At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead recruitment for tech roles and create amazing candidate experiences.
- Company: Join Merlin, a leader in creating extraordinary experiences through play.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, hybrid work, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for growth and creativity.
- Why this job: Be part of an exciting hiring phase and shape the future of Merlin.
- Qualifications: Experience in tech recruitment and strong candidate management skills.
The predicted salary is between 29700 - 36300 £ per year.
What you'll bring to the team
It starts with play. At Merlin, we create extraordinary experiences that bring people together through play. From world-famous theme parks and underwater encounters to skyline icons and immersive worlds of fame, behind every unforgettable experience are the people who make it possible. And right now, there’s plenty to get excited about. We’re investing in our teams and bringing new roles into Merlin to deliver our technical and growth strategy. We’re looking for an experienced Talent Acquisition Specialist – Tech to join us for six months and help us find the brilliant people who’ll make it happen.
The opportunity
Working closely with our Lead Talent Acquisition Specialist, you’ll take ownership of hiring across a range of technical and specialist roles. This is a hands-on TA role for someone who loves getting into the detail, understanding the brief, knowing the market, finding great people and building strong relationships with hiring managers along the way. You’ll manage recruitment from brief through to offer, proactively source hard-to-find talent and bring the market insight that helps us make great hiring decisions. And just as importantly, you’ll make sure every candidate gets an experience that feels unmistakably Merlin: human, engaging and straightforward.
What you’ll be doing
- Own end-to-end recruitment across a portfolio of technical and specialist roles.
- Find great talent through proactive sourcing, LinkedIn and creative search strategies — not just applications.
- Partner with hiring managers, getting close to their teams and becoming a trusted voice on talent.
- Bring the market in, sharing insight on talent availability, competitor activity, skills trends and candidate expectations.
- Create a brilliant candidate experience from that first conversation right through to offer.
- Build talent pipelines for specialist and hard-to-fill roles, thinking ahead to what we might need next.
- Use data to tell the story, keeping pipelines accurate and providing clear updates on progress, risks and hiring outcomes.
- Champion inclusive hiring, helping us reach and engage talent from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
Qualifications & Experience
What we’re looking for
- You’ll already know your way around end-to-end recruitment and be comfortable working at pace, managing multiple priorities and taking real ownership of your roles.
- In-house Talent Acquisition experience is essential, ideally as a Talent Acquisition Specialist or Recruitment Partner.
- We’d particularly love to hear from you if you bring:
- Experience recruiting across technology, digital, technical or other specialist skill sets.
- Strong direct sourcing skills and the ability to demonstrate the strategies you use to find passive talent.
- Confidence partnering with and challenging hiring managers when needed.
- Good knowledge of the talent market and the ability to turn that insight into better hiring decisions.
- Strong candidate management skills and a genuine focus on candidate experience.
- Experience working with an ATS — we use iCIMS.
- An organised, collaborative approach and the ability to keep things moving when priorities change.
Above all, we’re looking for someone who is curious, proactive and knows that great recruitment is about much more than filling vacancies.
Make your mark at Merlin
This is a chance to play a key part in an exciting period of hiring at Merlin. The people you hire will bring new skills, ideas and expertise into our teams and help us continue creating extraordinary experiences for our guests. Bring your curiosity. Bring your recruitment expertise. And help us find the people who’ll make their mark at Merlin. Because at Merlin, it starts with play.
Benefits Pay Range Competitive
Talent Acquisition Specialist - Tech employer: Merlin
Merlin offers a vibrant work environment at Warwick Castle, where you can immerse yourself in history while engaging with guests and creating unforgettable experiences. With flexible shifts, competitive benefits, and opportunities for personal growth, this role is perfect for those who thrive in a dynamic setting and are passionate about customer service. Join us to be part of a team that values creativity, teamwork, and the joy of making every visitor's day special.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Talent Acquisition Specialist - Tech
✨Get Involved in Recruitment Events
Temporary roles in talent acquisition can pop up all over the place, so keep an eye on local recruitment fairs and industry networking events. These are prime opportunities to chat directly with companies like Merlin and get your foot in the door—sometimes you can even land an interview on the spot!
✨Engage in Online Recruitment Communities
Join communities on platforms like LinkedIn or niche forums where recruiters hang out. Engage in discussions, share your insights, and post your availability for temporary roles. You never know, a connection might refer you to a role at a place like Merlin before it even hits job boards!
✨Flex Your Availability and Skills
When applying for temporary positions, be upfront about your availability and any specific skills you have that can meet the urgent needs of recruiters. This makes you more attractive to hiring managers looking for someone who can hit the ground running.
✨Tap Into Your Uni’s Career Services
If you're still near a university, don't forget about their career services! They often have exclusive listings for temporary roles, especially in talent acquisition, and can connect you with employers who are keen to hire students or recent grads like us for short-term assignments.
We think you need these skills to ace Talent Acquisition Specialist - Tech
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Recruitment Skills:As someone applying for a talent acquisition role, it’s key to highlight your experience in finding and placing talent. Talk about specific methods you’ve used in past roles—whether it’s social media sourcing, networking, or using ATS systems. Show us how you’ve made a difference in previous projects!
Tailor Your CV for Talent Acquisition:When you're putting together your CV for a temporary role in recruiting, focus on your measurable achievements—like the number of positions filled or the reduction in time-to-hire. Use bullet points to make it easy for us to see your contributions at a glance, and don’t forget to mention any relevant certifications or training you've undergone!
Craft a Relatable Cover Letter:For a temporary role, your cover letter should not only explain why you want this job but also why you’re suited for short-term projects. Mention your adaptability and any past experiences where you quickly integrated into a team or got up to speed with new processes. Let us know how you can hit the ground running!
Highlight Immediate Availability:Since this is a temporary position, it’s essential to emphasise your availability in your application. Make it clear when you can start and how flexible you are with hours. Frame it as a positive—your ability to jump in and help us right when we need you will definitely make you stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Merlin
✨Show Off Your People Skills
Since you're getting into talent acquisition, it's crucial to highlight your communication and interpersonal skills. Think of a few scenarios where you've successfully dealt with candidates, managed relationships, or resolved conflicts—these will give you a solid edge in the interview with Merlin.
✨Research the Latest Recruiting Tools
Stay ahead of the game by familiarising yourself with popular ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) and recruitment tools that are trending in the industry. Be ready to discuss how you might use these tools in your role at Merlin, even if it's just a temporary role—they’ll want to know you can hit the ground running.
✨Understand the Urgency
Temporary roles often mean quick turnarounds. Show that you understand the nuances of urgent hiring processes, perhaps by sharing experiences where you had to source candidates under tight deadlines. It demonstrates you know the ropes and can adapt fast, which will definitely impress Merlin.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility
Temp roles can be unpredictable, so emphasise your flexibility and willingness to take on varying workloads or adapt to different company cultures. Prepare a few anecdotes where you've thrived in a dynamic environment—Merlin will want to see that you can roll with the punches!
