Alicia, Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist at Socail Services Agency: Advize Career Interview

A career journey from a Theater Arts degree to a Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist role at a Social Services Agency, began with a Disney internship and a pivot to Game Design.

The role demands strong organizational skills, Excel proficiency (especially pivot tables and data analysis), and a positive personality.

A typical day involves managing candidate pipelines, communicating with hiring teams, and extending offers.

The most rewarding aspect is successfully placing candidates, although attracting candidates for in-person roles in a remote-work dominated market presents a challenge.

Networking at conventions and collaborating with other recruiters are highlights. The ideal candidate is a "people person" with strong networking skills. Mastering Excel, particularly lookups and formulas, is crucial.

Entry-level roles often start as recruiting coordinators. Alicia's theater background, particularly improv classes, provided valuable adaptability skills.

A significant career lesson involves overcoming imposter syndrome by asking questions.

The experience as a first-generation Black woman has been impactful, requiring persistent effort to push through barriers, contributing to their strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Alicia Ellington

Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist

Socail Services Agency

California State University - Los Angeles 2015 / Full Sail University 2020

N/A

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Fine Arts, Music

Recruitment

Human Resources (HR)

Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, First Generation College Student

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Career Path of a Game Designer at Full Sail University

Alicia's career journey began with a Theater Arts degree from Cal State Los Angeles, followed by a Disney College Program internship in 2016. This experience led Alicia to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Game Design at Full Sail University, a path significantly different from their initial academic focus.

Career Path of a Game Designer at Full Sail University

Main Responsibilities Of A Recruitment Specialist At Social Services Agency

Alicia, a Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist, maintains a full candidate pipeline by conducting "phone screenings and interviews," and collaborating with hiring managers to ensure candidate qualifications meet job requirements sourced from platforms such as Indeed and LinkedIn. This demonstrates Alicia's crucial role in matching talent with the social services agency's needs.

Main Responsibilities Of A Recruitment Specialist At Social Services Agency

A Day In The Life Of A Talent Acquisition Specialist At Social Services Agency

A typical day for Alicia, a Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist, involves managing the candidate pipeline, "contacting the hiring team," and extending offers. This cycle of communication and coordination ensures a smooth recruitment process, allowing Alicia to start each day fresh with a renewed focus on the next stage of candidate selection.

A Day In The Life Of A Talent Acquisition Specialist At Social Services Agency

Most Important Skills For A Recruiter At Social Services Agency

Alicia, a Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist, emphasizes strong organizational skills and Excel proficiency, including pivot tables and data analysis, as crucial for the role. A positive personality and ability to convey company culture are also vital, as the position requires interacting with many people across a wide geographical area, "bringing in that Vibe".

Most Important Skills For A Recruiter At Social Services Agency

Favorite Parts of Being a Recruitment Specialist at Social Services Agency

Alicia, a Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist, finds the most rewarding aspect of her role to be the "fulfillment" of completing tasks, particularly "getting a candidate finally hired." This task-oriented approach drives Alicia's career satisfaction.

Favorite Parts of Being a Recruitment Specialist at Social Services Agency

Biggest Challenges Faced By A Recruiter At A Social Services Agency

Alicia, a Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist, identifies the most significant hurdle in her current role as attracting candidates for in-person positions in a climate where "everyone's trying to search for remote positions," while also ensuring "they're getting paid the correct amount." This difficulty highlights the current tension between employer needs and candidate preferences regarding work location and compensation.

Biggest Challenges Faced By A Recruiter At A Social Services Agency

Favorite Parts of Working in the Social Services Industry as a Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist

Alicia, a Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist, most enjoys attending conventions, stating that "the best thing" is "finding out other challenges" faced by recruiters and collaborating on strategies "to reach out to more people and more candidates." This networking and problem-solving aspect is clearly a key source of professional satisfaction for Alicia.

Favorite Parts of Working in the Social Services Industry as a Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Social Services Industry According To A Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist At Social Services Agency

Alicia, a Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist at a Social Services Agency, identifies "people persons" who enjoy "social conversations" as thriving in the industry. Success requires strong networking skills and an "extraverted" personality, demonstrating the importance of interpersonal abilities in this field.

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Social Services Industry According To A Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist At Social Services Agency

What a Recruiter at a Social Services Agency Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Recruitment Industry

Alicia, a Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist, wished "someone would have told" her about the extensive use of Excel in recruiting; mastering Excel skills, including "lookups and any other small formulas," is crucial for recruiter success.

What a Recruiter at a Social Services Agency Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Recruitment Industry

Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Recruiters

Entry-level positions in social services agency talent acquisition, such as recruiting coordinator roles, require strong administrative skills and familiarity with job sites like LinkedIn and Indeed. A recruiting coordinator position can serve as a stepping stone to becoming a recruiter.

Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Recruiters

Significant Career Lesson From A Talent Acquisition Specialist At A Social Services Agency

Alicia, a Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist, emphasizes the crucial lesson of not being afraid to ask questions, stating "don't be afraid to ask questions," to combat imposter syndrome and ensure a successful career. This proactive approach allows for continuous learning and effective collaboration within any organization.

Significant Career Lesson From A Talent Acquisition Specialist At A Social Services Agency

College Experiences That Helped a Recruitment Specialist at Social Services Agency Succeed

Alicia, a Talent Acquisition Recruitment Specialist, credits their undergraduate theater and dance degree, specifically improv classes, for developing the quick thinking and adaptability crucial to their role. Improvisation training helped Alicia "think on top of [their] head," a skill essential for navigating the fast-paced demands of candidate interactions and strategic decision-making in recruiting.

College Experiences That Helped a Recruitment Specialist at Social Services Agency Succeed

How Identity Has Influenced a Recruitment Specialist at Social Services Agency's Career

Alicia, a first-generation Black woman, describes navigating a career path where they "literally had to push through doors," facing questions about career choices and often being "the 1% in every company." However, their commitment to diversity and inclusion, coupled with the growing emphasis on DEI within organizations, has allowed them to "speak their truth and be part of the company culture."

How Identity Has Influenced a Recruitment Specialist at Social Services Agency's Career

Advizer Personal Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciaellington/