Career counselling: questions and answers

Q1: I want to ask about my career. I want to be a fashion designer. Will you please guide me how can I become a fashion designer and which institutions are offering relevant programmes and are there future opportunities? (Soban Ali, Karachi)

A: Since I am not aware what educational qualifications you have, I cannot advise you where to start. However, if you have strong interest and passion about becoming a fashion designer of course you can do so. There are number of institutions in Pakistan that offer degree programmes in Fashion and Apparel Designing. Some of these are located in Karachi, including Fashion Apparel Design and Training Institute Karachi, Vogue Academy of Fashion and Apparel, Karachi School of Art and Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design etc.

My advice to you would be to contact the relevant institutions and discuss with them your study prospects and opportunities depending on the particular area that you would like to excel in. The important point to note that is you should have a deeper understanding how a designer or an artist works professionally.

Q2: Sir, I have done Electronics Engineering few years back but I am not getting job. Can you please guide me? Or tell me your contact number so that I can get advice from you. Thanks. (Ashfaque Mughal, Hyderabad)

A: Electronics Engineering is a wide subject area that involves Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Communication Engineering. My advice to you would be to locate and identify organisations, companies and public sector institutions that are involved or engaged in providing the above services. Apply for an internship or a training programme if you fail to get a job so that you start gaining some training and knowledge about a particular area within the scope of your engineering domain and the internship or training shall also provide you an opportunity to connect with the right people that will give you support in finding full time employment later on.

Q3: I have cleared FSc in pre-engineering and I want to pursue my career in Space Sciences. I want to study abroad and I know this is so difficult. What is the scope for Astronautical Engineering abroad? If I want to opt another field then Astronautics, but related to Physics and Mathematics, so what is the most suitable option? (Laiba Masood, Islamabad)

A: I am sure if you are interested in Space Science and Physics you must have obtained very high marks in Math and Physics in both Matric and FSc. If this is the case, you should have no issues pursuing a degree in Aeronautical or Physics in good institutions in Pakistan that are located near Islamabad, such as NUST, PIAS, Institute of Space Technology, Military College of Engineering, Aeroline Institute of Aviation Studies etc. However, you must be careful when looking at finding study/career opportunities abroad in these fields as this is difficult for Pakistanis, particularly Muslims to get the education in these areas due to obvious reasons. I hope this would be helpful.

Q4: I have done graduation in BS Aviation Management. Now I am looking to do masters. I have decided to do either MBA or MS Human Resource, MS Logistics/Supply Chain, MS Marketing and Finance. According to you what is best keeping in mind the future prospects? (Hunain Sohail Sheikh, Lahore)

A: Having done your graduation in Aviation Management I will not recommend that you go for any master programme as yet. My advice to you would be to find a career opportunity and get some hands-on experience in Aviation Management. If you don’t find a job get engaged into a paid or unpaid internship within the Aviation Industry. This will give you an opportunity to understand the functional process and ultimately you can decide a specialism for your masters perhaps relevant to the aviation industry. I hope this information helps you.

(Syed Azhar Husnain Abidi is a renowned educationist in Pakistan, with more than 20 years of experience as provider of education counselling services. He has represented Pakistan in over 100 national and international seminars, conferences and fora. He is a recipient of the most coveted civil award Tamgha-e-Imtiaz).