How to Create a Talent Acquisition Specialist Resume: 7-Step Guide

Talent acquisition specialist roles, though well-established in the business world, are becoming increasingly competitive as organizations strive to find the 'best of the best.’

Hence, to secure a position in this field, your talent acquisition resume must reflect your industry knowledge, a track record of talent sourcing and retention, and more than a dash of interpersonal and negotiation skills. 

To guide you through this process, we prepared a short step-by-step guide, including successful HR resume samples, to assist you in creating an impactful talent acquisition specialist resume from scratch.

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1. How to write a talent acquisition specialist resume summary

As a talent acquisition specialist, you know that first impressions matter. And the very first chance you get to make an impression is through your resume. More specifically, your resume summary

But how do you avoid being dry and generic? 

Mix the best ingredients — your most relevant experience, exceptional soft skills and quantified accomplishments. Well, don't just mix them! Rather masterfully organize them into captivating sentences. 

  • Tailor your summary based on the requirements in the job posting
  • Mention your exceptional soft skills
  • Include quantifiable achievements
  • Use impactful action words and powerful adjectives

Talent acquisition specialist resume summary example

Enthusiastic and resourceful professional with 3+ years of experience in discovering, acquiring and evaluating talents for a company with 700+ employees. Significantly improved recruitment strategies using innovative sourcing techniques. Provided valuable counseling on the entire hiring process in order to ensure that the best talents were selected. Hired and guided 30+ outstanding employees in managerial positions.

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2. How to describe your work experience in your talent acquisition specialist resume

How to prove that you are the best fit to acquire talents? Essentially, the answer comes down to the work experience section of your resume, arguably the most essential section for a Talent Acquisition Specialist. 

This section offers potential employers a snapshot of your expertise in action. It's your opportunity to showcase:

  • the experience you bring
  • the recruitment challenges you've overcome
  • the strategies you've employed
  • the successful outcomes of your work. 

All of that using numbers and concrete examples

Example of talent acquisition specialist work experience section

Mark & Benson
Talent Acquisition Specialist
2018–2021

  • Developed and employed successful recruiting strategies for hard-to-fill positions, using engaging employee referrals and social media.
  • Conducted 80+ candidate pre-screening and interviews.
  • Reduced expenses by 18% within 3 months by implementing competitive programs conforming to regulatory protocols.
  • Mentored 5 members of the team on how to effectively use workforce analytics in order to improve strategic decision making.
  • Won Talent Acquisition Professional Award for best developed interviewing strategies.

3. The best skills to have on your talent acquisition specialist resume

A combination of the right hard and soft skills in your resume is fundamental. Your soft skills are especially important for a role of this type, since dealing with people on a daily basis is the heart of this job.

You need to be able to make strong connections with people, communicate effectively, and understand what the company and the candidates need.

Missing even one or two key skills being sought by the hiring manager could potentially take you off the running for the job. 

So, how do you avoid it? Always tailor your talent acquisition skills to the job posting.

Best soft skills for your talent acquisition resume

  • Outstanding spoken and written communication
  • Active listening
  • Effective organization
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Empathy and compassion
  • Time management
  • Exceptional negotiation skills
  • Teamwork
  • Flexibility
  • Stress management
  • Observation skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Problem solving
  • Decision making
  • Analytical skills
  • Multitasking 

Best hard skills for your talent acquisition CV 

  • Recruiting
  • Candidate sourcing techniques
  • Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
  • Consumer Relationship Management (CRM)
  • Thorough understanding of the industry
  • Social media marketing recruitment campaigns
  • Electronic job boards
  • HRIS
  • MS Office

4. How to list education in your talent acquisition specialist resume

While there isn't a degree specifically named "Human Resources" or "Talent Acquisition", it's common to see people in this field with degrees in business, management, or even social sciences. 

Regardless of what you studied, do list your education on a resume

It shows your groundwork and can give you a leg up, even if your degree isn't directly related to the job. 

Focus on describing any relevant experience you gained in your courses or while working on any projects. 

Listing education in a talent acquisition CV

University of St Andrews

BSc in Business Management

2015-2019

  • Relevant Coursework: Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Business Ethics, Strategic Planning, Employee Engagement, International Business, Business Communication.
  • Excelled in Team Leadership module with a 3.9 GPA
  • Managed Marketing Campaign for Annual Management Meet

5. Add a certifications section to your talent acquisition specialist resume

Putting a certifications section in your resume is a huge plus. Why? 

Well, while there's no university degree specifically for talent acquisition specialists, there are lots of professional certificates out there for HR and talent specialists. 

That makes the certifications section extra important – maybe even more than your formal education!

They catch the eye of employers and show that you've taken extra steps to sharpen your skills and stay updated on all the current trends in the talent field. 

Example of a certifications section on a resume 

Certifications

Professional in Human Resources (PHR)

  • Issued by: HR Certification Institute
  • Date Earned: May 2018
  • Features courses that enhance skills in areas like: Employee relations, workforce planning, talent management strategies and risk management.

Talent Acquisition Specialist (TAS)

  • Issued by: The Talent Management Institute
  • Date Earned: June 2020
  • This certification equipped me with key insights into workforce generation, talent acquisition strategies, employer branding, and use of technology in talent management. 

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6. Add an awards section to your talent acquisition specialist resume

Including an awards section on your resume is a smart way to prove how good you are at what you do. 

Here's the deal: We all know actions speak louder than words. So, having concrete evidence of your skills (like an award) is even more powerful than simply discussing your past jobs. An award doesn't just state that you've been there, done that– it proves you did it really well. 

So, if you've won any awards, been recognized for your outstanding performance, or received anything that's worth bragging about by all means, don't be shy to share!

This can mean a lot to employers who are seeking individuals with a proven track record of success.

Example of awards section on a talent acquisition specialist resume:

Awards

Top Talent Acquisition Specialist of 2018

  • Awarded by: ABC Corporation 
  • Earned recognition for recruiting top-quality talent and exceeding target by 20%.

2019 Innovative Efforts Award in Recruitment 

  • Awarded by: Recruiting Association (2019)
  • Awarded for innovative strategies that resulted in a 15% increase in recruitment efficiencies.

7. Formatting tips for your talent acquisition specialist resume

Finally, what is it that makes a recruiter consider skimming through your resume? Neat and easy-to-navigate formatting.

A cluttered and chaotic resume may ruin your chances even if it was expertly written.

Make your CV format tidy with the following tips: 

  1. Organize and divide your resume sections clearly.
  2. Order the resume sections by importance.
  3. Use big enough headings.
  4. Employ white space between individual segments for easy navigation.
  5. List your work experiences in a reverse-chronological order.
  6. Send your resume as a PDF document.

And if you can't be bothered with formatting your resume, our resume builder takes care of it for you in minutes. 
 

Published on Aug. 15, 2023

Klara recently graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. After having written resumes for many of her fellow students, she got an opportunity to write full-time for Kickresume. Klara is our go-to person for all things related to student or 'no experience resumes'. At the same time, she has written some of the most popular resume advice articles on this blog. When she's not writing, you'll probably find her chasing dogs or people-watching while sipping on a cup of coffee.

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