How to hire a talent manager

How to hire a talent manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step talent manager hiring guide:

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

What does a talent manager do?

Post a talent manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the talent manager you need to hire. Certain talent manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a talent manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a talent manager that fits the bill.

   This list presents talent manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Talent Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Talent Manager	Human resources managers plan, direct, and coordinate the administrative functions of an organization. They oversee the recruiting, interviewing, and hiring of new staff; consult with top executives on strategic planning; and serve as a link between an organization’s management and its employees.	$29-81
   Human Resources Consultant	A human resources consultant is responsible for supporting the human resources management of an organization by advising on policies and procedures for effective employee relations. Human resources consultants analyze HR programs and current processes and initiate projects to maintain stable operations... Show more	$25-45
   Human Resources Business Partner	Human resource (HR) business partners' primary job is to ensure that business objectives are aligned with the management and employees within an organization. They typically focus more on developing HR strategy than implementing the company policies... Show more	$29-57

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Human Resources
   • Succession Planning
   • Project Management
   • Employee Engagement
   • Linkedin
   • EEO
   • Leadership Development
   • Facebook
   • Data Analysis
   • Reference Checks
   • Workforce Planning
   • Applicant Tracking Systems
   • Interview Process
   • Career Development

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage ATS systems and perform back grind and drug screens.
   • Manage all requests for leaves of absence under FMLA, VESSA, or other applicable policies and statutes.
   • Manage onsite logistics for interviews; research, evaluate and negotiate compensation packages.
   • Map multiple databases in Ultipro (HRIS) to generate new reports and correct existing ones.
   • Process weekly payroll, paid time off accruals using ADP and other 3rd party brokerage firms.
   • Labor control: payroll via ADP, control labor vs. production; review OT daily to minimize OT

   More talent manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your talent manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A talent manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, talent managers' average salary in hawaii is 53% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level talent managers 64% less than senior-level talent managers.
   • Certifications. A talent manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a talent manager's salary.

   Average talent manager salary

   $102,404yearly

   $49.23 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level talent manager salary

   $61,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average talent manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$131,489	$63
   2	Pennsylvania	$130,360	$63
   3	California	$125,181	$60
   4	New York	$116,013	$56
   5	Illinois	$114,552	$55
   6	Maryland	$112,508	$54
   7	Arizona	$112,416	$54
   8	Texas	$111,917	$54
   9	Connecticut	$110,437	$53
   10	Washington	$109,098	$52
   11	District of Columbia	$107,363	$52
   12	Minnesota	$107,285	$52
   13	North Carolina	$105,137	$51
   14	Nevada	$97,588	$47
   15	Indiana	$91,527	$44
   16	Ohio	$91,316	$44
   17	Michigan	$89,849	$43
   18	Florida	$89,524	$43
   19	Oregon	$88,054	$42
   20	Georgia	$85,960	$41

   Average talent manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Boston Consulting Group	$208,578	$100.28	1
   2	Shoals Technologies Group	$170,666	$82.05
   3	Capgemini	$169,425	$81.45	2
   4	Accenture	$160,343	$77.09	109
   5	Pwc	$157,490	$75.72	8
   6	Apple	$153,831	$73.96
   7	Renesas Electronics	$152,703	$73.41
   8	Wunderman Thompson	$149,931	$72.08
   9	Deloitte	$148,235	$71.27	49
   10	AbbVie	$147,945	$71.13	2
   11	Zeta	$147,271	$70.80
   12	Ready Pac Foods	$140,835	$67.71
   13	Intel	$138,820	$66.74
   14	Concord Hospital	$138,214	$66.45	1
   15	Constellation Energy Partners	$134,506	$64.67
   16	Wpp Us Holdings Inc	$134,502	$64.66	1
   17	Pfizer	$133,236	$64.06
   18	East-West Center	$130,138	$62.57
   19	Booz Allen Hamilton	$129,821	$62.41
   20	BNY Mellon	$127,951	$61.51	4

4. Writing a talent manager job description

   A good talent manager 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 a talent manager job description:

   Talent manager job description example

   Our Talent Managers work in a team environment and have responsibility for negotiating and developing business with new and current clients. Talent Managers market our services via telephone, video and by conducting in-person meetings with hiring managers and decision-makers in accounting and finance departments. Additional responsibilities include: recruiting, interviewing and matching highly skilled accounting and finance professionals with clients' projects, contract assignments and contract to full-time opportunities; managing ongoing engagements to deliver outstanding customer service to both clients and candidates; providing ongoing communication and career guidance to candidates; and participating in local trade association and networking events to increase Robert Half's presence in the local business community.
   Qualifications:
   
   * Accounting/Finance/Business Administration degree preferred.
   * 1+ years finance, accounting, or banking experience preferred.
   * 2+ years' experience with Business Development in a Metrics Driven environment. At least one with success in developing new business in a multi‐call, multi‐decision maker environment.
   * Prior success marketing to and closing top level decision makers at small/medium sized businesses and cultivating mutually beneficial long term relationships.
   * Working knowledge of current Windows Operating System, Microsoft Office Suite
   
   (especially Excel), and any Contact Management Application (Salesforce).
   
   * Knowledge and familiarity with accounting and finance department operations.
   * Positive attitude and an engaging businesslike approach.
   
   Top Reasons to Work for Robert Half:
   
   * EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE INDUSTRY LEADER - For more than 70 years our history of success and strong client relationships have provided a level of stability few companies can match.
   * PERFORMANCE = REWARD - We offer exceptional earning potential and a competitive benefits package, including a base salary and monthly performance-based bonuses, paid time off, group health, life and disability insurance, and retirement savings plans.
   * UPWARD MOBILITY - With more than 300 locations worldwide, we provide excellent career advancement potential, both locally and beyond.
   * TOOLS FOR SUCCESS - We provide world-class training, client relationship management tools and advanced technology to help you succeed.
   * RESPECTED WORLDWIDE - Robert Half has appeared on Fortune magazine's list of "World's Most Admired Companies" since 1998, as well as numerous "Best Places to Work" lists around the world.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right talent manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your talent manager job on Zippia to find and attract quality talent manager candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as hrcrossing, ihirehr, hrjobs, shrm hr jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting talent managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 talent manager

   Once you've found the talent manager 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new talent manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a talent manager?