The Ace Way of Hiring: Inside Ace Hardware’s Human-Centered Approach to Talent Acquisition

Ace Hardware’s hiring strategy is grounded in one core principle: a consistent, transparent experience for every candidate—regardless of outcome.

In this episode, Stef Nikitas, Director of Talent Acquisition at Ace Hardware, outlines how her team developed “The Ace Way of Hiring”—a structured, brand-aligned approach that sets clear expectations for candidates, hiring managers, and recruiters.

She also shares how Ace applies technology thoughtfully across the hiring process, and how her team navigates the complexity of supporting multiple business units under a unified talent strategy.

You’ll learn:

• How Stef’s life changed when she went from team-player to team-leader
• Why a well-delivered rejection can still strengthen your employer brand
• What skill TA leaders need most to stay relevant in a changing world

Connect with Stef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/snikitas

Connect with us:

💻 All Episodes: TalentAllStars.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ziprecruiter/

💼 Dave’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davetravers/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ziprecruiter

🎵TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ziprecruiter  

 

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