close
Thursday March 28, 2024

Career counselling: questions and answers

By Syed Azhar Husnain Abidi
June 07, 2021

Q1: After passing Bachelors (Commerce) and then CMA Inter in Cost and Management Accountant from ICMAP, currently the stage 4 is in progress after which there are two stages left for CMA. I thought it would be a good idea to have your expert advice on its scope in Gulf countries. On another issue, can you please advise me which type of organisation/ industry would be better for my career profession like FMCG, Petroleum, Textile, or Power Generation etc? I also request you to please guide me in finalising my specialisation either costing, finance or taxation? (Soban Ali, Islamabad)

Ans: Keeping in view your academic qualification and the programmes you have in mind for future I will advise you to consider Power Generation or Energy Conservation after completion of your current CMA. I’m advising you Power Generation as it is an emerging area and is very high in demand for financial specialists like you as professionals like you are good on developing business proposals, feasibilities/ reports for projects etc.

Q2: I am a student of BS Town Planning Engineering from University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore. Please guide me what are the prospects of this degree in Pakistan or abroad and if I want to do an MS what would you suggest after this degree? (Farasat Shaheen-Okara)

Ans: Your current degree is very exceptional. I tell you that you should get job here or abroad especially Middle East. But if you try and do a top up with construction management; this will give you an advantage on other colleagues related to this subject area.

Q3: I am doing MBA with Banking and Finance. I will appreciate if you could please let me know if there are any short courses which are suitable for students like me to enhance my academic background. My masters will complete next year but I am very much upset in choosing how to start my career? (Zunair Shah, Lahore)

Ans: I think it would be better to do internship in a financial institution or bank and do this even if it’s without any salary. You will be able to gain practical experience by this which would be a lot more effective and valuable than a short course/certificate and you will have better job prospects.

Q4: Respected Mr Abidi, after results of my electronic engineering degree I am not sure what should I do an MS, MBA or what? Kindly let me know which one of these you suggest? Also let me know if I should go abroad for studies. If yes, please suggest any low cost country? (Naghman Farooq Qureshi, Karachi)

Ans: After going through your academic history, I think you have two options leading to an MS. Once you do your MS you should have some hands-on experience at least 2/3 years and then do an MBA. However, with your current academic profile my suggestion is that you do a PG degree in Mechatronics or Communication Engineering with specialisation in Wireless & Mobile Communication as a specialisation. These are emerging degrees and are in demand. In other words, these will be hot courses for many years to come and will have more prospects even in Pakistan or in a foreign country.

(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).