Career counselling: questions and answers

Q1: My son has done BA (Hons) in Accounts & Finance from Malaysia. He is also ACCA finalist and will be appearing in last three papers. I wish him to go for his further studies to some foreign university where the cost is most economical. Kindly advise me in which discipline and from where, he should specialise to add value to any good organisation on global prospective. (Azhar Qureshi- Faisalabad)

Ans: I am not sure how much cost you have in mind but if your son tops up all universities so far with an academic qualification of MSc in Financial Risk Management he will surely expand and enhance his job prospects globally.

Q2: I have done BS in Computer Engineering from Islamabad and now doing Masters in Project Management from SZABIST. I am working in a consultancy firm for two years as Projects Coordinator. Sir what should I do next to avail an opportunity. (Dania Nasir- Islamabad)

Ans: You are in the right direction so I would advise you to complete your degree in Project Management and get a few years field experience in relevant department and further apply for international opportunities.

Q3: I have done MBBS from China and now in Pakistan I have tried to clear the PMDC exams twice but I didn’t succeed. To get the practicing licence I have to clear this test and I have already wasted my one year and it will take more one year for test preparation and clearance. Please guide me should I continue this or I should do some other degree? (Ovais Baig- Faisalabad)

Ans: To convert your Chinese qualifications to recognised Pakistani qualification I would suggest you find out if you can do a Master’s in Public Health which will give you a double edge to seek your career and study opportunities in Australia or Canada provided you complete the required English language requirement.

Q4: Sir, I am doing BS (Hons) from Karachi University and my major subject is Education. Further I am interested in doing specialisation in career counselling and guidance. You are requested to let me know from where should I can do this specialisation and what will be good for me? (Nazia Ashraf- Karachi)

Ans: There is a full Master now available in NUST which is titled as MS Career Counselling and Education. I suggest you look at this or alternatively look at doing a dissertation in counselling while completing your Bachelors in Education.

Q5: Please give me advice for future education and professional career of my younger brother. He is studying in second semester of DAE (Electronic) in Aligarh Institute of Technology, Karachi. (Farhan Alam- Karachi)

Ans: I would advise you to let your brother complete his bachelor's degree in Electronics and then I recommend he does his MSc in Telecommunication with Wireless Engineering as a subject. This will improve his prospectus in Pakistan.

(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).