The Career Story of Vita, Head of HR at Marino Projects

How Vita’s career at MARINO started

“I joined MARINO six years ago. I started off as a recruiter, although at that time I had no experience in this field. I remember a conversation I had with CEO Laisvydas in his office when he asked a question and I immediately started answering. Laisvydas was signing documents at the time and seemed not to be listening at all, but suddenly he lifted his head, adjusted his glasses and said, ‘Well, I can see you can talk.’ I smiled to myself and thought that the work here should be interesting.

A job like this, which is constantly changing and full of new challenges, has been a great environment for my growth and development. It was this dynamic and the opportunity to learn that attracted me the most.

When exactly did I realise that this is where I belong? It’s hard to say. Maybe it was that moment, or maybe it happened gradually over time, as I became more and more involved in the work and felt that I was growing both professionally and personally.”

Her start was so successful that two years later Vita was offered the Head of HR role. What does it mean to be a team leader?

“Being Head of HR is not only about making decisions, but also about taking care of your team and supporting them.”

“It’s not only about performance, but also about the environment in which we work and how each team member feels. It’s important that everyone feels valued, listened to and able to grow, both professionally and personally. Being Head of HR for me also means continuous development and growth together with the team, because every goal that is achieved, every team member who develops and grows is my greatest value.”

Three myths about HR at MARINO

Vita often hears incorrect assumptions from other departments about what HR professionals do day to day. Time to clear some things up.

Myth 1: “HR makes the final decisions on whether to hire or fire employees.”

Reality: Although it is often assumed that HR has the final say on hiring or firing, in reality HR professionals only provide recommendations and advice. Final decisions are made by the company’s managers or other responsible decision makers, who assess all the information and the company’s needs.

Myth 2: “HR do nothing all day because the candidates have not yet been recruited and there are no results.”

Reality: “Doing nothing” is a really big myth! Much of our work, such as recruitment, is invisible and does not necessarily guarantee a quick result. HR can spend hours searching for the right candidates, but we often find that after a week of intensive work all we get are “no” answers. It is also important to remember that there are other parties involved in the recruitment process, managers and teams, whose likes and dislikes can also determine the final decision.

Myth 3: “Nobody stays long at MARINO.”

Reality: I remember a situation from last year. We were at a friends’ party and, as often happens, there were curious people asking who works where. It was my turn, and I said I work for MARINO. I thought that not everybody might know about our company, so I didn’t go into too much detail. But the man’s reaction surprised me. He answered with a smile: “Oh, cool! And how many years have you worked there?” Five years, I said. And he was surprised: “So there are people there who have been working for that long? Because nobody stays there long!” Such myths about our company are still widespread! Sure, it’s not easy to work here, but the people who stay are the ones who want to grow, to keep learning and to face professional challenges.

Why work at MARINO

“Working here is more than a professional experience. It is about gaining skills that will be useful anywhere: the ability to work as part of a team, flexibility, strength and preparedness for any of life’s challenges. Growth and development are an integral part of our work, so we all work together to achieve not only short-term results, but also long-term professional success, which is guaranteed by the knowledge and experience gained here.” See open roles at MARINO.

A vision for the future

“The company is now nine years old and I have been on this journey with it for six years. During this time I have gone through many challenges and trials. There have certainly been all sorts of things and I know that there are still new milestones to come. Looking back at where we were at the beginning and where we are now, the changes are obvious. Sometimes you may not notice much change in a year as time passes so quickly. Before you know it, summer has turned to winter. But looking ahead, I hope that in five years’ time our company will be even stronger, growing with our people and with even more ambitious goals.”