Career counselling; questions and answers

Q1: I am studying in class 13th (BCom). Do you think it has future career? I want to attempt CSS exam after BCom. Can you please guide me how I can prepare for that? (Amjad Khan Mandokhail, Peshawar)

A: Dear Amjad, once you complete your bachelors you may be eligible to apply for CSS exam. However, people who have done their four-year Hons degrees or masters are well-placed in terms of passing. I think you would need to do a lot of practice going forward. Furthermore, I suggest you should keep reading IQ books of general knowledge and along with that you must read national as well as foreign newspapers and journals. My best wishes for your success.

Q2: Sir, I am student of FSc 2nd year pre-medical. I have an interest in Psychology and English Literature. I am very confused between two subjects. Which subjects will be best for me? Which university is best for these subjects? Which subject will be best for CSS examination? (Rehan Zafar, Lahore)

A: It is difficult for me to compare the two subjects you have mentioned as both of these subjects are totally different in terms of their characteristics, scope and vision. While English Literature is a soft area in social sciences; Psychology is slightly more strong and difficult but has tremendous opportunities depending on which area of Psychology you would like to choose. No matter which degree you aim for; you will still have to work hard on your CSS as it involves study of various other subjects like international relations, politics, etc.

Q3: My niece is doing bachelors in Business and Commerce from Australia. She is in her bachelor’s last semester. She is planning to do masters from abroad with specialisation in Professional Accounting. I seek your kind guidance so that she can have a right decision. (Abdul Waahid, Chakwal)

A: After successful completion of her bachelor’s, I suggest choosing masters in Professional Accounting would be a fruitful decision of your niece. For your information, almost all Australian institutions, including Monash, Daikin etc offer masters in Professional Accounting with the duration of 1.5 years. This would advise to choose this programme in Australia as this will give her better opportunities and brighter future prospects even for PR and finding a relevant job to integrate properly in professional environment of Australian system.

Q4: I have passed FSc Pre-Engineering with 68% aggregate and I passed matric with 79%. My father is in Police. Now due to lack of some knowledge I can’t take the decision/ step forward. I am the eldest child in my family and my age is 18 years. So I am confused what I should do; which stream is right for me. So tell me the right way. Thanks. (Huzaifa, Mansehra)

A: Engineering is something that you should not consider going forward as your career. Your marks clearly show that you have issues and problems in your science subjects and therefore I would recommend that it is time for you to switch to an easier subject area. These could include Commerce and IT. Both of them are suitable; I’m sure your family would be able to afford education in these areas. Moreover, the universities in your province are easy to accommodate.

(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).