In My View

In 2003, a horror movie named Wrong Turn by Rob Schmidt was released in which a Medical student Chris was driving through the mountains of West Virginia. On his way to a job interview,due to a chemical spill in the road ahead, he was forced to take a different route. He tried to get back on the right track and asked help from an old man at a gas station, who was also new to that area. End result was that Chris crashed his Range Rover in the center of the road.

But the story doesn’t end here as in today’s newspaper I read the lines that Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, on Saturday, Feb 6, appointed Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa, who is a professional lawyer and advocate, as his Advisor on Information Technology.

Do they teach lawyers on how to Advise on IT?? Actually such “Apple among Oranges” situations are not new in Pakistan since Dr. Asim, who is professional medical doctor, was appointed adviser to PM for Petroleum & Natural Resources due to his old closeness with President Zardari.

Now the questions arise are:

1) Is PM only considering Mr. Latif Khosa’s sensibility with Pakistan?

2) Is this a new game of putting lawyers in Government’s pocket?

3) Don’t we have any professional IT gurus for the job?

4) Can a lawyer advise on IT at such platform?

Only time will answer the above questions.

“Goals provide the energy source that powers our lives. One of the best ways we can get the most from the energy we have is to FOCUS it. That is what goals can do for us; concentrate our energy”

Every student of BS-Telecom Engineering in Pakistan once dreamed about working for a reputable Telecom organization after passing out from four hectic years of University. Unfortunately Economy figures had to change and by the time they graduated, Multi-national doors were closed for them. Companies started freezing their Hiring process by making an excuse of GLOBAL RECESSION.

What is this RECESSION?? Well frankly there isn’t any accepted definition, however IMF regards “periods when global growth is less than 3% to be GLOBAL RECESSION”

Being professionals from Technical Backgrounds, let’s just simply understand it by saying

RECESSION = No rollouts + No Hiring

= No (rollouts + Hiring)

But still, we can’t say that there isn’t any job left for new-comers. Although finding one may be difficult but at the same time it’s not impossible.

Well I will try to highlight few points for young generation and I hope that it will help in finding a suitable role even in this difficult time of crises.

In my view, the most important thing is FOCUS, what we see depends mainly on what we look for because you become what you think about. You must not only aim right, but draw the bow with all your might. Mostly people think they are concentrating when they’re merely worrying

So let’s begin with our Options:

1st Option: Search JOB

a) Your CV: Start with your CV

If you are looking for a job, then it is very important that you understand how to offer yourself in the best way to an employer. This is done by writing a ‘CV’ (curriculum vitae - Latin for ‘life story’), called in some countries a ‘resume’. Well I’m sure you can find a lot of stuff on “How to write a CV’. So I am leaving this area for you to search yourself on internet. However for Technical CV tips and guides, refer to (http://technology.monster.co.uk/1210_EN-GB_p1.asp)

b) Timing: Start searching for your job at least 3 months before graduation.

c) Where to apply: Mostly people start finding HR professionals. I have been hired by many companies during my professional carrier and I want you to remember one sentence

“TECHNICAL PEOPLE are ALWAYS hired by TECHNICAL PEOPLE” So don’t find HR people, find Engineers.

d) FOCUS by Interest: First you need to realize that which area of telecom you are interested in, and then apply accordingly. For example if you want to apply for GSM technology, then in other words you want to apply in Telenor / Mobilink / Ufone / Warid / Zong / LCC / Aircom / Al-Catel / NSN / ZTE / Huawei / Consistel / Motorolla / Ericsson / Orange / Nortel / Myson / Realacom ….. etc

[For other Telecom companies in Pakistan, visit (http://www.mediafire.com/?znwgtn3qtl4) ]

Since Pakistan is a populated country with very few opportunities, try moving to MEA region. You may find the list of some of famous Telecom recruiters, who deals with MEA Telecom, at (http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=1c087c1836da42bd931c7453395df0250004ca859daf190482e3a934329c7a5e)

e) References: Finding Job is a game of finding References. You might have met people crying for having no references. In my view they are accepting their lack of ability to  socialize themselves among professional people. My word of advice for them is “STOP Complaining and START working on your professional social networking from today”

Some of the important means of developing professional network are

· Make connections through LinkedIn. No doubt its one of the strongest tool to get connected with professionals

· www.Zumbeel.net

· Several Technology related Yahoo / Google e-mail groups.

· Start building your network and find people from industry in your relatives, friends, your elder’s friends, people in your neighborhood, people in your family, cousin’s etc. It’s really not fair to say that you don’t know anyone in your city from industry. After all you have been living in your town for at least last 23 years. So there must be someone you might know who may be helpful in your job finding assignment.

f) Jobs where YOU can apply:

· Teaching jobs at university / professional institutes. It’s not necessary that you should only apply to those institutes who offer Telecom Engineering. Since mostly first 3 years courses of Electrical / Electronics / Telecom are almost same, so you can apply for other than Telecom institutes as well.

· Telecom sales Engineering jobs

· Networking jobs [Data communication]

· Administrative / customer care / marketing / IT positions in Telecom industry

· Professional Telecom writers for periodicals / Technical journalism / Blogging etc

· You might have noticed that mostly Electrical & Electronics engineers are working as Telecom Engr. Similarly you are also eligible for several positions of Electrical & Electronics.

· Software houses

· Web designing and development

2nd Option: Further Studies:

· Start doing Masters (MS) / MS leading to PhD in your own / other technical field of your interest.

· You can even switch your field to Management side and get an admission in an MBA course.

· Start doing Cisco Certifications (CCNA, CCNP etc), Microsoft courses, Juniper certifications

· Make your CV impressive by doing professional GSM / UMTS / WiMax / Fiber Optics courses

I truly believe that above-mentioned points will be helpful to all technical professional in their job search. Since a lot has been discussed, so let’s recap:

Recap: Remain Focused, AIM for the jobs where you want to work, analyze your options, start building your social network, put effort in the right direction with a positive attitude.

Lastly, it is only He (Allah) who makes ways for you and feed you from the beginning till the day you pass away. So trust in your God, ask for  help and give it all you got.

“Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground”

Good luck and Have a nice day.

In a time of bewilderment of next generation technology arising in Pakistan, the word on the street is that 3G license will be soon available for bidding and market  players, although knowing the fact that there isn’t much business in it, will be all going with the wind.

A time where the company who failed to satisfy its employees and treated them all like tissue papers; pull it – use it – throw it, it is ironic that its CEO was nominated for The Best CEO of the Year award.

An era where getting a job in Telecom industry for a new-comer has just become “A Dream with No reality”

This makes the whole game interesting and Im looking forward in writing it down.

In my blog, I will be expressing “My Views on News” and I truly believe / appreciate that Zumbeel is doing an excellent job by providing a floor for free expression of views.

I truly believe “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it”

Good day everyone

Urwah Masud