At a Glance
- Tasks: Build a community of top talent and lead the hiring process for innovative roles.
- Company: Join EF, a leader in Talent Investing with a thriving startup ecosystem.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, equity opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Work in a vibrant London office with travel opportunities across Europe.
- Why this job: Shape the future of startups by connecting exceptional talent with groundbreaking opportunities.
- Qualifications: 4-7 years in talent acquisition, strong relationship-building skills, and a passion for innovation.
The predicted salary is between 95000 - 105000 £ per year.
About EF Entrepreneurs First invests in exceptional individuals to build startups from scratch. We bring together talented outliers to develop their most ambitious ideas and raise money from the world’s best investors. Since pioneering Talent Investing in 2014, we have learned to recognise individuals with extraordinary futures before anyone else, embedding them in a community of ambitious peers and giving them the tools they need to succeed fast. Our portfolio is now worth over $17 billion and includes companies such as Cleo, Aztec, Gensyn, and PolyAI.
Role Overview: We are hiring a Talent Acquisition Specialist to lead sourcing and pipeline building for Talent Investor hires in the UK and Europe. The role has three primary threads: building a long‑term community of candidates, running proactive sourcing and a tight hiring process when roles open, and apprenticing on what 'great' looks like from existing successful hires.
Qualifications:
- 4‑7 years of experience hiring into Talent Investor‑adjacent roles.
- Practised at hiring without a playbook; able to assess signals, traits, judgment, and patterns in experience and behaviour.
- Long‑game relationship builder with a track record of maintaining talent communities and professional networks over years.
- Developed views on talent with an apprentice mindset, confident to defend a thesis on 'great' in investor/founder‑facing roles.
- Outbound craft – write messages that earn replies and turn cold contacts into conversations and hires.
- Operationally excellent – run multiple pipelines in parallel without dropping candidates.
- Commercially literate and curious – able to engage investors, founders, and operators while learning the emerging Talent Investing model.
- Thrives in ambiguity – energized to help formalise the uncodified aspects of the role.
Responsibilities:
- Build a long‑term community of Talent Investor candidates.
- Develop a deep understanding of where the strongest candidates sit; map the market and identify key individuals.
- Maintain long‑term relationships with candidates, acting as a thought partner and sounding board.
- Run a small number of high‑signal events and gatherings to position EF as the most credible place to discuss Talent Investing.
- Build the case for Talent Investing as a career and communicate it via content, online channels, talks, and partnerships.
- Feed market intelligence back to the team, sharing insights on what attracts or deters candidates across markets and levels.
- Run proactive sourcing for live hires and translate community to pipeline; conduct targeted outbound outreach.
- Build and own the systems that scale sourcing: a CRM of warm candidates, structured re‑engagement, and clear visibility of the long list.
- Run a tight hiring process from end to end, including first‑round screens and calibrated evaluation.
- Manage candidate pipelines for London and Paris‑based Talent Investors, expanding to India and US roles over time.
- Hold the team accountable to a clean process and a high‑quality candidate experience.
- Help evolve hiring processes, exploring AI to supercharge activities.
- Apprentice on taste and refine mental models; use each interview as a feedback loop to sharpen benchmarks.
- Codify what 'great' looks like and share it to evaluate candidates faster and more consistently as we scale.
Role Details:
- Location: London‑based; expected to be in office at least 3‑4 days per week.
- Travel: Required within the UK and Europe.
- Compensation: £95,000‑£105,000, plus annual performance bonus up to £15,000.
- Equity: Opportunity to subscribe to equity units covering portfolio companies.
Talent Acquisition Specialist employer: Entrepreneurs First
EF is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant work culture centred around innovation and collaboration, making it an ideal place for a Talent Acquisition Specialist. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to build long-term relationships within a community of ambitious peers while contributing to the pioneering field of Talent Investing. Located in London, the role offers competitive compensation, performance bonuses, and equity opportunities, ensuring that your contributions are recognised and rewarded.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Talent Acquisition Specialist
✨Dive into the Talent Acquisition Community
Get involved with communities specifically aimed at talent acquisition and recruitment. Follow popular forums, like the HR and recruitment threads on LinkedIn Groups or join Talent Acquisition Meetups in your area. Networking with fellow recruiters and industry experts can lead to hidden job opportunities and insider tips!
✨Show Off Your Expertise at Recruitment Events
Attend recruitment fairs and industry conferences where companies, including Entrepreneurs First, often showcase their hiring needs. Not only can you meet potential employers face-to-face, but you can also demonstrate your passion and knowledge about the field. Make sure you've got some thoughtful questions ready to impress!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still connected to your university, tap into their career services. Many universities have exclusive job boards and connections with companies eager to hire fresh talent in recruitment roles. Plus, you never know who might be able to put in a good word for you at places like Entrepreneurs First!
✨Tailor Your Digital Footprint
Make sure your online presence reflects your passion for talent acquisition. Share articles, join discussions, and post about trends in recruiting to establish yourself as a knowledgeable candidate. Recruiters often check candidates out online, so use platforms like LinkedIn to showcase your insights and enthusiasm for discovering the right talent!
We think you need these skills to ace Talent Acquisition Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Passion for Talent Acquisition:In your cover letter, let your passion for recruiting shine through! Talk about what drew you to talent acquisition. Share experiences where you helped others find their dream jobs or any times you've been involved in hiring processes – it’ll show us at Entrepreneurs First that you're genuinely invested in the field.
Highlight Relevant Skills and Certifications:Make sure your CV includes any relevant skills or certifications related to recruiting. Mentioning your knowledge of applicant tracking systems, personality assessments, or even any HR-related qualifications can set you apart. This way, we can see straight away that you're not just any candidate but one with the necessary tools for talent acquisition.
Tailor Your CV for the Job:When applying for Talent Acquisition Specialist at Entrepreneurs First, tailor your CV to reflect the job description. Highlight previous experiences in recruitment, candidate sourcing, or employee engagement that align with what we’re after. Personalisation shows we’re not just another checkbox on your job applications!
Bring Your Unique Perspective:In your cover letter, don't hesitate to share your unique perspective on what makes a good recruiter. Whether it's building strong candidate relationships or your approach to diversity in hiring, your insights can resonate well with our team. We love a fresh take, so let it shine!
How to prepare for a job interview at Entrepreneurs First
✨Know Your Sourcing Strategies
In the talent acquisition world, it’s all about knowing the best sourcing strategies. Be prepared to discuss specific techniques you’ve used to find and attract top talent, whether that’s through social media, networking events, or innovative outreach methods. Bring examples that showcase your capability!
✨Value of Employer Branding
Employer branding is a huge part of recruitment, so be ready to chat about how you’ve contributed to building an attractive company image. Think about how you’d pitch Entrepreneurs First to potential candidates and maintain a consistent brand image across platforms.
✨Demonstrate Your Interviewing Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, hiring managers will want to see your interviewing prowess. Prepare for mock interview scenarios where you might need to assess candidates' cultural fit and skill set. Practise asking competency-based questions to demonstrate your systematic approach.
✨Engage with Data and Metrics
Being data-driven is key in talent acquisition! Expect to discuss how you’ve used recruiting metrics to refine your strategies. Familiarise yourself with common KPIs, like time-to-fill and candidate satisfaction scores, and be ready to back up your insights with data!
