to improve hiring processes and employee retention rates.

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

Rachel Raymond

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 ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.1

Avg. Salary $90,907

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.6

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.40%

Asian 5.71%

Black or African American 7.65%

Hispanic or Latino 11.14%

Unknown 5.09%

White 70.01%

Gender

female 56.84%

male 43.16%

Age - 47

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 - 47

Stress level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

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

Pros

Opportunity to work with a diverse group of people
Potential for high earnings
Opportunity to improve company culture through hiring practices
Possibility for career advancement
Opportunity to attend industry events and conferences

Cons

High pressure and stress levels
Long hours and potential for work-life balance issues
Challenging to find the right fit for certain roles
Limited control over external factors affecting hiring process (e.g. economic downturns)
Potential for company leadership not valuing the importance of talent acquisition

Key steps to become a talent acquisition manager

Explore talent acquisition manager education requirements

Most common talent acquisition manager degrees

Bachelor's

76.9 %

Master's

13.2 %

Associate

7.0 %

Start to develop specific talent acquisition manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Applicant Tracking Systems	10.57%
Human Resources	8.62%
TA	7.88%
Recruitment Strategies	5.29%
Customer Service	5.05%

Research talent acquisition manager duties and responsibilities

Manage talent from musicians to YouTube influencers.
Manage relationships with vendors and 3rd party RPO suppliers, ensuring consistent performance and adherence to policy.
Manage vendor relationships, including RPO, relocation management, recruiting technology, background check and staffing vendors.
Update, maintain and manage applicant tracking system, BrassRing, and human capital management system, PeopleSoft.

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