1. Inês, you were in the Top 3 of the HR Directors, an award that recognizes talent in this area so important for any company. How do you win this award?

Having our work recognized is always important, especially since this process began with the team I work with on a daily basis. Each one of us has his or her role and contribution and I am no exception, I really believe in what I do, in the contact with the teams and in the close monitoring. This was undoubtedly a recognition for PrimeIT, and especially for the Human Resources Team, which works daily to overcome.

2. Following this recognition we were overwhelmed by the Covid-19 pandemic. In your opinion, how important is the role of the Human Resources Department in a crisis like this?

No doubt we have all been put to the test! No one was expecting so many changes in such a short time. It was also up to us to support the organization in adapting to this new reality, never failing, on the one hand, to carry out our daily duties and, on the other, to accompany our teams, their challenges and the support requested at a time of many uncertainties. Some procedures have been adapted and our way of communicating with our teams has also been adapted, but the result could not have been more positive!

3. What were the biggest challenges in the past months?

I believe it was mainly the ability to adapt. We started the year 2020 with ambitious objectives, motivated by the excellent year of 2019 in terms of company growth, and in March we faced the need to adapt all our work dynamics to the Pandemic. With the resilience and capacity to adapt that we talked about, all this transition was done naturally, and we all adapted to this new reality. Even at a distance we were able to adapt our routines and also adjust to the new market. The change in our way of communicating was also crucial and we realised that, whether we were in person or at a distance, we kept our good mood and our focus on overcoming objectives and growth. We know we will continue to be challenged, but we are better prepared and confident for the future.

4. Talent retention itself is one of the greatest difficulties in this area. How does PrimeIT fight this competition?

Prime DNA is the factor that differentiates us in the market. Despite the adversities that this year has brought us, we remain focused on our path and objectives, aware of the necessary steps to get there. The maintenance of an innovative and disruptive spirit, coupled with sustained and organic business growth, means that we continue to invest heavily in our talent, based on fluid communication and close daily contact, regardless of physical distance, which is characteristic of today. The constant bet on enticing projects allows us to develop lasting relationships with our team, always ready to accept a new challenge. Our performance stands out for the set of good practices that define our interaction, now challenged by a capacity of adaptation that has led us to adjust, for example, our Training Academies to the digital format, which has had an extremely positive impact on the entire team.

5. As an HR Director, with a team that is (proudly) always growing, what is the greatest lesson you can draw from this experience?

I cannot help but mention our incredible ability to adapt to the routine in record time, both personally and professionally! We know it was challenging to combine both in Pandemic times, but we also know that we have always been close to our employees, understanding their own challenges and supporting them in overcoming them. We still do not know what the next few months have in store for us, but we know that we are better prepared than before and that we will adapt in order to provide the best response.

6. What message do you leave to all the professionals who are now entering the business world?

Do not give up in the face of adversity! The business world is very dynamic, we contact different people on a daily basis, with whom we end up identifying in different ways. Our focus as HR professionals should always be on support, monitoring and growth of our teams, and it is now essential that there is an adjustment to the new reality in which we live, as well as to all the changes that will certainly happen in the near future. I also believe that it is important to be strategically positioned when entering the labour market, as there are still sectors in constant expansion that offer strong possibilities for professional progression.