Career counselling; questions and answers

Q1: Sir, kindly provide your guidance/help related to my career. I have completed my BBA (Hons) + MBA (3+1) from Karachi University Business School majors in Human Resource with CGPA 3.5 this year. I am expected to receive BBA (Hons) and MBA degree by April 2017. My aim is to work at Government Education Department either as a teacher or as non-teaching staff. Kindly guide/help me ways to enter in the Government Education Department, qualification and years of Education requirements and what are the recruitment channels of vacancies and when education vacancies are open. And what further should I do? I have Karachi domicile and PRC. As I have also done my internship at Meezan Bank Branch. (Amna Bano, Karachi)Ans: This is an excellent academic achievement, you seem to be well organised in your studies and have structured your career on relevant lines. Once you complete your degree or even now find an internship whether paid or unpaid and or once you complete get into a workplace to gather some experience. Meanwhile, we will be able to help you in finding a scholarship if you wish to go abroad around mid of 2017. I cannot advise you without knowing your educational background, your qualifications and your experience. However, you need to have a degree in education at least up to master’s level or an MPhil in a specialist subject area to teach in school or college. If you wish to enter the government education department you may need to use the provincial government channels and if you wish to do education management then you need a degree in education management too. 

Q2: I got admission on scholarship in IBA Sukkur which is well-known for its BBA and have produced great businessmen and entrepreneurs. My question from you is that what should I opt BBA or Software Engineering. I have interest in Software Engineering but as IBA is not much famous for its Software Engineering, lots of my friends and family members are saying to me that I should do BBA from IBA as I will get job easily after doing BBA. I am very much confused, what to choose whether BBA or SE. Please guide me from your vast experience. (Salman Javed, Sukkur)

Ans: Institution is not too important, if you have an interest in information or computer science and the university is offering such a course I would recommend that you do this without any hesitation. In most cases employers do not look at which institution you graduated from. They would only interview you, look at your vision, the set of skills that they require and a minimum qualifications to hire you. Please therefore, do not get yourself confused in the choice of institutions. Just move ahead and do what you think interests you.

Q3: I am the position-holder of DG Khan examination board. I have done BS (Hons) economics with 3.60 CGPA from BZU Multan. Now what should I do whether MPhil or job in any sector. Please guide me. (Saima Akbar, DG Khan)

Ans: Many congratulations on achieving position and good grades in economics which is hard to get. My recommendation would be to do an MSc in economics with finance if possible and then seek to find a career opportunity in an institution to teach. However, with these qualifications you would also be able to work in a financial institution or a multinational company. 

Q4: I have completed MBBS from a private university and want to do CSS but neither my English is good nor I am a brilliant student. Kindly guide me please. (Khadija Zafar, Lahore)

Ans: This is a very difficult question as CSS is not only your intelligence or being a high achiever. It is your passion combined with your vision to serve in the public sector in Pakistan. The key areas that you need to be good are; English language - spoken and written, international relations, current affairs, politics and a reasonable knowledge of basic sciences which I guess you should have. If you don’t think a combination of all this I would not recommend you doing CSS.

Q5: My nephew would like to take admission in Geology at Karachi University. He likes to know the scope and branches of the subject. Please guide with your valuable experience. (Basharat Alam, Karachi)

Ans: Geology is a different and among the emerging areas in terms of career opportunities. The most in demand specialism within geology would be geological information system or GIS or he can finish his bachelor’s in geology and then move to do an MSc or MS in earthquake and disaster management that will help him to create more opportunities for his career into related areas. 

(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 the recipient of the most coveted civil award Tamgha-e-Imtiaz).