Leny Magpoc, QA systems tester at Pramerica, tells us why she chose Ireland as a place to live and work, and how flexible hours really help a working mother.
Where are you from?
I was born and lived in Manila, Philippines, until I was 22. Manila is a large, busy city. The weather is always warm even on rainy days, but during the summer it gets so warm that you’re sweating without even moving!
How long have you been in Ireland?
I’ve lived in Ireland since December 2002, so 12 years.
Why did you move here?
My sister, who lived in Ireland, has three children who were very young at that time. She asked me to help care for them. I said yes and later found employment at Pramerica.
What work do you do?
I am a QA systems tester for an application that allows users to perform project and portfolio management. As a tester, I determine whether there are any defects in the application and work with the developers and business analysts to ensure the application is error free before it goes into production.
How would you describe your working environment?
The people working at Pramerica are very friendly, which really helped me settle in when I first moved here. It’s also a diverse workforce, which makes working here even more interesting because I can learn about different cultures.
What do you like most about your job?
The hours are flexible which is great for a working mother like me.
Was it difficult to adjust to living and working in Ireland?
The adjustment was difficult for the first few months. I was not accustomed to the cold weather and can still remember my teeth chattering when I first landed in the airport. I also missed my friends in Manila and the city life.
What surprised you about moving to Ireland?
I was most surprised by the friendliness of people and the weather, where you can experience four seasons in one day.
How does your working life help to make you feel at home here?
Pramerica ensures that all employees are made to feel at home. Also, I’m part of a large Filipino community here, so we celebrate by having a number of annual diversity events.
What do you like most about your adopted home?
The Irish are not much different from the Filipinos. We both love to have a bit of craic!
