What does it really take to recruit and keep great talent in the fast-moving world of retail? In this episode of Recruiting is No Joke, host Joel Lalgee sits down with Giorgio Benassi, Global TA Director at Sephora, to dig into the unique challenges of high-volume hiring. We’re talking more than 30,000 hires a year at Sephora, plus Giorgio’s past experience at H&M, so he knows a thing or two about balancing speed with a top-notch candidate experience.

Giorgio shares how Sephora is using AI and even gamified assessments (instead of the traditional CV screen) to spot personality traits that align with the brand’s values. He’s big on transparency too, making sure candidates know both the perks and the pressures of retail roles right from the start, a key move to cut down on turnover.

The conversation also dives into how the recruiter’s role is changing, moving away from being just gatekeepers and leaning more into building real relationships. Giorgio points out that authenticity matters more than ever in candidate interactions. And for those looking to break into recruiting, he’s clear: professionalism and constant learning are non-negotiables. Don’t just rely on AI tools, master your craft.

If you want a no-BS take on talent strategy, retention, and the future of retail recruitment, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:56) Giorgio’s background  and what he does

(01:18) Sponsor message

(02:29) Sephora’s scale: hiring 30,000 people a year

(03:28) Giorgio’s career path: from H&M to Sephora

(04:34) Why retail recruiting is underestimated

(06:36) The retention challenge: cutting first-year turnover

(08:59) Replacing CVs with gamified assessments

(11:58) How Sephora attracts candidates across regions

(15:41) Screening for “service-mindedness”

(18:07) Balancing transitional vs. career hires

(20:22) The recruiter’s new role: from gatekeeper to relationship builder

(23:31) Advice for early-career recruiters on building authentic relationships

(28:53) How to build credibility with hiring managers

(30:47) Why recruiters can’t just rely on AI tools

(32:41) Where to connect with Giorgio + upcoming events

This episode is brought to you by HeyMilo AI, the conversational AI built for high-volume hiring. HeyMilo helps recruiters save hours by automating initial screens while delivering smooth, two-way interviews at scale. Book a demo at⁠ HeyMilo.ai⁠ and see why top teams trust it to elevate their brand.

About Giorgio Benassi

Giorgio is the Global Talent Acquisition Director at Sephora, overseeing hiring strategies across regions. With prior experience as Head of Talent CoE at H&M, he brings deep expertise in high-volume recruitment, talent assessment, and global TA strategy.

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About Joel Lalgee 

Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships.

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