INTERVIEW WITH RAUL - FRONT-END DEVELOPER AT PHPRO
Have you met Raul yet? Raul is one of our front-end developers, specialized in Magento Commerce, in Valencia. 6 Months ago he started working at PHPro.
Want to know what it's like in our Spanish offices? Then read on!
My name is Raul. 4 years ago I moved to Valencia with my girlfriend. I work there as a front-end developer at PHPro. When I am not busy developing great e-commerce sites in Magento, I like to do all kinds of sports like soccer, basketball, cross-fit, ...
6 months ago I started working as a front-end developer in PHPro's Valencia office. Currently I am working for Arvesta, where we are building the new Magento webshop for Aveve.
What were you doing before you joined PHPro?
From a young age I was interested in computers, so when I went to college it was obvious to study computer science. A friend of mine, who was already working with Magento, introduced me to it, and since then I became really interested in front-end development, especially in e-commerce environments. Magento is a tool usually used in larger companies and larger e-commerce projects, and that's what I like about Magento Commerce. Not just because it's good for your resume that you can put the bigger clients on it, but mostly because I build webshops that I'm likely to use myself. Or I see the weshops online and then I can say “I built that”. Blessed!
In the past I have worked for other Spanish development companies, where I managed a team of developers. And since the beginning of 2022, I started working for PHPro.
Welcome to PHPro Raul, glad to have you here! How did you learn about PHPro?
A friend of mine, Jose, already worked here and he recommended the company so here I am! ?
How do you like it so far?
I am very happy, although it was a big change for me. But I'm really glad I chose PHPro because I feel like the company really cares about its employees.
What were the biggest changes for you?
First of all, there was the language barrier in the beginning and communication in general. Belgian people are more focused on the professional side of things. For example: Meetings are more efficient. A 15-minute meeting is a 15-minute meeting where everyone gets to the point immediately. Spanish meetings tend to be more chaotic.
What do you like about working for PHPro?
I really like their way of working. They have a very good methodology for getting things done. Everything is very clear and I always know what tickets I have to work on and what is expected of me. The methodology really makes collaboration easier and ensures that we deliver quality results.
They also use Grumphp, a tool that checks the quality of the code. So not only do we work efficiently, but we also make sure the quality of our work is perfect. PHPro is a very efficient and transparent company and I like that.
Have you already visited the offices in Belgium?
Yes, twice in fact and I have also been to my client Arvesta in Leuven. I really like the office in Kontich. It is a very nice and spacious office. And the office in Hasselt on the Corda campus is very impressive. It's like a university campus but with companies.
The people in Belgium make a lot of effort to make us feel welcome. When I come to the offices in Belgium, there is always someone to pick me up at the airport, take us out to dinner and do something with us after work. And not only at PHPro, but also at my client Arvesta, the project manager went out of his way to make us feel welcome and included in the team.
But also our office in Spain is not to be underestimated! Our office is really well located in the heart of Valencia! We are very close to a park 8 km long! So there is a lot of greenery in the neighborhood. And by car you can be on the beach in 5 minutes!
What does a typical day look like for you?
I usually start my day at 7 a.m. by checking emails, the Teams chat or the Slack channel. Then we have our stand-up meeting. If I have no other meetings, I go check the tickets assigned to me in this sprint and start working on them. I usually end my work day at 3 p.m. so I still have time to enjoy my day and make time for my hobbies.
What do you like most about your job?
Since working here, I've learned a lot. The projects I work on are much bigger than I'm used to. It was challenging at first, but I love a challenge. It gives such a good feeling when you work on something complex, still get it done, and you know a lot of people will use it.
I also really enjoy being able to work for foreign companies and learn new things.
What is your most fun work memory so far?
I really liked Xplore Group's summer event. It was such a fun venue and such a cool event. But also at PHPro Spain, we try to organize a team event every month. Sometimes we go bowling, or we go to a restaurant. Last time we went jet skiing and took a boat ride and watched the sunset! Really fun.
It seems that you are enjoying yourself at PHPro Spain, so would you recommend the company to a friend?
Yes definitely! I'm even trying to convince a few friends right now! This company really offers a great professional experience, but also takes care of its employees. Of course your development skills are important, but that's not the only thing they look for. They also look at the kind of person you are. Are you a good and kind person? Are you willing to share thoughts and ideas? Then you are more than welcome and I really love that human aspect!