- Is talent acquisition the same as recruiting?
- The responsibilities of talent acquisition vs recruitment
- What skill sets are needed: talent acquisition vs recruitment?
- How rewarding is talent acquisition compared to recruiting?
- Where can a career in recruitment take me?
- Find your next role as a recruiter or in talent acquisition
Unemployment in Australia is close to 50-year lows. Our national unemployment rate of just 3.7% is making it incredibly tough for businesses to grow their teams, let alone replace staff who, for whatever reason, are choosing to leave an organisation.
This is driving tremendous demand for professionals in talent acquisition and recruitment. However, while many people have heard of these roles, the difference between the two is not always clear.
With this in mind, we take a look at talent acquisition vs recruitment, and shine a light on the responsibilities, skills, and opportunities associated with each role.
Talent acquisition and recruitment share common goals, most notably, helping an organisation build an optimal team of employees that allows the business to reach its full potential.
However, there are nuanced differences between the two roles, and there can be misconceptions around the responsibilities associated with talent acquisition vs recruitment.
Here’s a closer look at what’s involved.
Talent acquisition professionals are focussed on the broader, strategic goals of a business. This typically involves workforce planning and addressing an organisation’s long term talent needs to ensure the company can build a sustainable and adaptable workforce over time.
By contrast, recruitment experts usually focus on shorter term goals including supporting an organisation to meet its immediate hiring needs. Key aspects of the role involve collaborating with hiring managers, and identifying candidates with the skills and experience best suited to a particular role and organisation, often within an urgent timeframe. So, a recruitment expert needs to be able to work to very tight deadlines.
One area where recruitment and talent acquisition intersect is in branding. Talent acquisition professionals play a role in enhancing the overall employer brand. In a similar vein, recruiters can be a driving force in presenting a company in a positive light to professional talent.
Talent acquisition and recruitment are both fields that involve managing people. However, the skills required on a daily basis are quite different.
Talent acquisition professionals need strong strategic skills including capabilities in data analysis, market research, and a deep understanding of organisational goals.
On the other hand, a recruitment professional is dealing with a variety of people – from hiring managers to job candidates, on a daily basis. This calls for strong interpersonal and communication skills, as well as the ability to work efficiently under pressure.
There can be some crossover in the skills required in the two roles. The ability to cultivate long term relationships is essential in both talent acquisition and recruitment though the focus may differ.
Recruiters for instance are more likely to focus on building relationships with candidates during the hiring process. For talent acquisition professionals the focus is more likely to be on cultivating relationships that contribute to a robust pipeline of talent over time.
Both talent acquisition and recruitment can be equally rewarding.
Hayley Bacher, Talent Acquisition Manager at Robert Half, explains, “There are numerous aspects of the role that I love - connecting with people (candidates and colleagues across Australia and New Zealand), shaping organisational change and the continuous learning and growth opportunities.”
She adds, “It's more than just a job. It's a journey of shaping careers, fostering growth, and contributing to the success story of our organisation.”
When it comes to the rewards of talent acquisition vs recruitment, the latter can bring an extra layer of variety. Henry Woo, Robert Half’s Division Director of IT Recruiting, says, “I love working with clients for various sectors and industries. There is no limit to who I can partner with. My depth of knowledge as a recruiter is transferable across any client environment.
As Henry explains, “Our clients love hearing how talent solutions are being incorporated by Robert Half and trust us to find the right solution for them. This is a big driving factor of why I enjoy this role as I’m not limited to one organisation, working on a limited set of requirements.
Is talent acquisition better than HR? It’s a question we’re often asked. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but there’s no doubt that the variety of people and challenges you work with in talent acquisition can be much broader than in HR.
Alex Minter, Robert Half’s APAC Talent Acquisition & DEI Manager sums it up saying, “Contributing to the business's growth by aligning hiring goals is at the heart of TA. It's a distinctive journey that blends expertise, strategy, and creativity in talent management.”
You may be weighing up talent acquisition vs recruitment for your personal career choice. In many cases, the journey starts with recruitment, and leads organically to talent acquisition.
This was the case for Bianca Sebeke, Talent Acquisition Supervisor – Robert Half Australia & New Zealand, who started as a recruiter with Robert Half. Biana believes that “cutting one’s teeth in recruitment” develops personal resilience.
“It fosters a ‘bounce-back’ mindset for when things don’t go to plan, brings about an element of diplomacy, and nurtures a level-headed approach to receiving and acknowledging feedback,” says Bianca.
For Alex Minter, experience gained over a decade as a recruiter has been instrumental in taking him close to the top of his profession. “My firsthand recruitment experience deepened my understanding of requirements and approaches to attract and engage top talent,” he says.
With a clear idea of talent acquisition vs recruitment, you may be ready to take your next career move.
Talk to the team at Robert Half about joining us as a recruitment professional. You’ll benefit from our ongoing training and professional development and learn from some of the best recruitment consultants in the industry.
Or, let us help you find your dream role in talent acquisition.
