Sometimes moving forward looks a lot like moving sideways
If you had asked me a few years ago what my role would look like today, I probably wouldn’t have guessed it right. I had a sense of direction, but my career has never followed a straight line. It’s been more of a series of rooms I stepped into, stayed curious in, and then eventually rearranged into something else, while always keeping what I learned.
I’ve spent the last ten years wearing many hats. HR and recruiting, talent acquisition, growth, marketing, social media, team coordination, content creation, even video editing and assistant management. At different points, all of them made sense. All of them taught me something. And all of them shaped how I work with people today, how I see the world, and the depth I am capable to catch even without trying.
Two years in, something started to shift
In May, I’ll celebrate three years here at BinarCode. When I joined, I was working as a marketing and social media specialist for the company and after that, for one of our clients, too. I had a great team, the kind you genuinely enjoy showing up for. I felt supported, listened to, and trusted. This part matters, because what came next was not a reaction, not an escape, and definitely not a “run away from” decision.
Somewhere along the way, I started noticing a mismatch. It wasn't anything dramatic but it sometimes felt like a quiet friction. I’m not someone who lights up around numbers, analytics dashboards, or posting into the void, even when the work is done well. What I am good at, naturally and consistently, is people. Listening. Reading between the lines. Creating space where someone feels safe enough to be honest. I was told not once that I lift people up without trying, I bring them together and my empathy is something people feel drawn to.
The long road that led here
Anyway, this was not something I discovered overnight. For years, I’ve been reading about psychology, human behavior, relationships, and I went to therapy myself. At one point, I enrolled in a nine-month coaching program, accredited by the Romanian government and the Ministry of Labor. I did it while working full time and planning a wedding at full speed, which I don’t necessarily recommend, but I do recommend the learning that came out of it. I couldn’t have finished it without the support of my husband, my parents, and my managers and colleagues, who encouraged me constantly and made space for me to do this. Feeling understood and cheered on made a huge difference.
It was challenging in all the right ways. Practical, intense, and very grounded in real human work. We learned how to actually listen, how to work with objectives, resistance, emotions, and decision-making. Our professors were experienced psychotherapists who cared deeply about making sure we could apply what we learned, not just understand it intellectually, so they gave us techniques, tools and exercises that actually work when applied correctly.
I finished the program feeling clearer and more grounded than I had in a long time. I just wanted and needed to put these newfound skills to good use in my day to day, too.
A very honest conversation
One afternoon, I had an honest talk with Edi, my colleague and manager. I trusted him enough to say what I felt was missing, what I felt I could offer more of, and where my energy naturally went. At the time, our HR and recruiting role needed support. The colleague handling it was on her leave notice.
I asked if I could try.
He said yes. More than that, he encouraged a trial period. I stepped in, and within two weeks, we filled one role. The colleague we hired then is still with us today, growing steadily within her team. That was the moment we decided to continue in this direction. I started learning more and more and I slowly took on more responsibility around internal HR, recruiting, onboarding, and, yes, sometimes exit interviews too. Those are part of the job, whether we like them or not. However, I think that the way someone leaves your company is equally as important as how they join, so I try to make it a valuable experience for both parts involved.
Why this kind of move makes sense
What I learned through this experience is how powerful horizontal moves can be. When someone already knows the culture, the people, the values, and the way things really work behind the scenes, shifting roles can be incredibly healthy for everyone involved. It saves time, energy, and resources. More importantly, it keeps good people where they belong, just in roles that fit them better.
I’ve received feedback over time that the first interaction candidates have with me reflects who we are as a company. That means a lot to me. I don’t run interviews like checklists. I care about rapport. I want people to feel relaxed enough to be themselves, to ask questions, to understand what kind of place they’re stepping into.
We’re young, driven, ambitious, and focused, but also flexible, open to change, and genuinely interested in building things better, not just faster. Translating that into a conversation with a candidate feels like second nature to me.
The tools matter more than people admit
On the practical side, I’ll be honest about something else. I love this role even more because of the tools we use. Growee has made the administrative side of HR and recruiting intuitive and manageable, especially the hiring module. This is not a hidden commercial, it’s a very open one. I wouldn’t enjoy this work nearly as much if I had to drown in spreadsheets, folders, printers, and paperwork. Growee takes care of that so I can focus on the human part, which is the whole point for me.
Where I’ve landed
Looking back, this move didn’t change who I am at work. It just aligned my role with it. Empathy, communication, attention to detail, collaboration, reliability, and loyalty have always guided how I work.
Now, they’re just placed where they feel useful every single day. I am still very much involved in the Growth and Marketing side of things, in planning and execution too, but I also use my natural skills where I can bring the most value, in HR, with and for the people.
When this happens in a company that listens, supports, and trusts you, it feels less like a career move and more like being exactly where you’re meant to be.