Every new hire at the company passes through her desk on the way in, and again, eventually, on the way out. In between come the leave requests, the attendance records, the visa and residency renewals, and the sensitive cases that need a careful hand. For Charmaine Depalubos Jurilla, a Senior HR Operations Analyst in Doha, those cases are where the job really lives.
The 46-year-old Filipina has spent close to 18 years in Qatar, working her way up to a role that also covers HR documentation, the company’s HR information system, compliance, and management reporting. She serves as the link between employees, departments, and government offices, and the part she values most is employee relations.
“The most satisfying part of my work is finding fair solutions that benefit both employees and the organization,” Charmaine shares with TGFM.
A decision made for the children
Before the Gulf, Charmaine worked as a sales representative at a well-known trading company in [Taiwan or mainland China — to confirm]. The job sharpened skills she would later lean on in HR: communication, teamwork, organization, and dealing professionally with all kinds of people.
The move to Qatar came from a simpler motive. “I chose to work abroad because I wanted to provide my family, especially my children, with a more secure and comfortable future,” the mother explains.
Her first role in Doha was as an HR coordinator. The early years tested her. Homesickness came first, then cultural differences and misunderstandings at work. There was no dramatic fix. Charmaine relied on patience, honest communication, learning from colleagues, and keeping her eyes on why she had left home in the first place.
“My husband, children, family, and faith gave me strength during difficult times,” she recalls. She also found role models among fellow OFWs who kept working hard and stayed steady despite being far from the people they loved.
Looking back, the coordinator years gave the young HR professional more than procedural know-how. “That experience taught me how to become independent, adapt to a different working environment, and communicate with people from various cultural backgrounds,” Charmaine says.
Trusted with the sensitive files
Growth came gradually. The former sales representative worked her way up within the same group of companies to a senior post, the milestone she counts as the high point of her career so far. What makes it meaningful to her is less the title than the trust that came with it.
“The highlight of my career to date has been reaching a senior HR position and earning the trust to manage important and sensitive employee matters,” the Doha-based analyst shares.
That trust shows in the work itself. Many of the matters on Charmaine’s desk affect people’s livelihoods and their legal standing in the country, and they demand discretion as much as knowledge of procedure.
Her reason for choosing the field was straightforward. “I chose Human Resources because I enjoy working with people from different backgrounds,” the Filipina HR specialist says. In a multicultural workplace, that preference has turned into one of her strongest assets.
Service beyond office hours
Outside work, Charmaine’s calendar fills with commitments to her community. She is an active member of Ilonggo Beez Qatar, serves as a lector at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, and volunteers with the Migrant Workers Office in Qatar whenever help is needed.
She is also back in school. While holding down her full-time role, the senior analyst is pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Philippine Christian University.
The degree ties directly to what comes after Qatar. When her years abroad are done, Charmaine hopes to spend more time with her family, complete her MBA, and put her HR experience to use back home. She wants to champion employee well-being and fair, respectful workplaces, and to guide young professionals and future overseas workers through the lessons her own journey taught her.
Lessons for those still abroad
Asked what she would tell fellow kababayans, the longtime OFW keeps it grounded. Stay strong, stay humble, and remember why you left. Talk honestly with family, especially when times are hard. At work, be professional, know your rights, and keep improving your skills.
On relationships, her HR instincts come through. “Build relationships carefully and trust people based on their consistent actions,” Charmaine advises.
She also warns against carrying everything alone. “Most importantly, take care of your well-being, keep your faith, and never be afraid to ask for help from trusted people,” the mother of [number] adds.
Nearly two decades in, Charmaine describes her time overseas in terms of what it built rather than what it cost. “My journey as an overseas worker has taught me patience, sacrifice, faith, and continuous learning,” she reflects. “Every challenge has made me stronger and more understanding.”
