Celine Szymczak on being a brand ambassador

Recruiter Celine, explains why she left the sunny South of France to help scale the Dropbox Dublin team.

What did you do before Dropbox?

Before joining Dropbox (and moving back to Dublin), I was a recruiter at a small executive search firm based out of Monaco and enjoying the sweet scenery of the French Riviera!

Why did you decide to join Dropbox?

Several reasons really. On the one hand, I was really itching to discover the “other side” of recruitment. Instead of recruiting great people for several companies, I wanted to be an ambassador for one brand, and see that company grow from the inside — and play an active part in that growth. I knew about Dropbox because the search firm I was working for had many startup clients, and Dropbox clearly stood out as the most exciting company to work for!

From my very first conversation with the recruitment team, I knew this position was going to be something else. So I packed up my kids and boyfriend, and said goodbye to sunny South of France for Dublin, Ireland! Now I’m part of the EMEA recruiting team, focusing on executive hires in Europe.

What surprised you about Dropbox when you joined?

What really surprised me when I joined was that a lot of different people, from various teams, invited me for coffee chats. And I thought “well this is lovely,” but at the same time, I was quite surprised that people had the time to have coffee with a new recruit. Months later I realized that no, they didn’t really have the time, but they made the time.

You’ve lived in a number of different places. What has your most recent move to Dublin been like?

Well, this is not my first time in Ireland, because I did an exchange year in Dublin during high school. I also spent time here when I worked for four years at another tech company. I have always loved this country and this city. In fact, when I was in university I studied Irish Medieval History and Irish Folklore (the Banshee to be precise!), partly because I wanted a reason to travel to Ireland.

This time I thought it might be difficult to transition from sunny South of France back to a country that is known for its rainy days… I was also a little worried that I might have idealised this place and wouldn’t enjoy it as much. But it turns out, I like it even more this time. For one the weather hasn’t been that bad, but most importantly, the city is constantly improving, it’s so vibrant and international, yet remains very human in its size. The Irish are one of the most humble and fun population I know.

What, in your view, is unique about doing recruiting for Dropbox EMEA?

I love the enthusiasm that Dropbox generates when I talk to candidates. There’s never a dull conversation because people want to know who we are, what we’re up to. I don’t think I’ve ever talked to someone who didn’t have a Dropbox account, a lot of people like to share their favorite Dropbox story. I remember at a career fair in Dublin, I met a group of students who told me how they saved and shared their research, projects, and theses with Dropbox. They were effusive about how it made their lives easier, and how they trusted our product with this invaluable material. They were so happy to have an opportunity to come and tell us their stories — it made me very proud to work here.

What’s it been like to be a part of growing the Dublin team?

Right away, I was impressed by how much trust is placed in the employees. There’s a clear sense that we have very carefully selected this bunch of people, and every one of us will play an essential role in Dropbox’s European growth. We communicate very openly, and constantly collaborate with other teams in Dublin and globally.

The challenge is that we need to hire more and more people to delight our millions of European users, but we can’t compromise on our culture and values. It is a very delicate mission! Luckily, everyone in this office is 100 percent onboard and up for the task.

What are the qualities you look for when talking to potential new Dropboxers?

Everyone who works here shares a passion for tech. We obviously want to hire people who have the right caliber and raw skills for the roles, but we also put a lot of emphasis on personal qualities such as humility, genuineness, and team spirit. We also like to see a little spark, passion, and diverse backgrounds and interests. For example, one of our colleagues used to teach Greek and ancient history, another one was a film critique in Australia, we have a former Ranger from the Swedish Army Ranger Battalion — and those are only a few examples of a long list of amazing backgrounds. When you put it all together, it makes for an incredible team!

What are your favorite moments at Dropbox?

My favorite moments are coming to work every morning and catching up with my team. It puts me in a great mood because they are all so engaged, smart, and fun!

What have you done that not many people have done?

I once crossed a Thai jungle wearing flip flops. My motto could be “always be unprepared” — luckily that’s not something I use at work!

If you weren’t doing recruiting at a tech company, what would you be? Why?

There are many jobs I admire, although I am not sure I would have the talent for them. I have a lot of respect for teachers and people working in education in general. It’s a huge responsibility, and they have such an amazing influence that goes beyond the school walls. In my next life though, I will be a singer songwriter (and have a much better voice).

How would you describe Dropbox Dublin in 3 words?

Growing : the team has more than doubled since I joined last June!

Diverse: We have so much diversity in backgrounds, interests, skills, personalities, and nationalities. It’s an extremely enriching environment.

Energizing : Everyone is enthusiastic, eager, engaged, fun, and smart. That kind of energy is contagious!