How To Write A Talent Acquisition Specialist Resume

Updated 3 March 2023

Talent acquisition specialists work in a wide variety of industries and their main task is to find, and recruit new personnel. If pursuing a career in this field interests you, having a well-written resume improves your chances of hiring managers inviting you to an interview. Knowing how to draft an effective talent acquisition specialist resume benefits your career trajectory. In this article, we explain what a resume for a talent acquisition specialist is, discuss the steps on how to write one and, provide a template and an example to guide you through creating your own.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.

What Is A Talent Acquisition Specialist Resume?

A talent acquisition specialist resume is a document that job candidates use to apply to relevant roles. It includes your professional experience in the industry, technical training and skills. Your resume is often the first thing employers read about you, so incorporating everything you want the hiring manager to know about your qualifications is crucial.

How To Write A Resume For A Talent Acquisition Specialist Role?

Consider following these steps when drafting your resume for an open talent acquisition specialist position:

1. Study the job description

Analysing the job description helps you better understand what the employer is looking for in a candidate. Use it to determine the level of experience they are expecting from a successful candidate, which skills they consider valuable and other specific demands, such as certain educational milestones. Also, using specific keywords that you find in the job description engages the hiring manager's attention and suggests that you have the necessary qualifications to be successful in the role.

2. Format your resume

Before starting work on your resume, increase its professionalism by determining which basic formatting guidelines to follow. Resumes for talent acquisition specialist roles typically follow a common format and are one or two pages long. Save space by including your name and contact details in the header.

Leaving one-inch margins on all sides, using a font size of 12 and choosing a professional font, such as Calibri or Arial, also improves your resume's readability. If you are planning on submitting your document via the internet, saving it in a PDF format ensures that it keeps its structure regardless of the device the hiring manager uses to read it.

3. Choose an appropriate resume type

Emphasise your main credentials for the role by choosing an appropriate resume type. If you conclude from the job description that you have the necessary experience, use a chronological resume. This type focuses on your career achievements and displays them in reverse-chronological order. If you think you lack some of the required experience but have the skills that the employer is looking for, consider using a functional resume. This type focuses on your abilities, listing them before your job experiences.

4. Include your name and contact information

Add your name and contact details to the resume's header. Use the first line to write your name and include your phone number, email address, city, state or union territory below. Besides saving space, this makes it easier for the reader to communicate with you if necessary.

5. Write your professional summary

Your professional summary is two or three sentences that explain your qualifications and the achievements you hope to make in the role. Be specific as possible, so the hiring manager understands how experienced you are. The following are key details to include in your professional summary:

The length of time you have worked as a talent acquisition specialist
The professional accomplishments you have
The name of the position
The name of the employer

Here is an example of a resume summary for a talent acquisition specialist:

Self-sufficient and resourceful individual with five years of experience as a Talent Acquisition Specialist. Wrote comprehensive job descriptions that attracted more than 100 qualified candidates per role. Seeking a senior Talent Recruiter position at Raymond Recruiter, Inc. to apply communication and project-management skills.

6. Describe your work history

Your work history shows your experience in the talent acquisition industry. In this section, list your previous roles starting with the most recent and only describe those that are relevant to the open position. Details to include in your work history are the following:

The official job title of your previous roles: Having your job titles on your resume shows employers that you held talent recruiter positions in the past.
The names and locations of your previous employers: Hiring managers sometimes use this information to verify your employment and contact your previous employers for references.
The start and end dates of your employment: The dates indicate how long you worked at an organisation, which highlights your dedication to the field and the extent of your experience.
The job responsibilities: Your job responsibilities demonstrate that you have participated in the recruitment process and have experience conducting employee interviews, which are tasks your desired position typically requires.

7. List your relevant skills

Working as a talent acquisition specialist generally requires hard skills, such as social media knowledge, research and applicant tracking system experience, and soft abilities, including communication, problem-solving and attention to detail. When listing your proficiencies, prioritise the ones that the employer mentions in the job description. Simply list them, as you have an opportunity to provide more detail in the cover letter.

8. Include your educational milestones

Although not officially required, employers tend to prefer candidates for this role with a relevant bachelor's degree, such as business administration or human resources. Having a master's degree distinguishes you from other job candidates. In the education section, indicate the name of your degree or certification, and the school you attended.

Talent Acquisition Specialist Resume Template

Consider using this template to guide you when drafting your resume for an open talent acquisition specialist role:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City], [State or Union territory]

Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications, and achievements as a professional.]

Experience

(For the most recent role, list 5 experience items. For previous roles, list 3.)

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State or Union territory]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [State or Union territory]

(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[Job duty]
[Job duty]

Education
[Degree] | [Name of School or University]

Certifications (optional)
[Certification Name], [Host Organisation] - [Year completed or expiration date]

Talent Acquisition Specialist Resume Example

Consider using this example to help you when drafting your resume for an open talent acquisition specialist position:

Navi Mitra +91 98990-98878 |navi.mitra@email.com | Mumbai, Maharashtra

Professional Summary

Dedicated Talent Acquisition Specialist with more than five years of experience in sourcing, recruiting and interviewing candidates for a wide variety of roles. Proficient in multiple talent acquisition and CRM software programs, and focused on delivering results.