A Tango of HR and Music – Antonela's Journey from Argentina to Slovakia
So, Hola! From Argentina to Slovakia, your journey sounds like a whirlwind adventure. As an HR recruiter at Hotovo, you're at the forefront of talent acquisition. How do you leverage your multicultural experiences to identify the right fit for a global team?
This is kind of different in every industry, and the IT industry is no exception – you’re not looking for the same talent as, for example, for the automotive company. There are of course the specific technical or skill-based requirements that a company has for the newcomer. But first of all, you need to understand what the company you are working with or the client really needs, and what the culture of the company is. As a recruiter you need to be like a chameleon – changing your color to suit the company and the position you’re recruiting for. In Hotovo I can carry out interviews in a more chilled way because it works with Hotovo’s culture.
Is it true that IT guys are different?
Yes, totally different. You need to push them more when it comes to social things, not because they are not able to socialize but because the way they socialize is totally different. So as a recruiter, you need to know and adapt to that when it comes to the interview, because IT guys will be like “Tell me about the money, tell me about the project.” So you need to work on the psychological side more, and find ways to bring out their personality to see if they’ll be a good fit, even if they’re not as predisposed to show that.
But you are quite an emotive girl. How do you handle that?
Sometimes this is a trait that I really like, and see as a skill, but other times it can play against me. If you already know that you are a more emotional person, you know that you need to learn how to handle your own emotions, as sometimes the way I feel or react to things won’t help me deal with a situation. You need to learn how to adjust your personality to suit the job.
Your love for music is obvious, from singing to playing the guitar and handpan. How does your musical background influence your approach to HR and have you found any surprising connection between those two worlds?
They have a connection because everything is related to music and everything is related to people. From my point of view, it's impossible for a human being not to like music. Sometimes we listen to music because it helps us cry, or to go through emotions that maybe we cannot put into words. I started playing guitar at the age of 14. I taught myself online. And after I learned how to be fluid with my fingers and the rhythm, I started singing. And after I learned how to sing, I combined those things. And then one day I realized that I was playing and singing at the same time.
What about your sporty past? Not everyone can say they have conquered a triathlon. But you can! How has your experience in sports, particularly triathlons, shaped your approach to your life?
Actually, the triathlon made me realize a lot of things about myself, also relating to jobs and approaches and all this stuff. I’ve always done sports; I’ve always been one of those people who can’t spend a day without going to the gym or running or swimming in the sea – I actually also worked as a lifeguard at one point. So doing sport, and even the triathlon, all came naturally to me. Now I'm in a stage of my life that, for one year, I'm not doing anything specific in terms of sport. But sport has been an incredible support in my life, which I didn't fully realize until now. All the things you are going through in life, and the way they can affect you emotionally – if you’re doing a sport, I find those emotions go away faster.
Did you ever take part in any competitions?
Yes, and during the competitions I realized that I'm not a good individual competitor. I always work best by competing as part of a team. And that mixes a lot with the HR career, because in HR you are always working with people, and all those people are working together towards a common goal.
The Hotovo team ski trip to the Low Tatras two years ago sounds like it was a memorable experience for you, especially as you saw snow for the first time! How did that trip influence your perception of Slovakia?
It was an amazing trip! Actually, going to events like the Ski Academy with Hotovo was a real “Wow” experience. I traveled the whole way from Argentina to come here, meet the company I work with, meet all these amazing people, drink a lot because that’s definitely part of the fun here! And after that, going to Low Tatras and seeing the snow for the first time – for me it was really something, now I can die happy 😊
But you have snow in Argentina…
Yes, but I’d never traveled to any of the snowy places before last year – when we were inspired, after Ski Academy, to do a Hotovo Argentina team ski trip too! But before Slovakia, I didn't know snow and this quantity of snow amazed me. That you take a step and your feet sink deep into the ground. And it was like, I don't even feel cold, this is amazing! And the most amazing thing was when we went hiking – we went to the top of the mountain and everything was white. And silent. And I was sitting down and watching snow coming down super slowly. I felt inner peace. So I understand that this is the kind of weather that can help you calm down.
You came to Slovakia again for the second time last year, and spent four months here. I believe it must have been an immersive experience for you. What aspect of Slovakian culture or lifestyle stood out to you during your extended stay here and how did it contribute to your decision to move to Slovakia?
It was something that may sound silly, but is the truth – soups!
You don't have soups in Argentina?
Yes, we do. But we don't have the tradition of serving soups everywhere you go before the main meal. Also these little stores that you can go to specifically to buy soup, I love them. One of the things I said when first here was that I want this (soups) every day now!
You’ve now come back to Slovakia for the third time, and this time have decided to stay. Was Hotovo a big part of this decision?
When Hotovo entered my life, my whole life changed in a lot of aspects. But yes, after a lot of trips to Europe and once I got to know Hotovo in Slovakia, I realized that I could make it happen.
Moving from Argentina to Slovakia is a significant step. What moment or trigger made you decide to make this intercontinental move?
The trip that I did last year was one of the big pushes, because I realized then that I could do this. I spoke with people here who already work for the company and who already did it themselves. So they showed me that it's not difficult, and actually I already felt comfortable with the company by coming to the office. I made friends in the company too, so I knew that I'd not be alone here either. So last year was the crucial moment when I decided I would try it. Let's see how it works, but I at least wanted to try it. So here I am 🙂
And what did your family think? Were they surprised?
No, because they are used to me traveling. But this was the first time that I told them I didn’t know when I'd be coming back. So that was maybe kind of shocking. But as a family we all are kind of independent people who are spread across different places in Argentina. We all have our own jobs and lives, and everyone lives by themselves. We are family, but not the kind of family that sees each other every Sunday to have lunch together. I said goodbye to some of them, you know, “just in case”, before coming here, as some of them are very old. It was very emotional.
Adapting to a new country involves not just professional adjustments, but cultural ones as well. How have you navigated the cultural transition from Argentina to Slovakia, and what aspects of Slovakian culture do you find most interesting or enjoyable?
Well… I'm still getting used to the culture. But this time I came here with another focus, not just for holidays and traveling and working like the year before. The focus is now on living here – so I’m doing all the administrative things like going to the police, ministry, governments, banks – it’s not the same. Many people here tell me how lucky I am as I’ve only had good experiences in this, everyone has been so polite! Once I finish with all the bureaucratic stuff I have to do, I know that I’m going to be able to experience life here more. The first thing I do every time that I go to a new country is try to get to know the people there and find a community, even if they are not from Slovakia. I am searching for people in Facebook groups. You meet people, you go out. It's not an easy thing, but I'm trying to have as much social life as I can, so I don't get stuck inside my house.
Can you share with us the most exciting kind of cultural difference you've experienced since moving?
Yes. I have one. Latin American people are more passionate and emotional and people here are not. I'm not saying that you are not emotional, but you keep that more to yourself. I've never experienced an event or meeting in Slovakia where people are speaking about really emotional stuff. I need to try and learn some of this calmness from you all for myself. But, for example, in Argentina, when you meet any Latin American person we start talking about spirituality like it is a basic topic. There are mostly Christians and Jews in Argentina, but nowadays the whole of Latin America is in this kind of self-spiritual learning.
You look quite a lot like Meghan Markle, which I know is commented on often. How do you find this, and how does this unique aspect of your appearance impact your interactions both personally and professionally?
Yes, everyone here tells me that I look like her. But the first time that I heard this was here, in Hotovo. In Argentina it didn’t happen. I couldn’t believe it at first, it was a great compliment. But people also used to tell me that I look like Antonella, Messi's wife, maybe because of the name.
What's one message you'd like to share with our readers? Something that captures the essence of your unique personal and professional journey?
First of all, we are the youngest today that we’ll ever be again, for the rest of our lives. Yesterday is a day that has already gone but tomorrow is going to be another day. Take the time and use it wisely. Enjoy it. And the second thing is to establish a goal and stick to it. If you have to change your plan to get to that goal, change the plan, but don't change the goal. My goal is still the same. Having the experience of living in Europe and working at a European company. Trying this life in Europe. But I thought that the path would be different. As you can see the plan did change, but the goal didn't.
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A Tango of HR and Music – Antonela's Journey from Argentina to Slovakia
"If you have to change your plan to get to that goal, change the plan, but don't change the goal."
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