Always in our career, we must know where we are going

Introduce yourself in a few words..

My name is Elena Stoyanova. Since 2022, I have held the position of Head of HR Department at #Latecoere Bulgaria EOOD, part of the Latecoere group - a company with over one hundred years of tradition, a pioneer in the industry in Europe, in the field of aviation and a first-tier supplier to the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world.

How would you describe your career in a few words?

My career is the result of my desire to be better and better at what I do and to seek a path to success.

What was the most important choice that shaped your path?

Joining a company with history and traditions, part of an international corporation.

What would you like to know at the beginning of your career that no one told you?

The choices I have made have brought me to where I am now. Choices made with heart.

How can a person understand which profession is suitable for them?

To look inward and answer clearly and openly the questions “What do I want, what do I like, and what do I really do well?”

Which skills will be key in the next 10 years, in your opinion?

Skills for self-awareness and self-assessment. Skills for inclusion and healthy functioning in a social environment, understanding the person as an individual, their palette of motivators and their talents.

How to build a network of useful contacts without appearing interested?

When we have an interest in a specific field, seeking information, participating in training, and attending related events inevitably leads to building a network of contacts.

What is the biggest mistake you have made in your career, and what did you learn from it?

I do not have a categorically recognizable big mistake.

How to recognize a toxic work environment and when is it time to leave?

It is felt with the heart, it is heavy, opaque. Every working day brings the feeling of fear to be open, to share, to build relationships. In such an environment, only those who create it thrive. We must leave as soon as we start to doubt our own worth and potential for growth.

What would you do differently if you could start over?

I would not do anything differently, even if I were to start my career path over.

How to keep our motivation in times of stagnation?

To make a change that depends on us. To read a book, to visit a place we have never been, why not try a new sport. Change drives the flow of life, even a different route to work creates a positive dynamic in our lives.

How to achieve a balance between professional and personal life?

We have one life and at every moment the balance of its aspects is different – sometimes work is the priority, other times family and personal interests. It is important to have the support of loved ones to help and support us in our personal sphere,  when the scales tip towards the professional side.

When is it time to change our career, not just the job?

It happens naturally and it should be so. It should not happen therapeutically or because we want to leave our current career. We must know where we are going. A career is a calling.

If you had to give just one piece of advice to people seeking success, what would it be?

Listen to your heart.

What is your definition of a “successful career”?

The feeling of meaning. Every second, with every breath.