Jun Ma

Name: Jun Ma

Age: 27
Born: China
Lived in Scotland: since 2003

Jun Ma is an accountant with the Shell Shared Service Centre-Glasgow Ltd. The core of the Centre's activity is processing high volume financial transactions, accounts payable and receivable from all over Europe in a wide range of languages.

Jun came to Scotland originally to study at the University of Glasgow in 2003 and after graduating she went back to China for eight months until deciding to return to her place of study to experience working life in Scotland.

A Fresh Talent visa allowed Jun to return to live and work here in August 2005. Jun was delighted to be back in the country that she had already lived in for a year.

Jun says, "I really loved this place when I studied here. Scottish people are so friendly and the highlands are so beautiful. I had such a great impression of the country. When I heard about the fresh talent scheme I was really happy to have the chance to come back here, and to Glasgow again."

The city of Glasgow was the perfect place for Jun to be looking for work.

"I was quite lucky with job hunting. I received phone calls from several accountancy agencies within a month after sending out my CV. I started working on temporary jobs right away." Jun explains

It wasn't long before she found something more permanent though.

"Finally I got the job offer with Shell, a big multi national company. I found the managers and my colleagues to be so nice. They gave me lots of help to get used to the working environment here."

The social life was good too, as Jun comments, "We always go out for drinks and dinners together."

Jun feels like she really fits in here and work and social life keep her busy and happy.

She says, "Glasgow is like my second home. I have lots of friends working or studying here. I really enjoy life."

As with most big cities, Glasgow is also able to offer Jun a certain amount of links with home.

"We have a Chinese community here. We are always organising trips and events at the weekend." Jun explains.

And the community has diverse interests that Jun is delighted to be able to join in with.

"There are just so many things to do in our spare time, so we don't really miss home too much. The hiking club organise hiking trips to climb mountains in the Highlands and we go for ceilidh dancing each month. I love ceilidhs."

Jun plans to extend her stay, as she loves being in Scotland so much.

"I just got the work permit, so I plan to stay here for a couple of years more."

Information correct at January 2008

Related links

• University of Glasgow
• Shell