talent acquisition
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New Group Gives Recruiters a Leg Up in Their Own Profession

A newly formalized association aims to expand networking and learning opportunities for talent acquisition professionals.

Few people understand the importance of networking better than recruiters. That could by why the Association of Talent Acquisition Professionals, which announced its official launch last week, swept onto the scene with more than 250 members already on the books. The announcement followed ATAP’s recent approval as a 501(c)6 nonprofit and capped off a years-long effort to connect members of the industry at a global scale.

“Over the past two years, I have spoken with hundreds of talent acquisition professionals and have heard repeatedly that they believe that the time for this type of organization has come, and that they want to be actively involved with our work going forward,” ATAP Executive Director Ben Gotkin said in a statement.

As part of that work, ATAP will not only offer access to peer-reviewed resources and learning opportunities but also collaborate with already-established talent acquisition organizations—both formal and informal—to strengthen the professional community.

Advocacy efforts will include building policy positions on local, state, and national laws and regulations that affect the industry. ATAP will also work to address the sometimes-negative perceptions the corporate world has about talent acquisition professionals.

“Behind every great leader is a recruiter who is hiring great talent, yet our profession is misunderstood and undervalued on so many levels,” Gotkin said in a statement on the organization’s website. “ATAP will help business leaders understand why their talent acquisition function is critical to their growth in good times, and their stability and future growth in bad times.”

The association also plans to elevate the actual and perceived value of the talent acquisition profession by placing a greater focus on ethics and establishing global performance-measurement standards.

(ronstik/Thinkstock)

Meg Conlan-Donnelly

By Meg Conlan-Donnelly

Meg Conlan-Donnelly is a contributor to Associations Now. MORE

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