Onboarding Soluble: expectativas que se cumplen
I've barely been here a few hours and I've already figured it out: I'm in the eye of a hurricane of ideas. Lucky for me, it's nothing new. Throughout my career, I've had great fortune. I've learned from brilliant people, with prodigious minds and unbreakable work ethic. And it feels good to confirm that, at this new stage, expectations are met. Let me tell you about the landing process (in the good sense of both meanings 🌕🚀).
Stepping into the S-) universe
My first touchpoint with Soluble was sonic. Through the Minimalism Brand podcast. In one of its episodes, Ismael Barros was talking about branding, team management, and ultimately all the challenges involved in running a studio devoted to telling stories and creating bridges between brands and people. What struck me was his concern for concepts that, in other contexts, have been perverted, like talent or strategy. I was just starting work on my doctoral thesis about business models for news companies and found a bridge between the purest theory and the most pragmatic practice.
Some time later, I came across a job opening to create content at Soluble. Tempting. Not just because of the position itself: also because of how the company communicates and explains what it is, what they ask of you, and what they offer you. So I cancelled everything I had planned that morning ―stop the presses!― and sent the form. Unlike other impersonal processes, where a Simple LinkedIn Message can be your greatest ally and worst enemy, this form lets you showcase your skills. And it also helps the company find people more aligned with its vision and values.
Surprise. The next day, an email. Shall we meet next Monday? Of course. I spent the weekend preparing for the interview. I read their website cover to cover, went back to the Minimalism podcast, and even got to enjoy a Medium post where Ismael himself gave the keys to Soluble's hiring processes. Perfect for (trying to) hack the interview a bit.
I spoke for half an hour with Carmen Fraga and Marta Factor. The conversation matched, exactly, the expectations I had about the brand. Fluidity, warmth, genuine interest in people, and of course, technical expertise. A pleasure, really.
It was time to wait. A few days later another email arrived. This time I'd be talking with Laurent Dietrich and Sora Leo. Same feeling again: we talked about Alicante rice and padel, in Spanish and in English. Naturalness, humility, and honesty. You should speak of these qualities even when they're present. It's not bad manners.
Soon after, an email arrived from Laurent proposing we talk the next day. And I was convinced that was where my journey with Soluble ended. The experience had already been worth it. But I was wrong. And here I am, writing this text. The incorporation proposal was detailed and clear. Timelines, compensation, benefits, responsibilities… There was no room for doubt. I accepted, as I had to, and from that point on the subject lines of emails changed to "Soluble + Cristian". Adding. What a thrill.
Being part of the S-) team
The final phase of the hiring process was a meeting with the rest of the Soluble team. Of course, it wasn't a standard presentation. They explained who they were through a meme, talking about the three fictional characters they felt identified with. In that virtual encounter, there was talk of Peppa Pig's mother and tennis player Alexander Zverev.
I close my first day writing these lines. It's been intense hours, with many meetings and, above all, lots of excitement. Days are coming to learn with a carefully detailed onboarding down to the smallest detail. Of tongue hanging out and eyes wide open. Head in the clouds and feet on the ground S-)