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Kelly, Talent Acquisition Associate at Expert Insights Platform: Advize Career Interview
A career path paved with exploration and people-centric roles defines this Talent Acquisition Associate's journey at Expert Insights Platform.
From psychology research to learning and development, experiences converged into a passion for campus recruiting.
Day-to-day involves building university relationships, engaging with students, and ensuring candidates feel supported throughout the hiring process.
Success hinges on organization, communication, and a genuine drive to help others thrive, and a willingness to tackle challenges and learn from unexpected situations.
Ownership and strategic thinking are enjoyed, while juggling multiple priorities serves as the biggest challenge. Impact is easily seen, especially when guiding candidates and watching them succeed in internships or full-time roles.
Entry-level positions like recruiting or HR coordinator roles offer a starting point, alongside less traditional paths such as roles in college admissions.
A significant lesson is the importance of over-communicating with both internal stakeholders and candidates, and by exploring interests and building relationships, one will create a career that thrives by positively impacting the lives of others.
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Kelly Marchese
Talent Acquisition Associate
Expert Insights Platform
Northeastern University
N/A
Psychology
Recruitment
Human Resources (HR)
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member
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Career Path of a Talent Acquisition Associate at Expert Insights Platform
Kelly attended Northeastern University and took advantage of their co-op program to explore different fields, starting with a psychology research lab that revealed a preference for a "more fast-paced" environment, and then transitioned into HR with a focus on learning and development, and ultimately a recruiting internship, all of which led Kelly to pursue a "people oriented nature of a recruiting role" post-graduation and eventually to Expert Insights Platform. Kelly's path began with a recruiting coordinator role at a startup before finding a passion for campus recruiting.
Main Responsibilities Of A Talent Acquisition Associate At Expert Insights Platform
As a Talent Acquisition Associate, Kelly's main responsibilities revolve around attracting entry-level candidates to the company's internship and full-time roles, which involves building relationships with universities, career centers, and student organizations, as well as "engaging with the students and candidates directly" through LinkedIn sourcing and providing support throughout the application process. A key part of the role is ensuring "these candidates are feeling really supported" as they navigate the process.
Most Important Skills for a Talent Acquisition Associate at Expert Insights Platform
For a Talent Acquisition Associate at Expert Insights Platform, "being organized and detail oriented" is crucial for planning campus trips and events, ensuring everything is ready for both Kelly and the client services team. Furthermore, strong time management and prioritization skills are essential for balancing the "lot of different types of tasks" involved in the role, alongside clear communication and a warm presence to effectively engage with candidates.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Talent Acquisition Associate At Expert Insights Platform
Kelly, a Talent Acquisition Associate, enjoys the "ownership" and strategic thinking the role allows, particularly in positioning Expert Insights Platform on college campuses. This provides opportunities to "make own calls" and independently navigate decisions, contributing to professional growth.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Talent Acquisition Associate at Expert Insights Platform
Kelly, a Talent Acquisition Associate at Expert Insights Platform, finds that juggling many priorities throughout the day is the biggest challenge in the role, especially with "things do always come up that you need to kind of drop everything to focus on." Thinking strategically about "what's most important to work on when" was a learning curve, but ultimately a valuable skill gained from having more ownership in the position.
Favorite Parts of Working in Recruiting as a Talent Acquisition Associate
Kelly enjoys talent acquisition, especially campus recruiting, because "it's really easy to see impact" by guiding candidates through the hiring process and fostering relationships with them. The most fulfilling part is seeing those candidates succeed and enjoy their internships or full-time roles, allowing Kelly to "see that impact, um, really tangibly."
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Recruiting Industry, According To A Talent Acquisition Associate At Expert Insights Platform
Kelly believes that thriving in talent acquisition at Expert Insights Platform requires individuals to be "super people facing," social, and energetic, as creating a comfortable candidate experience is essential. An intrinsic motivation for helping others and meeting new people also greatly contributes to success in recruiting, as a recruiter feels energized by the constant interaction and engagement with various individuals.
What a Talent Acquisition Associate at Expert Insights Platform Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Recruiting Industry
The Talent Acquisition Associate at Expert Insights Platform wishes they had known that the most valuable learning experiences would come from being "pushed outside [their] comfort zone," specifically, from problem-solving when things go wrong, because it is in these moments that one learns how to react and determine "what the next best steps are." Kelly highlights how it's in these moments when urgent issues come up, or when candidates decline offers that one gets to hone skills as a talent acquisition associate.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Talent Acquisition Associates
Kelly from Expert Insights Platform suggests that the most common entry points into recruiting are roles like "recruiting coordinator or an HR coordinator," where one can gain experience with scheduling and candidate experience. Less traditional but viable paths include roles in college admissions or other college departments, especially for individuals seeking to transition into a corporate setting.
Significant Career Lesson From a Talent Acquisition Associate at Expert Insights Platform
A significant lesson learned throughout recruiting roles, especially in-house, is the importance of "really over communicating" due to the dual client-facing nature of the role. Establishing trust by being responsive and reliable with both internal stakeholders, like hiring managers, and external candidates is crucial for providing a good experience and ultimately excelling in the Talent Acquisition role.
College Experiences That Helped a Talent Acquisition Associate at Expert Insights Platform Succeed
Kelly believes exploring different career paths in college was crucial, as approaching college without a "fixed mindset" allowed for exploration of various areas within business and psychology. Getting involved in extracurriculars and building relationships with professors and advisors provided opportunities to learn and have exploratory conversations, which ultimately helped to define what was being looked for in a career.
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