Q1: Dear sir, I am confused vis-à-vis which post-graduate degree programme I should prefer. I am a recent Business Graduate having BBA (Hons) degree with majors in Finance from SZABIST. I have been also awarded with six papers exemption in ACCA but the problem is saturation of ACCAs and BBA graduates in the current market of Pakistan. I request you to please guide me with your knowledge which degree programme related to finance or any other relevant field would be beneficial for me and also suggest that I should pursue MBA here in Pakistan or from abroad. Your guidance in this regard shall be highly appreciated. (Farhad Qaiser, Karachi)
Ans: Dear Farhad, having looked at your academic profile, the first option that you should consider is going abroad for a Master’s degree in Financial Risk Management or Finance and Investment. If funding is a barrier in education abroad I would suggest that you find a job either in a public or private sector organisation within the financial sector and related to your choice of specialism and work for a few years. This will provide you with an understanding of the major areas in accounting and finance and will let you help to choose a career going forward whether it is further education or continuing the job through professional and departmental courses etc.
Q2: Sir, I read the column in The News regarding career counselling and education. I have a strong academic background in Social Sciences with an MSc degree in Development Studies, MPhil in International Development Studies and MA in English Literature along with more than five years of experience, although it is spread across many organisations. I am currently awaiting results for the Fulbright Scholarship programme after passing the GRE exam with good scores. In case I am selected I will be going to the USA for a PhD next year.
Meanwhile, I am trying to grab an opportunity to get a job actively since I have been out of job for quite a while and I am also seeking advice for current and future direction of my career. Therefore, I am looking forward to meeting you whenever it is possible. Please find my resume attached for further details of my work experience and education. (Wajahat Raheem, Karachi)
Ans: Dear Mr Wajahat, I’m impressed to see your outstanding and successful academic career. I have also gone through your CV and I’m sure you will get a response from the organisation that you apply for. However, I’m not someone who can help you with a job as it is beyond our domain of services which mainly deal in providing guidance and career counselling and help in choosing the right profession. I would like to wish you all the best in your pursuit of the Fulbright scholarship and I’m hopeful that you will complete your research in the US with excellence.
Q3: Salam sir, I have done BA (Hons) four-year in Philosophy in 2015. My CGPA is average (2.73) after that I tried my luck in CSS in 2017 exam but I was dropped in English subjects later there is a gap of two years, then again in 2019, I had done a six-month computer course, a two-month import export course and a four-month Chinese basic language course from Punjab University. I need your opinion on some courses which I am going to mention you tell me is it ok to choose any one course of the following: Master in Human Resource Management, Masters in History or Pakistan Studies (because my education background is in Arts then I will do MPhil and PhD), MS in Project Management and lastly I am also thinking about Hotel Management course which have scope in Middle East and Europe. I would be obliged if you could please give your suggestion about the above-mentioned course or any other course which you suggest except MBA because I am not interested in Business. Sir please also tell me if I can do MPhil in any humanities subject like History / Political Science/ Sociology etc., after BA (Hons) in Philosophy. Lastly, please also advise what is the scope of MS in Criminology in Pakistan? (Altaf Jaffar, Lahore)
Ans: Dear Mr Jaffar, after going through your academic profile, there are a couple of options that you can consider within the social science sector: Human Resource Management is an emerging area and if you do well you may find career opportunities both in the industry as well as in teaching. A masters in Hotel Management is also a good option to top up your degree in philosophy and try to make a career in the hotel and tourism industry where social science, understanding of customer relation, public dealing etc., may help you progress well.
In my opinion, Project Management is not going to align well with your degree in Philosophy. This is why; I will not recommend this option. I wish you the best in your future plans going forward.
Q4: Sir, I have done MPhil (Statistics) and I need your help in selecting a job as I have been offered two jobs. One job as subject teacher (Statistics) in private college, and the other offered a government job as LDC. As I am too confused and tense about which job I should choose. Private job is related to my field and if I get in touch with my field I will be working in any university in the future but If I go for LDC job it is totally out of my way and the studies I have done will be wasted and I couldn't grow up/promote too early in government sector. My family members are pursuing me to join a government job as it is a permanent job and it has many benefits when we retire. One more thing, I have to join college from next week and the government job I have been offered is on the basis of late father quota. So I am confused about what I should do. (Hafiz Raheel Jassim, Rawalpindi)
Ans: Dear Hafiz Sahib, I agree with you that with your masters in Statistics doing a government job, at such a low tier, is not recommended at all. Since you have done an MPhil, taking up a more respectable profession in teaching is a better option. I am sure with a little bit of experience you would be able to apply elsewhere in the public sector and may get a job either through the Public Service Commission or direct/ ad hoc induction which I think would be a permanent job going forward. I wish you success in all your future endeavours.
(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).
