Talent Acquisition Specialist (Fixed-Term, 18 Months)

As a Talent Acquisition Specialist at SoundCloud, your responsibilities will include sourcing, engaging, and hiring exceptional professionals who can contribute to our innovative environment. You will partner closely with hiring managers to understand their specific needs, develop effective recruitment strategies, and manage the end-to-end recruitment process, from candidate screening and interviews to offer negotiations and onboarding.

Candidates applying for the Talent Acquisition Specialist role at SoundCloud should have proven in-house recruiting experience, particularly within engineering, product, and design sectors. Familiarity with various sourcing techniques, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to evaluate candidates' skills effectively are also important. A passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion in recruitment processes is key.

SoundCloud places a significant emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout its hiring practices. As a Talent Acquisition Specialist, you will be responsible for structuring recruitment processes that prioritize diverse candidates, including outreach to underrepresented groups. This commitment is integrated into the entire recruitment cycle, ensuring that our workforce reflects a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

The recruitment process for the Talent Acquisition Specialist role at SoundCloud involves several steps, including sourcing candidates through various channels, conducting comprehensive screenings and interviews, and collaborating with hiring managers throughout the process. You’ll ensure a positive candidate experience by maintaining clear communication and managing expectations during the different stages of recruitment.

SoundCloud offers an impressive range of benefits for its Talent Acquisition Specialists, including a flexible vacation policy allowing up to 35 days of PTO annually, a professional development allowance, and a Creativity and Wellness benefit. You'll also enjoy free German courses, regular team lunches, and a strong focus on fostering a supportive and engaging company culture.

When answering this question, highlight specific recruitment strategies you've used in the past. Discuss the channels you've found most effective, such as LinkedIn, job boards, or community events, and elaborate on how you tailor your approach to attract diverse candidates.

Focus on the importance of clear communication, timely feedback, and personalized interactions. Explain how you nurture relationships with candidates through the process to build a positive experience, ensuring they feel valued and informed every step of the way.

Discuss the significance of cultural fit in your hiring process. Share techniques like behavioral interview questions, assessment tasks, or team interactions that help you gauge how well candidates align with SoundCloud's values and work style.

Share strategies you employ to navigate challenging recruitment scenarios, such as leveraging existing networks or expanding sourcing techniques. Illustrate your problem-solving skills with specific examples from past experiences.

Explain your belief in the value of diversity in the workplace, and how it enhances creativity and innovation. Discuss methods you implement to ensure a level playing field for all candidates and how it aligns with SoundCloud’s mission.

Present a specific example where you effectively partnered with a hiring manager to understand their needs and contributed to a successful hire. Highlight the communication techniques and collaborative strategies employed to achieve this.

Mention the ATS platforms you've used and describe how you're comfortable utilizing them for managing workflows, candidate tracking, and reporting metrics. Emphasize your adaptability to learn new systems quickly.

Share your strategies for continuous learning, such as following industry publications, attending webinars, participating in recruitment forums, or networking with other professionals to stay informed about evolving trends.

Discuss the crucial role that recruitment plays in shaping the company culture and supporting SoundCloud’s mission. Highlight how you believe your efforts in attracting top talent can lead to building a strong, innovative team.

Reflect on what excites you about SoundCloud as a company—its commitment to creativity, innovation, and diversity. Explain how these values resonate with you personally and professionally, and how you see yourself contributing to the SoundCloud community.