What is talent acquisition? Why it is 3x beyond recruitment

Have you ever had a perfect burger — a juicy patty, fresh veggies, perfectly toasted buns, and drool-worthy melted cheese?

When I had one, I went straight to the chef and asked him how he created such beauty. He instantly said,

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“We’ve got a great team here!”

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When I met his team, it struck me. From sourcing fresh produce to recommending and serving with a wide smile — each employee was great at their job!

I learned two things that day:

A great team yields greater results
A burger is (almost) always a good idea

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It’s similar with businesses. With evolving trends and technology, business owners understand the uncertainty. And during those times, a great team acts as your shield, ensuring you that “We’re all in this together.”

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Hence we say, “Good talent is what differentiates a “team” from a “great team.”

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But, the question is, “Are you using talent acquisition and recruitment interchangeably?” They might seem the same but are different.

Let’s understand.

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Understanding talent acquisition and recruitment

Picture this: Sarah wants to buy a healthy breakfast — cereal. But she doesn’t have time. So,

She can either pick a box that “looks” healthy.

She can spend a few minutes reading the ingredients, comparing nutrients, checking reviews, and then choosing the healthier option.

Which scenario would be better for Sarah in the long run (No cereal is healthy doesn’t count)?

‍To explain: The first scenario is what recruitment is. The latter is talent acquisition.

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Defining Talent acquisition

Talent acquisition is a strategic approach to finding the best candidate for a job and retaining them.

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Defining Recruitment

Recruitment involves hiring employees for roles or filling vacancies in an organization. It is the process of onboarding candidates quickly to fulfill a need.

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What makes them different

	Factors involved	Recruitment	Talent Acquisition
1	Quality	Reacts to vacancy and focuses on speed, which doesn’t always guarantee an “effective” employee.	Focuses on quality and aims to find the “best” fit for a role.
2	Time	Follows the “as soon as possible” route, leading to compromised job descriptions, subconscious bias during hiring, and limited and generic interview processes.	Rests on patience, taking the necessary time and effort to attract, identify, assess and retain the right candidate, successfully.
3	Processes	Follows a standard procedure due to limited time, skills, and resources. It focuses on sourcing candidates, selection, and onboarding.	Evolves and adapts to the current and future needs of the company. It’s an end-to-end process, from identifying a need for talent to retaining the talent.
4	People involved	Since the hiring managers set processes and standards, they usually are in charge of recruitment.	Talent acquisition thrives on collaboration. From talent managers to senior management, it opens doors to constructive feedback, brainstorming sessions, and much-needed check-ins.

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Why you need a stellar talent acquisition process to recruit better

Talent acquisition brings HRs, leaders, and managers together to build sustainable processes. Once there is an exchange of expectations, working processes, and ideas, your company has a winning strategy that forms the foundation of exceptional recruitment.

It can transform:

Lead generation
Interview processes &
Onboarding experiences

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A winning talent acquisition strategy results in a winning recruitment process.

Now that you’re acquainted with both — assess your hiring practices and choose the right one for your company.

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