What key qualities or skills do you look for in someone starting a career in Talent Acquisition?

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What key qualities or skills do you look for in someone starting a career in Talent Acquisition?

Nafissatou F. asked a question to Rana M.

I’m currently a Postgraduate Human Resources Management student at Sheridan College and very interested in Talent Acquisition. I would love to learn from your experience and understand what helps candidates stand out when starting in this field.

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2 replies
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Author: Nafissatou F.
Category: Role, Role description
Date asked: 10 April, 2026 04:37
Last update: 10 April, 2026 13:31

RM
Rana M. Talent Acquisition Partner

Dear Nafissatou,

Thank you so much for reaching out—this is a great question.

My own path into Talent Acquisition was a little different, as I actually started my career in accounting before making the switch into recruitment. At the time, I didn’t have an HR degree or direct recruitment experience, but I found that many of my skills from a commercial background were very transferable. In particular, stakeholder management, analytical thinking, and communication skills helped me transition successfully into TA.

I would recommend ensuring that your CV clearly reflects the relevance of your skills and educational background, as well as your curiosity about Talent Acquisition. Even without direct experience, TA is very much about learning new markets, connecting with people, understanding different industries, and strong communication.

When it comes to applications, this can be demonstrated through practical exposure such as internships, university HR projects, or relevant coursework. TA roles also require being highly organized and managing multiple tasks at once, so experience with event coordination, project work, or roles where you tracked, managed, or coordinated activities is definitely worth highlighting.

I’d also suggest showcasing any academic projects focused on recruitment or selection, as well as any HR or recruitment-related webinars, events, or workshops you’ve attended. Recruitment today is very tech‑enabled, so familiarity with ATS systems, LinkedIn, Excel, or similar tools—whether through academic or project work—is another great way to strengthen your profile.

I hope this helps, and I wish you all the very best as you explore opportunities in Talent Acquisition.

Warm regards,
Rana

10 April, 2026 07:54
NF
Nafissatou F. Candidate

Thank you for your reply, Rana. I really appreciated your perspective and your career journey. Its very encouraging to see how different experiences can lead to Talent Acquisition. Your insights on communication, coordination, and working with people really resonated with me. Thank you again for sharing your experience. Warm regards, Nafissatou

10 April, 2026 13:31