PREFACE
At every stage of transition in students academics, choosing a right path is like nightmare for both student and parents. Which field is best in the market, what career path my friends are selecting, what school/ college/ university should I select, what my parents want to become? Many of such question arises at this stage adding up to it, current global market trend of emergence of new fields and fading away old fields is very short span of time, selection of career path is now became a never ending puzzle.
Simple answer to this question lies is PLANNING. However planning your career goals one should be well aware of their interest, skills, ability, values and a clear picture of possible career options.
This handbook is the first step of my project ―Inspire the Learning Minds‖ towards career guidance, focused on
a) To inform readers about the basic step for identifying there interest, skills, ability and values to make right career choice b) To give readers an overall picture of fields and possible careers
I wish all my readers all the very best in choosing the right career path!!
Start of a career is the beginning of a new life; it could be very fruitful, you may find absolutely unexpected yet amazing opportunities. And it could be as frustrating as hell.
Sohail Merchant
SOHAIL MERCHANT’S WORKSHOP SERIES
WORKSHOPS: 1. Creativity & Innovation 2. Problem Solving & Decision Making 3. Examination Techniques 4. Interviewing Skills 5. Negotiation Skills 6. How to finance short term needs of your business 7. Presentation Skills 8. Improving Personal Effectiveness 9. Leadership traits
The above series of workshop has been design according to the needs and requirement of the market for the competent students.
For details Contact: Sohail Merchant Cell No. 03452622846
Let’s enlighten & enhance our Intellectual capabilities continuously From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
CAREER ASSESSMENT: FINDING YOUR SUCCESS
Finding the career that is perfect for you is not as easy or simple as most of us expect it to be. Some have to switch from one career to another in search of the profession of their choice.
A person can only perform his tasks well if he is good at the job, which means possessing the skills and natural inclination towards that job. The dilemma in Pakistan is that students are not provided any proper counseling which can help them in finding which career will be right for them. Most youngsters get enrolled into Medical and Engineering because their parents want them to enter the specific field and others get enrolled wherever they can. But, it is never too late to get on the right track and Assessment is the most important tool that can help in getting this done.
What Is Assessment? Assessment is the first step in anyone‘s professional career as one cannot lead a successful professional life without choosing the career path in reviewing his capabilities and skills.
Focus Areas: Assessment basically focuses on certain aspects which reveal a lot about the person‘s orientation in professional life. These aspects include: Goals: What you want from your professional life both in the long term and the short term. Interests: Interest and hobbies are important in selecting a professional field as you can work much better if you have an interest in what you are doing. Personal Traits: Your personality such as what you like, what motivates you, etc. are also important in determining what profession is good for you. Skills: During the course of education, the skills that one has acquired such as writing, computer programming, organizing, managing etc., help in choosing a specialized field.
Effective Steps for Assessment: By following some basic steps, you can carry out the much needed assessment. These steps are:
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Preparation: Preparation is the key to success in every sphere of life. Preparation includes having a list of your priorities, job choices, skills and other important factors that can affect your professional life and making a long term career plan as well.
Make A List: This will give you a general sphere of interest as you can highlight the jobs that you liked best. If you are a fresh graduate, you can make a list of the major subject, project completed, achievements and the internships you have done. Set Your Goal: Make a list of your short term and long term goals. The best way to go about it is to think of your long term goal and then make a list of the short term goals. Skills & Achievements: The next you need to focus on your additional skills and academic achievements which can help in a specific field or at any job in general. Screen & Select: Now, you need to evaluate the three lists made under these directions and see which skills match your choice. By a careful evaluation process you can narrow down the ideal career which is suitable according to your skills and your interests.
Remember, assessment can help you in finding the right career path.
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Important Aspects of a Career Shift
Many people realize that they have chosen the wrong career in their life and as soon as they are aware of their mistake, they want to change their career. A career change is not only a big change in your professional life; it also requires you to make some changes in your lifestyle to adjust to the new career. There are many people who are too scared to change their career paths and never try but there are also those who change the career but then revert back after a few months.
PLAN CAREFULLY AND METICULOUSLY: The most important aspect of a career change is to make sure that you are taking the right step. Of course there might be some reservations and fears but you need to be sure that you have done all that was possible to make it successful. Decide whether you want an entire career change or a minor career shift, or maybe you need to change the industry or sector you are currently working in. Further, you also need a kind of special training that you‘ll need to excel in that field etc.
DISCUSS YOUR PLANS WITH OTHERS: It always helps to talk to someone who has gone through a similar phase in his or her life and by sharing experiences you can learn a lot. Moreover you can learn from the mistakes they made and make sure that you avoid them when you make a career shift.
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT: One thing you need to know is that changing your career is not a simple task. You cannot change your entire career path every few years so it is important to make sure that you are choosing a career where your heart lies. Think about what you want from life, what you want to do in life and how you want your professional career to evolve. Finding an answer to all these questions will help you in making the right decision.
GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR NETWORK: Networking is one of the most important tools when you are looking for a job and especially when you have made a career shift. Over the years, we make many contacts working at different places and hence the bigger the network gets, the higher are the chances that you will get a job successfully. But make sure you don’t waste your all the hours and minutes spending on social network like facebook, twitter etc. Therefore, social networking can be good or bad, depending upon the way you use it.
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE: When you make a career change it is extremely important to see the long term effects of the move and evaluate how it will affect your professional/ personal life. Your career shift should help you in achieving your professional goals and evolve into a much better professional in the long run. Just looking to the short term benefits can hinder your growth and result in frustrations as well.
Remember, always learn about your life most important question; Your ‘C A R E E R ’
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Career in Accountancy
Accountancy profession in Pakistan and elsewhere is generally considered to be monotonous, time consuming as compared to other professions like Engineering, Arts etc.
Accountants are often projected as boring people with nothing to do except for talking in terms of numbers, facts and figures. This may however, be true in some circumstances, but may not hold true in totality. Accounting and finance are not one and the same thing. Book keeping is a different thing and financial analysis is another. When we talk about accounting, there are various levels of accounting, namely Operational Accounting which includes book keeping, day to day transaction tracking etc. Then we have Financial Management which is a higher level. In it, we learn about sources of funds, managing funds, manipulating funds and giving all stakeholders the maximum which could be earned out of their wealth. Investment accounting in itself is a whole world. Chartered Accountancy What are the areas which relate to accounting and you may study? The highest level of accounting degree in Pakistan is Chartered Accountancy or CA which has a combination of studies with four years of hands-on training in a Chartered Accountant firm. The Institute of Chartered Accountant of Pakistan is the governing body conducting its examination. Information may be obtained from their website at www.icap.org.pk. There are few chartered accountants in Pakistan not because it is difficult, but because of lack of awareness. People do not know about this profession, degree and the fact is that it is not as difficult as it is perceived to be.
Cost and Management Accountancy Then we come across cost and management accountancy or commonly called, CMA. The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan is the governing body conducting examination for this qualification. Their website is www.icmap.com.pk and all required information can be obtained from this website. The difference between this and CA is that CMA may be done without any mandatory training. You have to study, take exams and pass. Pass rates are generally lower and you may be surprised to know that there are more CAs in Pakistan than CMAs. Further, one year work experience is mandatory to have CMA qualification. In addition to it, final comprehensive examination based on two case studies is already in practice since 2006. Students are not able to get degree without passing comprehensive exam, being taken after passing all stages.
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
ACCA & CIMA Then we have two related foreign qualifications, namely ACCA and CIMA, both of UK origin. ACCA is a second tier degree in UK which stands for Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (website www.accaglobal.com). This is new for the Pakistani student and many students in general are moving to UK on the basis of getting admission in colleges of ACCA. This qualification can also be completed without any mandatory training, although ACCA requires at least three years post or pre- qualification work experience before awarding its membership. However, since it is an ‗internationally recognized qualification‘, students prefer to go for it. Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) or which is also termed as CMA of UK (equivalent to CMA of Pakistan). Very few students go for CIMA qualification. In UK CIMA qualification is more related to decision making and those who do this are considered to be part of management who will help the higher management in decision-making. Their core paper includes a case study and this type of exam is missing in the three abovementioned qualifications. (Website: www.cimaglobal.com)
Future Outlook for Accounting Career Employment jobs for accountants and auditors are expected to grow faster than all occupations in the coming years. The factors that will drive the growth of this career are, increasing businesses, securitization of companies finance, changing and new up-and- coming rules and regulation of financial sector.
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Master Degree Programmes
Towards the end of a bachelor's degree, a lot of students are confused as to enter the job market or continue studying for a higher degree.
A master's degree involves moving a step further into the realm of higher learning to enable you to be considered a true professional. Let talk about some of the important master degrees.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) The Master of Business Administration (MBA) Programme provides an intense and demanding experience. The programme aims at developing global business leaders -- individuals who can provide leadership at any level, in an increasingly global economy. As a general management programme the curriculum introduces students to the underlying disciplines of management, and provides graduates the flexibility to pursue successful careers in a variety of industries, and across geographical and functional boundaries Students work on many cases which develops in them the ability to make decisions in a broad range of ―real-world‖ situations. The case method encourages active learning and student participation. It develops a remarkable ability to analyze and apply theoretical frameworks, to debate and develop arguments, to think on one‘s feet, and to make decisions under uncertainty. Indeed, MBA graduates are known by their capacity for sustained hard work, for working under pressure and meeting deadlines, for excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and for teamwork; skills which are critical for managers in today‘s global economy.
Master of Banking and Finance (MBF) The area of banking and finance in Pakistan is currently facing unprecedented transformation towards modernization, liberalization, innovation and integration in the global financial environment. There is an increasing demand for highly specialized executives capable of understanding the rules and complexities that govern the financial sector. The Master of Banking and Finance (MBF) presents a unique opportunity to undertake specialized postgraduate studies in the areas of banking and finance. It develops advanced skills and knowledge required for today's banking and financial world. It provides extensive knowledge of financial institutions and markets and the participants can fully comprehend the complexity, uncertainty and risk in the market.
The successful graduates can look for lucrative careers in the public and private sectors, banks, insurance companies, leasing companies, public limited companies and
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
educational and training institutes. They can also secure promising careers in the fields of banking and finance as professional bankers, financial experts, and corporate executives.
Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) degree program is a practical and critical introduction to the philosophy, values, policies and practices of HRM. It provides 21st-century skills, knowledge, and understanding in private and public-sector organizational settings. Contemporary issues in human resource management such as workforce diversity, employee-management relations, recruitment and selection, training and career development, compensation, organizational development and change, and the impact of globalization on organizations are examined.
Student who graduate with a Master of Human Resource Management will be able to: Conduct effective human resource planning Describe the importance of internal and external organizational environments and the impact of their interrelationships on human resource functions Explain the processes of job analysis, staffing, appraisal and compensation, career training, and development Identify various performance appraisal systems and critically evaluate their pros and cons Develop effective written and oral communications consistent with the business and professional environment Apply appropriate information technology to analyze problems and issues, develop business research, report key data, and recommend management strategy and action plans Interpret and apply human resource principles in a global setting Describe the history of theories and concepts in human resource management and related fields and apply them in appropriate situations Evaluate ethical, social, civic, cultural, and political issues as they relate to the environment of human resource management In addition to this, there has been a realization that the true strength of an organization lies with its human resources. How well an organization is equipped with the tools and techniques of the art of hiring the best people, and developing and retaining them, determines which organization is going to lead the market. This has led to a tremendous demand for specialists in Human Resource Management who can help organizations achieve these objectives.
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Master in Marketing The Master of Science (MSc) in Marketing prepares candidates for a wide variety of careers in marketing management, such as brand management, product development, retailing, services marketing, business to business marketing and marketing for non- profit organizations. As part of the Marketing specialization, master students explore: Innovative practices in both manufacturing and service sectors and how firms can gain competitive advantage, market share and reduce cost E-commerce, e-business, and the optimization of technological structures as a strategic marketing tool Marketing strategies of international organizations and approaches to a new international market opportunities Customer-driven marketing strategies in emerging economies The connectivity between marketing communication and strategy, and criteria for using different promotional techniques and media in integrated marketing campaigns Crossing national borders in the business world, and the operational, legal and logistical problems that commonly occur
MS in Management MS in Management program is designed to provide leadership to make a difference in the fields of management-education, research and industry. During their studies, the students go through rigorous training and are exposed to the latest information, concepts, tools and techniques in business management research. They are required to use their best intellectual and scholastic abilities to earn the degree. This program is extremely valuable for the pursuit of higher degree programs such as PhD. Based on two-year duration, the studies in this program are relatively structured to ensure that students build on intellectual and broad based knowledge and skills. The students are required to undertake research work, leading to a thesis/dissertation on an approved topic under a supervisor of an acceptable academic standing.
MS in Computer Sciences MS degree with majors in Software Engineering, Computer Networks & Communication, Data Engineering & AI Systems, Agent Systems, e-Business, Multimedia & HCI Systems and Compiler Design & Construction. MSc develop knowledge and skills in programming using Java; topics relating to software design - principally how software is engineered, human computer interaction, and advanced programming techniques; a course on software architecture and hardware; a course on software systems For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
infrastructure which gives an introduction to operating systems, middleware, compilers and database systems; and finally an algorithmic course which covers the practical and theoretical aspects of data structures and algorithms. The MSc Computer Science degree is, by nature, a very intensive programme of study.
M.A. Economics Keeping in mind the changing economic environment and its growing integration with the global economy, this programme emphasis on emerging global issues like trade, technology, environment, natural resources, currency and finance, regulatory economics, information economics, which makes it unique and distinct from conventional. The programme provides sound theoretical background in the principles of Economics and equips students with analytical tools and techniques for understanding the evolution of the world economy. Apart from preparing students for advanced research work, the programme also aims at training students as professional economists for the government, non-government and the corporate sectors.
Master of Commerce (M.Com) The Master of Commerce in Business is a modern business degree that enables graduates to study units across a range of disciplinary areas. The degree provides an opportunity to acquire an interdisciplinary understanding of business with a concentration of business activity. The Master of Commerce in Business will provide a solid foundation for graduate careers in the challenging and rewarding world of business. To hold a quality Masters degree is a distinct advantage in the business world today. In business, graduates need many skills. While it is important to be proficient in a particular business discipline, such as finance, marketing, accounting or commercial law, it is also necessary to understand the interrelationships that exist among all core areas of business. Team work is a feature of modern business practice and the ability to understand and communicate with colleagues from other business disciplines is important. To equip graduates for modern business practices, the M.Com in Business promotes both depth and breadth in business studies through a program of self- selected core and elective units. Remember, Choosing to complete a Master’s degree is not a decision to be taken lightly. It is a major commitment of time and money with intensive work and research, but the end results will more than make up for it.
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Medical Degrees (M.B.B.S, B.D.S, D.H.M.S, B.Sc. in Nursing)
Bachelor of Medicine and bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) are the two degrees awarded upon graduation from medical colleges. The naming suggests that they are two separate degrees; however, in practice, they are usually treated as one. Those holding the M.B.B.S degree and practicing medicine are usually referred to as "Doctor" and use the prefix "Dr.‖ The degree is often used as the Commonwealth equivalent of what is known elsewhere as the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD). All medical colleges in Pakistan award the MBBS degree, which is given by the awarding university and accepted by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. The duration of the course for the degree is five years and a one year internship/house-job is required for those graduates who wish to practice in Pakistan. Graduates who wish to practice outside of Pakistan are not required to complete the one year house- job/internship. Many Medical Hospitals in Pakistan also offer Bachelor Programmes in Nursing and Physiotherapy and are normally called B.Sc. Nursing and B.Sc. Physiotherapy. Entrance into the medical colleges is purely on merit under the strict guidelines of PMDC. Both the academic performance at the college (high school, grades 11-12) level and an entrance test like MCAT are taken into consideration for the eligibility to enter a medical college. For MBBS and BDS at least 60% marks in Intermediate Science (Pre- Medical Group) or equivalence marks in A level or American High School or Equivalent examination. After completing house job, doctors have following job opportunities: Hospitals of Federal and Provincial governments Medical related departments and institutions Private hospitals and clinics Pharmaceutical companies Opportunities in Arab and African countries
Pharm. D degree or Pharmacy Due to limited number of medical colleges‘ seats in Pakistan, thousands of students every year failed to get admission, but admission in Medial college is not the only choice. If you are really interested in medical profession then many other career choices are waiting for you.
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Pharmacy is an applied branch of physical education. The world of medicine is very wide. It is not necessary that a student having M.B.B.S degree can only enter in this field. Pharmacy is as important field of medicine as M.B.B.S. It is the pharmacist who decides which medicine is useful to the patient among various medicines. Students having intermediate (pre-medical) are eligible for admission in Pharmacy course in Pakistan consists of four years.
Homeopathic Medicine Degree Homoeopathic Colleges in Pakistan aims to offer course that develops homoeopaths who possess knowledge and skills to enable them to practice with confidence and competence for the well being of their patient. A homoeopath must undertake four years of homoeopathic study and six months of clinical experience, to become a registered homoeopathic doctor. The DHMS (Diploma in Homeopathic Medical System) program requires basic knowledge on science and is open to all serious students, with Matric with science background. However, Preference will be given to students having intermediate or higher qualification with science. These students will be exempted from any of the Pre- medical courses of study.
The students of F.Sc (Pre-medical) are exempted from Physics, Chemistry and biology subjects. However, other students of DHMS have to appear in two additional subjects before qualifying for DHMS certification. i.e. Physics + Chemistry
Nursing Nursing is a respectable profession. For ailing and suffered people a nurse in white dress is like an angel. She consoles the patient with her soft chatting, smiles, and affectionate of eyes. She or he builds courage in him against the disease and live confidence and faith. How dangerous a disease is, she or he will, on the road to recovery, return home. Life will again become a kind, interesting and beautiful thing from him. Especially women have bright opportunities of career comparing other professions. Nursing profession provides great job opportunities abroad. Middle East countries offer tremendous job opening for women. Women can help their family to fulfill their financial needs by adopting this profession. Nature of work of nurses normally has to work in hospitals. The prime responsibility of a nurse is to look after the physical and mental health of her patient. E.R, Wards, I.C.U, C.C.U, N.I.C.U are work places for nurses.
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Nursing Training Courses in Pakistan In Pakistan, the four year nursing education and training course is conducting in nursing schools. There are many public and private nursing schools running in Pakistan where youths are trained in deferent fields. Most of the nursing school has a hostel. Since female students take keen interest in this profession and internationally it is specifically considered as female profession therefore approx. 90% of the institutions are for female in Pakistan. There are only a few male nursing schools. Further, their responsibilities include measuring blood pressure, heart beat, dressing and bandaging the wounds, massaging the patient‘s mussels, monitor the process of blood supply, remove pus from infected wounds, fixing drip, changing the bed sheet and patients dress etc.,. Nurse gets ready the patient for surgery. Nurses who work in the operation theatre, look after the arrangements of the operation so that surgeon face no difficulty during operation. Since there is an acute shortage of trained nurses in the country therefore diploma holder and registered nurse get the job very easily. Many nurses get diploma training from public and private nursing schools. These qualified and skilled nurses accept job offer from abroad especially from Middle Eastern Countries.
B.Sc. Nursing Duration: 4 years Eligibility: Intermediate or equivalent in pre-medical group Age: 17 to 30 years (Relaxable till 40 years in special cases) Diploma General Nursing (Diploma RN) Duration: 3 years Eligibility: Intermediate or equivalent in pre-medical group or Matriculation with 55% marks Age: 15 to 30 years (Relaxable till 40 years in special cases) Diploma in Midwifery Duration: 18 months for Pupil midwifery 1 year for post RN midwifery Eligibility: Matriculation with 45% marks RN diploma from any PNC recognized institute Age: 15 to 30 years (Relaxable till 40 years in special cases)
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Career in Mass Communication
Mass communication is getting popularity day by day. The way events are emerging round the world today, opportunities are increasing in this field. Print and electronic media offers tremendous career options in mass communication. The situation of has totally changed now. Increase in literacy rate, industrial development and advancement in technology have pleasantly affected the print and electronic media in Pakistan. More than sixty (approx.) news and entertainment television channels are broadcasting their Programmes today. The traditional miserable situations of news papers are totally changed. Remunerations of the working have increased approximately twenty times that of the pre partition time. More than 300 (approx.) newspapers have been given declaration. Those who have proper qualification i.e. master degree in journalism or mass communication from a recognized university prove more successful. On the job training further open window of opportunities. It is therefore a very attractive career choice for the youth. Hardworking and aspiration to get perfection in this field result a very successful career.
Universities who offered programs in Journalism and Mass Communication University of Karachi, Karachi Quaid-i-Azam University, Iqra University, Karachi Islamabad
Jinnah University, Karachi Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, Karachi Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi Nazeer Hussain University, Karachi Government College University University of Sindh, Jamshoro Faisalabad, Faisalabad
Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamia University, Bahawalpur Islamabad Minhaj University, Lahore Bahria University, Islamabad University of Central Punjab, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Lahore Sciences and Technology, Islamabad University of Education, Lahore Foundation University, Rawalpindi University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad International Islamic University, Islamabad University of Gujrat, Gujrat University of Lahore, Lahore
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
University of the Punjab, Lahore Shah Abdul Latif University, University of Sargodha, Sargodha Khairpur University of South Asia, Lahore Al-Khair University, AJK University of Peshawar, Peshawar Mohi-ud-Din Islamic University, AJK Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Quetta University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, AJK University of Balochistan, Quetta Those who want to choose mass communication as career must follow some guidelines includes:
The first obligation of a journalist is stick to ―the truth‖.
They must remain independent about what they cover.
They should exercise their personal conscience.
They should be independent monitor of power.
First loyalty is to the citizens.
Strive to make the significant interesting and relevant.
Must know the importance of Verification of events.
Keeping the news comprehensive and proportional is a key responsibility. Despite that, one should have the following qualities before choosing journalism as career:
Truthfulness and Strong character
Impartiality and unbiased
Well mannered and truthfulness
Alert and intelligent
Enthusiastic and fever
Confident and Responsible
Honest and sincere
Diligent and Courageous
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Career as a Lawyer
A legal system exists in every civilized society to safeguard people‘s rights, interest, and their life and property. To run the system successfully there needs people who can understand the laws, interpret and explain them to the common people.
Career as a lawyer has always been a respectful option in the civilized societies in the world. An advocate is one who speaks on behalf of another person, especially in a legal context. He is licensed to practice law, learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; Lawyer profession involves the practical application and knowledge of acts, rules, statutes and laws of the land to solve people‘s problems, or to advance the interests of those who hire lawyers to perform legal services. The role of the lawyer varies significantly across legal jurisdictions. In today‘s rapidly changing world progress and development have been made almost in every profession. It results creation of large number of opportunities for individuals. Legal profession has no exception. In the legal profession, lawyers have many options over the course of their careers. Besides private practice, they can always aspire to becoming a district attorney on division level, assistant district attorney on district level. Jobs for lawyers are offered as Advocate General in the High courts and as attorney General in the Supreme Court. Many other career opportunities for lawyers are also available in legal profession like public prosecutor, government counsel, corporate in-house counsel, administrative law judge, judge, arbitrator, law professor, or politician. There are also many non-legal jobs which legal training is good preparation for, such as corporate executive, government administrator, investment banker, entrepreneur, or journalist. A large organization offers jobs as legal advisor and lucrative remuneration is offered for the job. After one earns a law degree, career mobility may be severely constrained. The legal profession is not rigorously bifurcated and everyone within it can easily change roles and arenas.
Specialization in Law In many countries, lawyers are general practitioners who will take almost any kind of case that walks in the door. In others, there has been a tendency since the start of the 20th Century for lawyers to specialize early in their careers. In countries where specialization is prevalent, many lawyers specialize in representing one side in one particular area of the law.
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Lawyer’s Fee or Earning Lawyers are paid for their work in a variety of ways. In private practice, they may work for an hourly fee according to a billable hour structure, a contingency fee (usually in cases involving personal injury), or a lump sum payment if the matter is straightforward. Normally, most lawyers negotiate a written fee agreement up front and may require a non-refundable retainer in advance. In many countries there are fee-shifting arrangements by which the loser must pay the winner's fees and costs. Lawyers working directly on the payroll of governments, nonprofits, and corporations usually earn a regular annual salary. In many countries, lawyers can also volunteer their labor in the service of worthy causes through an arrangement called pro bono (for the common good).
Before adopting the legal profession, one thing must be kept in mind that earning don’t start from day one. But continuous and regular hardworking can make a lawyer a successful person. There are legal aid lawyers who specialize in providing legal services to the indigent; legal aid specialists are practically nonexistent.
How to enroll as a lawyer in a Bar Council/ How to become a lawyer Legal practitioners and Bar councils acts 1973 and Pakistan Legal Practitioners and Bar councils act 1976 are there for the registration/enrolment of lawyers and their qualification. Enrolment in the concerned Provincial Bar Council is imperative to practice as lawyer in the lower courts. After passing the examination of LL.B in Pakistan a person can get himself enrolled in the Bar Council. The enrolment as an advocate is subject to getting through the subjective type/ Multiple Choices of written Examination within a period of 2½ years in four attempts, completion of six months apprenticeship and passing the Viva Examination. The candidate will be supplied, at the time of submission of intimation, a book-let Containing questionnaire, against Examination fee.
The Questionnaire shall consist of the questions pertaining to the following subjects:- Civil Procedure Code Canons of Professional Conduct Criminal Procedure Code and Etiquette of Advocate as Limitation Act framed by the Pakistan Bar Constitution of the Islamic Republic Council. of Pakistan Court Fees Act, and suits Valuation Legal Practitioners and Bar Act; and Councils Act 1973 Qanoon-e-Shahadat
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Admission to the Bar Council A bar council is a professional body that regulates the profession of lawyers. In Pakistan, one becomes a member of the bar after fulfilling certain requirements. They must have a valid law degree from a recognized university, and they offer certain undertakings and pay the Bar Association fees. If a person does not hold an LL.M Degree in Pakistan then they must first complete six months pupilage with a practicing Advocate, whom they must have assisted on at least ten cases during their six-month pupilage period. A pupilage is the final stage of training to be a lawyer and usually lasts six months. At the end of the six months a pupil must get their senior advocate to sign a certificate confirming satisfactory completion and send it to the Bar Council. The pupil will then receive a Certificate after which he will be entitled practice as a lawyer and can write word advocate with his name.
Advocate High Court Advocate High Court is the second level, and is eligible to practice in the High Courts of Pakistan and below. A license is obtained after successful completion of two year's practice in the lower courts by application which is reviewed by a body of High Court Judges headed by the respective provincial Chief Justices and the relevant provincial Bar Council. Most applications after successful completion of the requirement are accepted.
Advocate Supreme Court Advocate Supreme Court is the third level. After successful completion of ten years practice at the High Courts by application to the Pakistan Bar Council and reviewed by a panel of Supreme Court Judges headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Over fifty percent of the numbers of applications after successful completion of the requirement are accepted. An unsuccessful application in one year does not bar the candidate from re-applying in the next judicial year.
Senior Advocate Supreme Court The highest level is the Senior Advocate Supreme Court. It is Pakistan's title equivalent to Queen's Counsel in the United Kingdom. After at least fifteen years of practice in the Supreme Court, Application for becoming a senior advocate Supreme Court may be submitted to a panel of Supreme Court Judges headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Very few applications are accepted and even fewer invitations are made. Attorney Generals are invited by the Supreme Court on appointment to the office.
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Universities / Colleges Offered LL.B Programme in Pakistan Following universities / colleges offered three years LL.B degree programme.
Sindh o Quaid-e-Azam Law College, o S. M. Law College, Karachi Lahore o o Islamia Law College, Karachi Hamayat Islam Law College, Lahore o Quaid-e-Azam Law College, o Nawabshah Lahore Law College, Lahore o o Mirpurkhas Law College, National Law College, Lahore Mirpurkhas o City Law College, Lahore
Islamabad Federal Capital o Pakistan College of Law, Lahore Territory o The Institute of Legal Studies, o International Islamic University, Lahore Faculty of Sharia' and Law, o Superior College of Law, Lahore Islamabad o Hamayat-e-Islam Degree College NWFP for Women, Lahore o Peshawar Law College, Peshawar o Quaid-e-Azam Law College, o Gomal Law College, Dera Ismail Okara
Khan o Ghousia Law College, Okara o Hazara School of Law, Mansehra o Al-Mizan Law College, Rawalpindi o Islamia Law College Peshawar o Rawalpindi Law College, o Frontier law College, Peshawar Rawalpindi
Punjab o Muslim Law College, Rawalpindi o National Institute of Legal Studies, o Punjab Law College, Rawalpindi Attock o Quaid-e-Azam Law College, o Muhammad Ali Jinnah Law Sargodha College, Gujranwala o Allama Iqbal Law College, Sialkot o Gujrat Law College, Gujrat o Muhammadan Law College, o Jinnah Law College, Jhelum Sheikhupura o Punjab Law College, Lahore o Lyallpur Law College, Faisalabad Remember, to get success in the legal profession all the god gifted abilities must be put into practice.
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Career in Central Superior Services (CSS)
You know when you enter in CSS center it is written on their signboard ‘You’re the Government’ The Central Superior Services of Pakistan (or commonly known as CSS) have become the key wheels on which the entire engine of the state has to move. Hence the leaders for these services are drawn through the competitive examination. The officers thus appointed are bestowed with solemn responsibilities and are scheduled to hold the highest offices of the country. Pakistan today needs young men and women, with qualities of both head and heart. To choose only such balanced individuals is the purpose of the civil services examination. So if you have intelligence, intellect, team-spirit, leadership qualities, commonsense, originality, communication skills and have a dynamic personality, then Civil Service is waiting for you. Join Civil Service of Pakistan through CSS examination. Federal Public Service Commission of Pakistan or FPSC (http://www.fpsc.gov.pk/) is the Competitive Examinations with full honesty. According to the estimates of FPSC a total of 8,000 – 10,000 candidates apply for an appearance in its annual Competitive Examination. On an average 5,000 – 6,000 actually appear and approximately 250-500 candidates qualify the written portion of CSS Examination. Out of these successful candidates a total of 100-150 (roughly 2% of the actual applicants) make it to this sacred corps of bureaucrats.
Currently CSS includes the following Occupational Groups. Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) District Management Group (DMG)
Income Tax Group (ITG) Customs and Excise Group (CEG) Foreign Service of Pakistan (FSP) Postal Group (PG) Commerce & Trade Group (CTG) Railways Group (RG)
Information Group (IG)
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Composition of CSS Competitive Examination Written Examination Medical Test Psychological Test; and Viva Voce
CSS Examination Rules The examination is conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission in accordance with the following Rules. Age-Limits: A candidate for admission to the examination must have attained the age of 21 years Age Relaxation: The upper age limit will be relaxed by two years up to the age of 30 years in respect of: The candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Buddhist Community In the case of in Service Government Servants the upper age limit is relaxable by two Years. Education: A candidate must hold at least a Second Class or Grade ―C‖ bachelor‘s degree in any faculty of one of the Pakistani Universities or an equivalent degree or comparable educational qualifications of a foreign University recognized by Higher Education Commission, Islamabad. Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of Pakistan or a person deriving his/her nationality from the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Medical Test: All candidates except disabled must be in good mental and bodily health and free from any physical defect
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Teaching Career
Teachers are architects of a country's destiny. The teacher enjoys a divining status in almost every religion. The profession of teaching, therefore, deserves the highest level of respect. Teachers have a very important role in Basic education and training to fulfill the growing needs of trained and skilled Labor force in every walk of life. With the passage of time, the teaching professions in Pakistan change its trend and importance. Today one has got tremendous opportunities if one chooses teaching as a career. Almost all the Governments of the world have to allocate more funds as it is now become a reality that the world of tomorrow will belong to those who has the wealth of education. This concept becomes the major reason of establishing numerous education institutions in the world. As long as educational institutions, universities, colleges and schools are establishing, the importance of the teachers will further be increased.
Teaching Opportunities in Pakistan There are ample opportunities for teachers in Pakistan. Constant promotion of education, growing interest of the governments and the establishments of private and public schools, colleges and universities have further enhanced opportunities in this field. Today one can adopt the field of teaching as a school teacher or a lecturer or professor in the colleges or universities. Teachers are offered very good salaries and allowances in the private sector institutions. Educational foundations have been set up in all the provinces to encourage and provide financial support to educated individual for setting up schools. Many new schools are established every year. Trained and qualified teachers will always be on demand in the coming days. Even a master degree holder in Pakistan Studies has attractive opportunities for lecturers in colleges and universities. Keeping in view of the future, there will be great demand of teachers who are sincere, hardworking, and interested in this career option.
Teaching Related professions and occupations After having completing different courses in teaching, teachers become eligible for direct appointment as school headmaster, instructor, supervisor, education officer, assistant director, deputy director, and so on. Teachers are given priority in job opportunities in the education department. In the public sector, teachers who have qualified PTC (Primary Teaching Certificate) are employed as teacher in BPS-7 in government schools, while those who have CT (Certificate of Teaching) are offered JST (Junior School Teachers) Job in BPS- 9. B.Ed. passed teachers is inducted as HST (Higher School Teachers) in BPS-15.
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
From the desk of SOHAIL MERCHANT
`
Headmasters and Subject Specialist teachers are offered jobs in grade 17 (BPS-17) in comprehensive schools. Additional allowances are also presented to them. Teachers who are employed as Eastern Education teachers, drawing teachers and physical training instructor offered grades 9 and 15 as per their qualification and training. Master degree holders have opportunities to get the job of a lecturer in the colleges and universities in BPS-17. Excellent opportunities are available in the private sector institutions, schools, colleges and universities.
Teaching Courses and degree programmes For B.Ed.: B.A (Pass) For M.Ed.: B.Ed. For M.A (Education): B.A (pass) with education
For complete and thorough coaching of Accounting and Business
Careers in Early Childhood Education (ECE)
Rehana Jaffer – AKU-IED This article will quickly take you through educational path for a career in ECE, certification and diploma courses that are of great help to grow in this field, emerging careers in the domain of ECE and lots more. Introduction: The field of early child development is exciting and offers great scope in a range of career options. This article on careers in early childhood education is the first in a series of articles around careers in this exciting field. In this article, I provide an overview of early brain development. Next, I outline the educational pathways in early childhood education. Thereafter, I provide information related to educational institutions in Pakistan which offer programmes related to early childhood education. This article also sheds light upon professional certification courses one can opt for, to enhance one‘s existing knowledge base and skills required to sail through in the field of early childhood education.
Early Human Brain Development and Early Childhood Education: Recent neuroscience research has changed the way in which we think about early human brain development. This new information shows that brain development in the first three years of human life is more rapid than later and is influenced by everyday experiences such as nutrition, a healthy physical environment and positive social interaction (Centre on the Developing Child Harvard University, 2007). Brain development begins soon after conception and continues after birth into adulthood. For children to reach their full potential, it is important to support the healthy development of their brain through positive, nurturing early environments. This helps to build a strong foundation on which children can lead healthy and productive lives throughout their lifespan (Centre on the Developing Child Harvard University, 2007). Experiences in the home environment are important for children in the first three years of life. Thereafter, children 3 to 6 years old can benefit greatly through participating in appropriate, organized early childhood education programmes in their communities (The Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Development, 2008). With increased global attention towards the provision of quality early childhood education programmes, this area is leading to enormous growth in early childhood education related careers. This is particularly so in the context of Pakistan where policy commitments at the Government level are leading to growing early childhood education related initiatives, including the introduction of the Pakistan National Curriculum for Early Childhood Education (Ministry of Education, 2007).
Early Childhood Education – a viable career option: Many young individuals consider education and specifically teaching at the early childhood level not to be a viable career choice. However, the game-changing element contributing to transform the mind-set is that people are now more aware of the fact that expanding access to high quality early childhood education is among the wisest investments that we can make. Research has shown that the early years in a child‘s life—when the human brain is forming—represent a critically important window of opportunity to develop a child‘s full potential and shape key academic, social, and cognitive skills that determine a child‘s success in school and in life. Such discoveries are gradually transforming the image of the field of early childhood education as a desirable and rewarding profession in which to be. Before thinking about early childhood education as a choice of career for yourself, you may ponder on the following questions which might enable you to decide if this field fits your persona perfectly. 1. Do you love children and understand them? 2. Are you patient enough to deal with their questions and capable of facilitating them through the process of learning?
3. Are you creative, optimistic, expressive, energetic, and a good listener? 4. Are you able to communicate simply and effectively? 5. Do you believe children should be appreciated and encouraged to explore and that their success in accomplishing small tasks is worth celebrating? If the answer to some of these questions is yes then early childhood education is likely to turn out to be a wise choice for your career aspirations. Hence, I would begin this article with a note for young generation; if you are interested to get involved in influencing young lives and crafting the future generation then this is the career option for you.
Various Career Options in Early Childhood Education: I am sure you must be wondering about the available careers options in this field especially for men as in our society, it is widely assumed that early childhood education and development is a field for females only. On the contrary, there are a number of male early childhood teachers in schools in Pakistan, especially, particularly in rural contexts. In Pakistan, a diverse range of careers can be pursued in the field of early childhood education such as child care workers, teachers, teacher educators, academic coordinators, head teachers, health professionals, psychologists, parent educators, and community mobilizers to name a few. Internationally, there are also emerging careers in early childhood education such as child care administrator/director, children‘s museum project coordinator, playground aide, preschool teacher, elementary school teacher, family child care home owner, home visitor, family services worker, disabilities specialist, nutritionist, human resources specialist, social services coordinator, parent educator, resource and referral specialist, community care licensing analyst, etc.
Academic Route: At the beginning, you need to be sure which stream you desire to take. If you are planning to choose academia as a career option, you can take the following academic route followed by other specialized diplomas and certifications in early childhood education.
•Bachelors of Arts (BA) in Education •Bachelors of Science (BS) in Social Science Bachelor's
•Master of Arts (MA) -as per your interest •Master of Science (MS) -Psychology or Education Master's
•Doctorate of Philosophy -In any specific area of interest (e.g. literacy development, policy studies or curriculum development Ph.D.
For academic studies, the following universities in Pakistan recognized by Higher Education Commission (HEC) can be considered: University of Karachi, Karachi; University of Punjab, Lahore; Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad; Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute for Science and Technology, Karachi. Many other universities in Pakistan offering bachelors and master‘s degree programmes in education based on your interest can be found on the internet. You must check the eligibility criteria, financial and other important requirements. Each university has its own admission criteria. Therefore, when you are in your intermediate or A-levels, keep an eye on the admission criteria of the courses you wish to take and the university you intend to join. It is important to be mindful of the admission dates. As far as I have explored, University of Punjab is the only University in Pakistan currently offering a Masters of Arts in Early Childhood Education. However, you can always consider the option of Masters of Education degree and specialize in ECE.
Certifications and Diploma Courses: You can opt for a professional route to enter into the field of early childhood education once you have completed your undergraduate studies. You can either acquire a certificate or pursue a diploma programme in early childhood education from a recognized institution. American Montessori Institute and London Montessori Institute, for example, are two of the famous institutions across Pakistan offering a diploma programme in Montessori Education. The Teacher Resource Centre in Pakistan offers a recognized ECE-CP (Early Childhood Education Certificate Programme). The Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development, Pakistan offers a recognized Advanced Diploma in Education Programme as well as Continuing Professional Education courses in Early Childhood Education and Development. The Aga Khan University Human Development Programme also offers a recognized Advanced Diploma in Human Development (Early Child Development). Such certificate and diploma programmes can provide you a strong basis to start a career in Early Childhood Education.
Other Degree Programmes: Another possible route for a promising career in ECE can be through acquiring a Bachelors of Education (B.Ed.) followed by Masters of Education (M.Ed.). You can opt for these degree programmes after completing your B.A. or B.Sc. Listed below are some of the universities and institutes in Pakistan offering B.Ed., M.Ed. and Ph.D. programmes.
Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (M.Ed. and Ph.D.); University of Karachi ; Notre Dame Institute of Education; Hamdard University; Karakoram International University; Indus University;
University of Punjab.
If you want to pursue a health related career linked to children‘s health in early childhood education, your career path would be different. To become a health professional, you could pursue an MBBS (Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery) or a BScN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing). This training could be used for work as a paediatrician, a health community mobilizer or a school health nurse.
Professional Networks: I would also suggest you to explore private networks/groups of early childhood education professionals who organize various professional development workshops and trainings. The Early Years Learning Association (EYLA) under the Professional Teacher Associations Network (PTAN) is one platform where you can get exposure to experiential learning of relevant knowledge and skills as well as network and exchange valuable information and experiences with professionals in the same field.
Conclusion: With a professional degree and some experience in early childhood education, you can then decide as to which specific area you would be inclined to work. A common myth is that a career in early childhood education is associated with teaching young children. However, there is a lot more to do and to explore in this field. My case is one such example. A few years ago when I had shared my career plans with my family and friends, I was cautioned that I would only end up as a classroom practitioner with no professional growth because of limited opportunities in this field and that I should rethink my career plans. After few years of training and work experience, now the same family and friends proudly say that I made a wise and perhaps the best decision about my career. Today, I am an early childhood education teacher educator and I am extremely proud of this career choice which I have made. Moreover, rapid advancements in the knowledge base of early childhood education further excite me to learn more about it. So once you tap into this field, you have diverse opportunities to explore different parts to ultimately select a specific area upon which to concentrate and specialize. Above all, a career in early childhood education can give you a chance to shape the lives of people, helping them to grow into good and responsible human beings from a young age which is one of the most satisfying outcomes one can get.
‘Telecommunication Engineering - An Emerging Career'
By Asif Rajan – Qatar Luxury Group This article will quickly take you through educational path for a career in Telecommunication engineering followed by some information on the scope of the filed in Pakistan and some important advises for aspiring engineers. Introduction: Before having a closer look at career prospects of telecommunications, it is imperative to have a comprehensive know-how of what telecommunications engineering actually is. Telecommunications engineering is defined as ―The science and technology of sending and receiving information such as sound, visual images, or computer data over long distances through the use of electrical, radio, or light signals, using electronic devices to encode the information as signals and to decode the signals as information”. Additionally, when we talk about the general responsibilities of a telecommunications engineer, we find out that a telecommunications engineer is responsible for designing and overseeing the installation of telecommunications equipment and facilities, such as complex electronic switching systems, copper wire telephone facilities, and fiber optics. However, since the onslaught of cellular phones, telecommunications engineering has become a synonym for mobile communications or cellular communications.
For the past few years, telecommunications engineering has become the most sought after degree. Midway into the first decade of the new millennium, none of the universities in Pakistan were offering a degree in telecommunications engineering. Students who wanted to pursue a career in telecommunications had to take Electronic Engineering as their majors. It was only by the end of 2010 that universities started offering Bachelor‘s and Master‘s degrees in this field – and today it‘s the most populated department in each university regardless of the stature and standard of the institution. In this article, with the help of most commonly asked questions, information on careers in various sub-fields and different study routes to pursue a career in different sub-fields that fall under the domain of telecommunications engineering, names of some good universities in Pakistan that offer the study options in this field.
Which specialized fields telecommunications engineering comprises of? Below is a very basic chart showing possible career options within the umbrella telecommunications engineering, along with short definitions of four major sub-fields that will give you an overview of what these fields have to offer you. Telecommunications Engineering
Cellular and Computer Fiber Optics and Sattelite Wireless Networks Optical Media Communication Communication
Network RF Engineering IP Networks Management
Voice over Internet Security Protocol
Computer Networks: Study involving the development and maintenance of a computer network (or data network) which is a telecommunications network that allows computers to exchange data, and the different mediums used to connect them together, including cable media or wireless media. Cellular and Wireless Communication: It is the branch of engineering which addresses the design, application, and research of wireless communication systems and technologies. Fiber Optics and Optical Media: The study of optical fibers is called fiber optics – which is part of applied science and engineering. Optical fibers are mainly used in telecommunications, but they are also used for lighting, sensors, toys, and special cameras for seeing inside small spaces. Satellite Communication: An engineering discipline focusing on communications between earth communication stations and space-based communication satellites. The discipline involves designing communication satellites, communicating with satellites, commanding satellites, testing the performance of satellites, designing and building earth stations, sizing antennas and amplifiers for satellite communications, and monitoring, repairing and installing satellite communication equipment.
Educational routes that can be pursued to become a telecommunications engineer As far as professional studies are concerned, there can be different tracks which can be followed, as discussed below: Generally, sixteen years of formal education are required to get a Bachelor of Engineering degree. This can be followed by a Master‘s degree leading to a Doctorate (Ph.D.). Notably, a Ph.D. is acquired to pursue a career in academics and research. For core telecommunications engineering, one can pursue either of the following tracks:
Option 1:
Option 2:
Option 3: A third option could be a mix of networks and computers. This side of telecommunications will be less related to mobile communications and more towards computer networks, internet, and voice over Internet Protocol (IP), which is more like Skype and Viber, and Security and IP networks. This is an extremely vital field under telecommunications engineering keeping in mind the latest advancements in technology and the introduction of 3G and 4G Networks. With these new advancements, the core of every service providing company is based on IP. For example, in Pakistan, all the mobile operators are now ready to introduce the long-awaited 3G network because they have migrated to the IP Network. Where to study? Almost all the engineering universities based in Pakistan provide telecommunications, electronics or computer engineering degree programmes at the bachelor‘s and master‘s level. The most notable ones are listed (alphabetically) below:
Bahria University; Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology; National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES – FAST); National University of Science and Technology; NED University of Engineering and Technology; Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology; and
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology. Also, there are several institutions in Pakistan which offer short courses – especially with respect to Computer Networks. These include the study of basic networking concepts, and further lead to some important career level certifications like Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA – for further reading on this, please refer here). These courses can be good options for students who are interested in opting for telecommunications as their career choice – especially during the period after intermediate / A-level exams and at the beginning of undergraduate education. C.T.T.C. Cisco Academy in Karachi can be considered a recommendable place for these short courses.
What to expect after academics - The Real World? During the early 2000‘s, telecommunications was a very ‗in-demand‘ and lucrative area of work with plenty of job opportunities. This was the time when cellular service providers were launching in Pakistan. Unfortunately, the field has become somewhat stagnant now. As per my experience of being in telecommunications industry for 4 years, I have observed that the growth has become slower with no significant development in technology, as Pakistan telecom is still based on Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and 2.5G architecture, the job options for core telecommunications engineering have comparatively reduced in Pakistan. However, plenty of lucrative and interesting opportunities are available internationally as there is constant development and progress abroad. Also, with the Government of Pakistan is now determined to launch the 3G Network in Pakistan, I am positive that there will be more opportunities in the near future. One important thing to keep in mind is that due to the nature of this industry where customers are the priority, the jobs in this sector are very hectic and more often stretch to long working hours – particularly when all maintenance activities are done in the later hours of the night when services are usually shutdown. This is done in order to avoid outages during the day. Also, for this particular reason, this field is more popular among males, especially in Pakistan as our culture stands more conservative towards females when it comes to staying at work till late. Nevertheless, females who are adaptable to the working environment of telecommunications companies have prospered as telecommunications engineers. Hence, females who are passionate about telecommunications and intend to opt for this field must be cognizant of the possible challenges it poses and should be prepared for them. A typical job opportunity for a telecommunications engineer would be in one of the cellular and internet service providing companies like Mobilink, Telenor, Wateen, Cybernet, and others. The job responsibilities would mostly comprise of operations and maintenance with routine day to day tasks. These companies usually offer a three months internship programme for fresh graduates. Priority is given to students graduating from highly-ranked universities with good academic results. Another option could be to work with one of the vendors such as NSN (Nokia Siemens Network), Motorola, Ericsson, Relacom, and others. These companies actually implement the technology whereas once the technology and devices are installed, the service providers manage the operations and maintenance as discussed above. If one gets into the computer and IP networks, then there are companies like Arwentech and Kalsoft that deploy network and computer infrastructure for enterprises that can be considered as potential employers. They are usually partners with companies like Cisco, Microsoft, and Juniper.
An important advice: I would advice students who would like to pursue a career in telecommunications or related technologies that, in order to fully understand technology and associated underlying concepts, it is very essential that your basics in Mathematics and Physics are very strong. Please do not take the Mathematics and Physics taught in the Matriculation / O Level and Intermediate / A Level lightly. These subjects can make or break your career if you plan to advance in Engineering.
Careers in Information Technology
By: Karim Wallani- Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan This article will quickly take you through educational path for a career in IT, supplementary skills that are a must for an IT professional to grow and how an IT professional can be useful in number of different fields that may not be relevant to IT, interesting isn’t it? Introduction We live in a technology-driven society; one should not think that having a successful career in IT is easy, for, like anything in life, having a successful career requires planning, hard work, and dedication. In this article, I will outline a typical path many young adults follow in order to enter the IT field. This will be followed by a look at some of the major areas of specialization in IT. Finally, we will examine the skills which are currently in demand in the IT industry and which, according to research and personal experience, are likely to be in demand for quite some time.
Educational Path The first step in going towards a career in IT normally involves choosing Pre- Engineering at the Intermediate level or opting for A-level. This is typically followed by acquiring a technical degree at the undergraduate/bachelor‘s level, usually in Computer Science (CS) or Computer Engineering (CE) from a university. If you‘re not certain about the difference between CS and CE, it may be helpful to think about the following: of the three major divisions in computing, namely theory, software, and hardware, in general, one can say that theory goes with CS, hardware goes with CE, and software goes with both, but mainly with CS. Before entering an undergraduate programme or even while enrolled in one, some students choose to take specialized technical courses from institutions like Aptech to get acquainted with the field. While this is one option, readers should be aware that there are plenty of free online resources as well for this purpose. Websites like W3Schools, Coursera, edX, and Khan Academy offer a lot of free material to brush up on technology basics and even advanced concepts. After undergraduate studies, the path diverges, depending on where you see yourself. You should ponder over the following question: Do you want to go for a Master‘s in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or another related discipline directly, or do you want to work for a few years, gain some experience and then opt for the degree programme that would expand your professional domain? It really depends on you. However, I have found that most potential employers tend to prefer candidates who have some work experience between undergraduate and postgraduate studies. It is also worth mentioning here that there has been a huge rise in multidisciplinary jobs; that is, jobs which are not purely technical and, therefore, require people who may have their undergraduate degrees in technology, but who have non-technical credentials as well. One such example would be the field of Educational Technology. In this field, a technical degree at the undergraduate level certainly helps, but it is also important to have knowledge of pedagogy (that is, the method and practice of teaching), which one may acquire via a Master‘s degree in Education (M.Ed.) or, more specifically, a Master‘s degree in Educational Technology. Another example of such a multidisciplinary field would be IT management. This is a field which students with technical undergraduate degrees, who are more interested in the management side of things, can pursue after doing a Master‘s in Business Administration (MBA), with perhaps a specialization in Management Information Systems (MIS). After acquiring your Master‘s degree, if you see yourself undertaking cutting-edge research, then going for a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) followed by a post-doctoral fellowship may be the right course of action for you. Otherwise, a Master‘s degree from a reputable institution, in and of itself, will open up a lot of doors. The following are some Pakistani universities (listed alphabetically) which offer quality technical degree programmes: Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering and Technology, Swabi; Institute of Business Administration, Centre of Computer Studies, Karachi; Lahore University of Management Science, Lahore; National University of Computer and Emerging Science, Karachi / Lahore / Islamabad; Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology Karachi; Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi; University of Karachi, Karachi. Besides getting into a quality technical degree programme, another important consideration is funding one‘s education, which, as many readers would know, is getting more and more costly. To ease the burden on their family, students should be on the lookout for multiple scholarship opportunities, which may be need-based or merit-based, at least two years before entering into any sort of a degree programme.
Areas of Specialization With a quality education under your belt, you will want to decide on an area of specialization in which you would like to work. The following are some examples of technical specializations where young graduates can work, along with simplified job descriptions of each area: Business Analysis – A business analyst caters to organizational information problems and requirements by analyzing requirements, designing computer programmes and recommending system controls and protocols. Database Administration – A database administrator maintains databases by identifying database requirements and recommending solutions and supporting users. End User Support – An individual involved in end user support provides technical support to users by researching and answering questions, troubleshooting problems and maintaining the performance of workstations and the Local Area Network (LAN). Network Administration – A network administrator maintains the computing environment by identifying network requirements, installing upgrades and monitoring network performance.
Network Architecture/Engineering – A network architect establishes and maintains network performance by building net configurations and connections and troubleshooting network problems. Software Development – A software developer develops information systems by designing, developing and installing software solutions. Systems Analysis – A systems analyst implements computer system requirements by defining and analyzing system problems and designing and testing standards and solutions. Systems Architecture/Engineering – A systems architect is involved with both the hardware and software design of a system and often has the role of effectively integrating these two important components. Technician – A technician identifies and resolves hardware and software issues that cannot be resolved remotely (for example, via telephone or email). A technician is also responsible for the repair, maintenance, and tracking of client equipment. Web Development – A web developer creates user information solutions by developing, implementing and maintaining Internet/Intranet applications. Besides these technical specializations, IT graduates can also specialize in a number of multidisciplinary fields including Educational Technology and IT management, which were described earlier.
In-Demand Skills A recent technology article listed the following skills as the most sought-after in the IT industry in the year 2013: HTML5 and CSS – The Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is what web pages are written in, and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) control the look of web pages. HTML5 is the latest revision of the HTML standard. Mobile App Development for iOS – The iPhone and the iPad are examples of highly popular mobile devices by Apple Inc. The devices run the iOS operating system. PHP Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) and MySQL – PHP is primarily a server- side scripting language designed for web development, and MySQL is an open source relational database management system. Java/J2EE – J2EE (Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition) is a Java programming language platform designed for the mainframe-scale computing typical of large enterprises.
JavaScript and Related Technologies – JavaScript is a programming language which makes things interactive on the web. Related technologies include the JavaScript framework jQuery and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) data interchange standard. IT Project Management – This is not really a technical profession. However, without a certified IT project manager, to see a project through to completion, projects may get delayed or go over budget. Cloud Computing – Cloud computing refers to the use of computing resources (hardware and software) which are available in a remote location and accessible over a network. While these are relatively advanced skills that new-comers to the IT industry do not typically have, and while it is not strictly necessary to have these skills, those who have them will be well-prepared for the IT industry for several years to come. Also, these skills don‘t really require a formal degree and can be acquired through certifications or diplomas – although a degree is always preferred by potential employers.
Emerging Careers in Physics and Astrophysics
By: Zain Rahim- Pakistan’s National Space Agency (SUPARCO) This article will expound on what the field of Astrophysics has to offer to all those who have been curious about our enormous and mysterious universe. It mainly discusses sub-fields of Physics leading to an eventful career in Astronomy along with educational and skill requirement for a successful career in this field. It also briefly discusses about continual education options and job prospects. ‗Physics is BORING and DRY!‘ is what we mostly hear from young students deciding on their career path. However, in reality, those who call it ‗boring and dry‘ haven‘t actually ever tasted the genuine flavor of it. Humans have developed languages to understand each other. Similarly, Physics serves as a language between humans and nature. People who are already in this field should consider themselves fortunate as they can decode the language that nature speaks. We may come across various questions like ―Why the sky is blue?‖, ―Why the sun shines?‖, ―Why don‘t we hear explosions occurring on the sun?‖ and ―Why do stars twinkle or what are shooting stars?‖, but physicists already know answers to these questions. There are many other astonishing phenomena which a common man rarely ponders over during his life, whereas physicists certainly know about them. While there are many fields within physics, Astronomy/Astrophysics is the oldest and most startling of all sciences.
However, if you are very passionate about learning astronomy inside out, you should preferably opt for a formal education and career. Before deciding, you must question if your love for astronomy is just that of an amateur or are you willing to delve into its rigorous study? If your brain desires more than just playing with the telescope, skimming through blogs, reading books or research journals and surfing the internet, then you should be ready for an eventful career ahead of you. Acquiring a Master‘s degree (16 years of formal education) in Physics is mandatory to have a career either in Astrophysics or purely in Physics. After graduation, many students return to school for courses in emerging technology or research methodologies. Few work at observatories, research labs, and research and development departments of different companies where they get to apply the laws and theories learnt during their course of study, while others utilize their talents in the classrooms of academic institutes. While employed at a university, if a PhD degree is earned, one may then qualify to become a faculty member at an educational institute and continue researching as well. Below is the study route for pursuing a career in academia.
MPhil in Physics/Ast PhD + Even M.Sc in PhD in rophysics- PhD + more Physics/Ast Physics/Ast PhD + More B.Sc in Sr. Experience experience rophysics rophysics- experience Physics Instructor/L -Associate -Director/ Assistant -Professor Research ecturer – Professor Department Professor Assistant Research Chair Associate
In addition, sub-fields and specializations in Physics that promise a bright career in Astrophysics are as follows: Nuclear Physics; Atomic and Molecular Physics; Condensed Matter Physics; Optics or Acoustics;
Space or Plasma Physics; and Particle Physics. For a career as a researcher or scientist, you can get affiliated with existing institutes like our country‘s National Space Agency (SUPARCO). Such agencies have specific eligibility requirements that one must meet. For a successful career in academia or research, acquiring a PhD degree is imperative. Moreover, to be an astronomer or astrophysicist, a strong background in Physics and Mathematics is a must. For most physicists, however, the minimum degree requirement is the Master's degree. Computer programming is the second most needed ability for astronomers at present. Today, astronomers spend most of their time in front of their computers playing with data that they usually receive through techno-smart telescopes instead of manually obtaining it themselves. Computer languages like IDL and Python are imperative to learn, along with having an exposure to the Linux Operating System. In Pakistan, almost all the universities having Physical Sciences Departments offer graduate studies in Physics. Some such renowned universities include:
University of Punjab, Lahore; University of Karachi, Karachi; University of Sindh, Jamshoro; and Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad.
After your Master‘s degree, you can continue your studies towards a PhD with your department or join an institute offering a course that fits perfectly with your interest. For example, you can join the Institute of Space and Planetary Astrophysics (ISPA) for an MS or PhD programme in Astrophysics; or Quaid-e-Azam University for MPhil or PhD in Astro-Particle Physics, since it is considered to be the best institution for Astrophysics in Pakistan by most of the experts of that field. Notably, the Institute of Space and Technology (IST) also offers undergraduate programmes in Space Physics and their courses are mainly inclined towards engineering and space technology. For those interested in the engineering side of this field, IST may be the preferred option. Furthermore, many international scholarship opportunities are offered by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for PhD programmes. For those looking for a PhD in Astrophysics, the most important and worthwhile learning opportunity offered is ―Astromundus‖. Astromundus is a two-year Erasmus Mundus Master‘s course in Astronomy and Astrophysics. It is offered by a consortium of five partner universities from four different European countries. Nonetheless, there are many other scholarship opportunities that are announced throughout the year that you can benefit from. For subjects like Physics and Astrophysics, you not only need passion for learning, but also endurance and hard work, which are the basic ingredients for success. This profession holds great surprises coupled with challenges leading to an exciting and exuberant career.