min. readHi, I’m Lucía Jara. I live in Paraguay with my family and a very important member of the household, my dog. I love running, being close to nature, and traveling, not just for vacations, but for the experiences that stay with you. I am passionate about crafting and anything that lets me create something with my hands.
Creativity shapes how I move through life. Not just for hobbies, but especially at work. Every day brings problems that need to be untied, reassembled, or solved from a different angle. Finding the right person for the right role is rarely straightforward. Job titles, Boolean searches, career paths that don’t fit into neat boxes. All that asks for imagination as much as structure.
Looking back, creativity has always been quietly guiding my path.
A detour that changed everything
A couple of years ago, I had the chance to work abroad in the United States twice through a work and travel program at Vail Resorts. Those months changed me. Living near the mountains, surrounded by nature, speaking English every single day, it felt expansive in every sense.
I worked at a ticket window, which meant constant conversations with guests: different accents, different stories, different expectations. English became part of my daily rhythm, not something academic, but something lived. I loved it so much that I honestly thought I might spend the rest of my life working in the mountains.
When the season ended, and it was time to come back home, I carried that experience with me. I knew I wanted to keep learning and keep working in a multicultural environment.
Finding my place in tech, without planning it
That’s when Abstra appeared.
The opportunity felt almost unreal. A company with HQ in Paraguay, working for U.S. clients, a young team, a role in Human Resources, and English as part of everyday work. I remember thinking, I can’t believe I got in. And then, just like that, the rest became history.
I joined Abstra a little over a year ago, stepping into People Operations as a tech recruiter. I came in with no fixed expectations, and honestly, with a lot of doubts. None of the traditional psychology paths had ever felt fully like mine. I was even open to changing careers entirely.
Entering the tech world was overwhelming at first. Everything was new. The language, the roles, the pace. I needed patience, curiosity, and willingness to ask a lot of questions. I was lucky to learn from people who were generous with their knowledge, especially Magui Gaona, an incredible teacher who helped me understand not just the role, but the way tech teams think and work.
Somewhere during those first months, something clicked.
What tech recruiting gave me
Tech recruiting brought together many parts of who I already was. Listening closely. Understanding people beyond their CVs. Translating experience into potential. Thinking creatively about how skills connect, even when they don’t follow obvious paths.
Every search feels like a puzzle. Matching people to teams is not just about requirements; it’s about timing, context, and intuition. It’s about seeing possibilities where others might only see gaps.
Through this role, I’ve grown in ways I didn’t expect. Professionally, yes, but also personally. Learning constantly, adapting quickly, and gaining confidence in a space that once felt unfamiliar.
Looking ahead
For now, I see myself continuing to grow as a tech recruiter in Abstra, learning more, and deepening my experience. Not because I have everything figured out, but because this path feels right.
Long-term, I still dream of working closer to nature. Maybe mountains again. Maybe somewhere new. What I know is that my career does not need to be rigid to be meaningful.
Conclusion
My story isn’t about following a perfect plan. It’s about staying open. About letting curiosity lead, even when the destination isn’t clear. Psychology, travel, creativity, and tech all found a way to meet in one place.
If you’re feeling unsure about your path, that’s okay. Sometimes the right direction doesn’t announce itself loudly. Sometimes it grows quietly, through experiences that teach you who you are along the way.