Ikea: More Than Just a Brand

When we talk about Ikea, we immediately think of a paradise for children. Childhood memories are often linked to tasting the famous meatballs and exploring the various installations in the stores. But Ikea is not just a commercial brand; it’s also a renowned employer. With hundreds of jobs created, Ikea plays an essential role in the job market in France.

Benoît Thièbe, Country Head of Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding at Ikea, is a guest in this 71st episode of Patati & Patata. In this interview, he explains his role within the company and the various initiatives implemented to attract the best talents and build a solid reputation as an employer of choice.

Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding at Ikea

Benoît has been in his position for a year and a half. His main role is to handle the recruitment and preselection of all candidates applying to Ikea France, whether it’s for stores or warehouses. But his work doesn’t stop there. His team and he implement solutions to attract candidates by highlighting Ikea’s employer brand and making candidates want to join the company. They also manage the recruitment process and ensure to provide the best possible experience to candidates, from their first contact to their integration into the company.

What sets Benoît’s role at Ikea apart is that it goes beyond simple recruitment. His team also handles the onboarding of new employees, which means everything that happens between the moment the candidate is hired and their complete integration into the company. They ensure that the candidate’s first days at Ikea go smoothly to facilitate their integration and reduce turnover.

The Initiatives to Attract Talent

The company implements various initiatives to attract top talents and position itself as an employer of choice. They notably create job videos to explain to candidates the different aspects of jobs at Ikea, whether it’s interior designers in stores, logisticians, or restaurant employees. They also highlight the fact that the small rooms and atmospheres in the stores are designed by Ikea’s in-house architects.

It is interesting to note that the initiatives vary from one country to another, depending on market specificities. For example, Ikea stores in France have different characteristics from those in Sweden. French stores are often smaller, which implies different layouts.

Tips for Shining in a Job Interview

Benoît Thièbe shares his tips for succeeding in a job interview at Ikea. According to him, it is essential to be oneself and not to lie about one’s skills and values. It is also important to prepare for the interview by researching the position and the company’s expectations. At Ikea, they attach great importance to the alignment between the candidate’s personal values and those of the company.

An Unforgettable Anecdote

Benoît shares a personal anecdote that illustrates Ikea’s philosophy in recruitment. Before joining Ikea, he worked in management control, a completely different field. But Ikea trusted him and bet on his skills and potential, rather than on his degree. This demonstrates the willingness to give everyone a chance, regardless of their academic background.

The Recruitment of Tomorrow

Change management is important, both for candidates and recruiters. Traditional tools such as resumes are no longer sufficient, and it is necessary to rethink how candidates are evaluated. Benoît invites market players to ask themselves how to assess candidates more efficiently and relevantly, taking into account their skills and values.

Companies should streamline the application process by using more suitable tools, such as summarized profiles that quickly convey essential information to recruiters. This would save time and reduce CV-related discrimination.

In conclusion, Ikea is much more than just a commercial brand. It is an employer of choice that implements numerous initiatives to attract top talents. Through job videos and unique layouts in its stores, Ikea manages to create a genuine affinity with its employer brand. The role of Country Head of Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding plays a crucial role in the recruitment and integration of new employees.

This episode invites us to rethink the recruitment process and to adopt new approaches, notably by using more suitable tools and by placing greater importance on candidates’ skills and values. In the world of recruitment of tomorrow, change management and innovation will be the keys to success.