The job market is extremely competitive. Organizations are always striving for acquiring the best talent from the pool of candidates to be the best fit for their job. Getting the right fit for a job can be a complex and time-consuming task. What is needed for its success is a competent authority who knows the technical know-how not only of the hiring process but also of the various engagement and retention-centric activities related to the employees.
This brings us to the significance of HR leaders. HR leaders, in today’s times, are not only responsible for hiring the employees and retaining them but they also have an overall organizational significance. HR leaders can be anyone in the department belonging to any level of the work hierarchy. They can be entry-level recruiters, tactical level motivation managers, strategic level employee relation specialists, so on and so forth.
Through statistics and observational study, it is found that effective HR leaders have proven to be one of the most important assets to ensure high productivity in the organization in this time of stringent competition. At a point where finding and retaining the perfect skill-set for the organization while also maintaining cost-effectiveness is one of the biggest significances of an HR leader.
As the necessary mention of suitable skill-set surfaces over and over again, the concept of hiring automatically becomes important. Whenever we mention hiring, the first word that strikes our mind is recruitment. And most obviously so. While it is needless to mention that a competent and skilled recruiter is detrimental to finding the right person for the right job, it should always be noted that a talent acquisition leader is also of specific utility to any organization.
A talent acquisition leader happens to be one of the most important HR leaders that an organization in today’s scenario requires. Hence it becomes important to have a comprehensive understanding of who a talent acquisition leader is, what are his key skills, and what is of utmost value to the organization.
A recruiter and a talent acquisition leader co-exist and work in interdependency to fulfill the HR needs of a company. Recruitment can both focus on the long-term as well as short-term goals of an organization. Talent acquisition on the other hand specifically focuses on the long-term needs and goals of an organization. Besides, the process of talent acquisition aims to target very particular skill sets that add value to the mentioned organization.
Let us have a quick look at who a talent acquisition leader is.
WHO IS A TALENT ACQUISITION LEADER?
A talent acquisition leader is someone who heads a continuous and ongoing hiring process in an organization. This hiring process goes on irrespective of the existing vacancies in the organization. A talent acquisition leader makes sure that the broader organizational perspective is taken into account. This means that the talent acquisition manager specifically works to meet the long-term goals or the long-term needs of the company. This includes looking for specific skill-sets that cater to organizational needs.
It is a fierce marketplace where the hiring scene is increasingly aggressive. In a situation like that, the work of a talent acquisition leader is not only important to an organization. It is also very competitive and intense. The talent acquisition leader always has to be on the grind for spotting and acquiring the best talents that suit the particular needs of the organization. In a position where companies struggle with talent management, the role of a talent acquisition leader is unsubstitutable.
NEED OF A TALENT ACQUISITION LEADER
A talent acquisition leader has multifaceted advantages to a company. It spots the best talent, helps attain long-term organizational goals, and also helps a great deal in economizing on time. The needs and job descriptions of a talent acquisition leader are vast and diverse.
- The TA leader is responsible for planning, developing, and maintaining a productive and attainable talent acquisition strategy for the company.
- He/she should devise a strategy so economic that it saves time and is also cost-efficient.
- He/She should investigate the current needs of the employees.
- The TA leader should also identify the long-term needs of the company and which skill-sets align with them.
- He/she should devise not only a productive but also a sustainable plan.
- He/she should be in charge of setting up branding activities by involving the current employees.
- A talent acquisition leader should plan employee referral programs.
- He/She should be in complete charge of sourcing the candidates from all sources available.
- Devise end-to-end solutions for a successful selection process.
- Create a model to track and review employee grievances in addition to addressing them.
KEY SKILLS OF A TALENT ACQUISITION LEADER
A successful talent acquisition leader should have several skills that make him good at his job. Since the TA leader works closely with the human resources of the organization, he/she should primarily be a people person. This is to say that the person has to be believable, gullible, and a good listener. If the employees do not see the TA leader as one of their own, the rate of success of talent acquisition becomes relatively low.
A talent acquisition leader has to hone his/her skills and these skills are not mandatorily inherent. Most of them are polished by experience and knowledge. However, possessing these skills is extremely important to be a successful talent acquisition manager.
Communication skills
Talent acquisition is a people-centric job and hence the ability to communicate effectively through verbal, written or non-verbal communication is of utmost importance. A TA leader is a bridge between the employees and the organization. Hence he/she should have the ability to effectively communicate, and negotiate with the employees. Communication skills include inter-organizational communication, communication through social media as well as body language, and non-verbal cues.
Active-listening
Active listening is an advanced skill that talent acquisition leaders must possess. This is highly significant for face-to-face conversations or situations where decision-making is involved. In a fast-paced world like this, employees and candidates have a fragmented presence. Active listening will allow the TA leader to join the dots and figure out information that does not meet the eye.
Broader Perspective
A talent acquisition leader should always be long-sighted. Being a manager who attempts to fulfill long-term goals, the TA leader should always take the whole picture into account before planning strategies. He/she should be far-sighted enough to look beyond the immediate vacancies and needs and create an effective talent pipeline.
Interpersonal Skills
Building a good candidate experience is of utmost importance to present-day employers. Good candidate experience does not only improve the employer branding but also largely helps in employee retention which is again, one of the biggest goals of talent acquisition. Hence, the TA leader’s interpersonal skills come in handy. This means that he/she should be able to create a good and positive rapport with the employees. Good interpersonal skills also pertain to effective communication and gullibility.
Empathy
No wonder AI is swiftly taking over the traditional workplace. No matter how technically advanced and accurate that is, it still lacks the human element. That on the lacking side worsens candidate experience. An empathetic talent acquisition leader ensures that the candidates feel that their real challenges and issues are being heard and taken into account.
Analytical Skills
In a world that has become primarily data-driven, having analytical skills is extremely important to a talent acquisition leader. Having said that, it is noteworthy to mention that analytical skills are not just the ability to read data. It is also the ability to process and analyze this data to implement it effectively.
WRAPPING UP
Standing in 2020, when companies need the best talents to keep their productivity at pace, a talent acquisition leader is one of the most important positions in an organization. Honed with social skills, emotional intelligence, and analytical knowledge, a talent acquisition leader can be detrimental to a company’s success.
By Gestalt, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Talent Acquisition Leaders look at that whole to continue their work.
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