Career counselling: answers and questions

Q1). Sir, I have done MSc in Biotechnology, but I am jobless since one year and couldn't get the job in my field. Now I want to change my field and do masters in another field. Please guide me which field is right for me, or what will be the other options? (Ramsha Khan- Karachi)

Ans: The best approach will be to find an internship (unpaid) within your related area of expertise. There are huge companies and hospitals that will engage people either free of cost, or with a small stipend. This way you will be able to interact and engage with people in your subject area and these connections will result in finding a job opportunity.

Q2). Because of my job I am in Saudi Arabia with my family and I want to take your advice for my children. Here in Saudi Arabia there are three types of education systems i.e. American, Cambridge and Pakistani. I want to take your guidance and know whether American or Cambridge will be better for my kids as in future they will take professional education in Pakistan like medical or engineering etc. Secondly what is the difference between American and Cambridge System of schooling? (Zahid Munawar- Saudi Arabia)

Ans: If any of your children is looking to do a medicine that too in Pakistan then never let them follow American, or British system of education. I am sure the federal board examinations are available in KSA. The American education is based on theoretical and broader aspects of study by virtue of gaining credits and credit points, which ultimately calculate to your achieving the IB certification. This equates to the 12th grade and lets your child enter a four-year degree in the US. The British GCSE O and A Levels is an academic based system where grades are awarded through examinations with no contribution of class work, attendance or homework. The A-Level equates to 13 years of education and enable students to start a three -year honours at a British school or into the second year of a four-year honours in the US.

Q3: I am Shahbaz from Karachi. I am doing BE Electronics from Mehran University and currently in last semester. I want to know what should I do further after my bachelors. (Shahbaz Zafar- Karachi)

Ans: I will suggest you to look at the two specialism that will help you connect your bachelors in electronics to some wider specialism. These will include MSc embedded systems and design, MSc industrial electronics, MSc control systems and design, etc. All these degrees may be available in Pakistan and abroad.

Q4: I have done MSc Psychology and working as social organiser in the National Maternal Newborn and Child Health Programme, Health Department, since 2008. Now I want to do PhD in sociology/psychology as part time. Guide me in which university I can take admission and either it will be beneficial for me or not. (Muhammad Iqbal- Lahore)

Ans: If you wish to remain close to education then I will suggest you to select a research area within education of psychology that can be child psychology, or psychotherapy in career counselling, etc. That will open up better prospects for you as an academic in Pakistan and an area in huge demand.