LAHORE: Career Fair 2013 at the Government College University (GCU) Lahore on Thursday received an enthusiastic response as thousands of university graduates and final year students flocked to the fair to explore employment opportunities in reputed international and national organisations, besides seeking information about the available foreign scholarships.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Never put all your eggs in one basket!
The secret of keeping your hopes alive during a job search is to always have alternatives. Never keep all your efforts and hopes focused on few approaches.
There are twelve alternative ways of looking for work. They are:
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
GSK organises Orange Day
Following is a good example of Corporate social responsibility by GlaxoSmithKline for students in the area of career guidance.
KARACHI – GlaxoSmithKline has organized an educational and fun-filled Orange Day-2012. The Orange Day was divided into one on one interactive career counseling, creative writing/drawing contest around the theme ‘My vision if I were the President of Pakistan’, an engaging museum tour, singing competition, and lunch.
GSK leveraged its strength of a diversified group of people from various academic backgrounds and 25 GSK employees, doing various roles across the organization, volunteered as counselors for the Orange Day 2012. Each of these counselors had been designated to counsel approximately 4 students, who had expressed their interest in particular fields prior to counseling, over a period of an hour and a half.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Field of Dreams
By Sumaiya Lakhani
A tomato field is an unlikely place to find inspiration, but amid the trees, mud and growing shoots, there it was: Inspiration with a capital ‘I’.
As odd as that may sound, what’s even odder is that it came as I saw a corporate banker jump over a mound, followed by a gaggle of giggling students in matching beige uniforms.
This was the moment when I got my first glimpse of the mentor-mentee relationship that forms the basis of The Citizen Foundation’s Rahbar programme.
Started in 2008, Rahbar is a mentorship programme that aims at the development of Pakistan’s youth on many levels. It’s come a long way since its humble beginnings and now includes over 1,000 volunteer mentors who have reached out to about 4,500 students in different cities.
A tomato field is an unlikely place to find inspiration, but amid the trees, mud and growing shoots, there it was: Inspiration with a capital ‘I’.
As odd as that may sound, what’s even odder is that it came as I saw a corporate banker jump over a mound, followed by a gaggle of giggling students in matching beige uniforms.
This was the moment when I got my first glimpse of the mentor-mentee relationship that forms the basis of The Citizen Foundation’s Rahbar programme.
Started in 2008, Rahbar is a mentorship programme that aims at the development of Pakistan’s youth on many levels. It’s come a long way since its humble beginnings and now includes over 1,000 volunteer mentors who have reached out to about 4,500 students in different cities.
Green economy in Pakistan
In a recent Observer Pakistan article government highlight the importance of green economy in Pakistan. This could be translated into many new jobs in a green economic sector!
"Chairing the opening session, Dr. Nadeem-ul-Haque, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission said that time has come to revisit policies and rethink discourse according to green economy concept. He said that current policy framework and ways of managing resources in the country has become obsolete. Talking of government’s relevance in shaping and managing the economy, he urged, it’s time to think holistically about the economy and productivity in creative and focused manner while exploring the linkages between growth and green economy."
The concept of "a job for life"
What do you think about it....!
Academic and Career Counseling from the Grassroots Level
The student population of Pakistan, in general, is becoming increasingly confused as it steps out of the educational institutions and into the professional environment. This confusion may well be traced back to the early, school-going years of the students, when they are not generally given the freedom to acquire education that follows their individual interests. This article focuses on the need for parents and academic instructors/counselors to identify the children's fields of interests, and to give them the freedom to strive and excel in those fields, so their minds may remain constantly receptive over the years.
Written By Sufyan Aquil
When observing the education scene in Pakistan, the common phrases to hear are: “it has become commercialized”, “it has become a money-making machine”, “it has become a ‘business’ industry rather than a platform for public welfare”, and so on. Hearing such observations, one can do nothing but nod helplessly in agreement, and wonder where things have taken a turn for the worse.
Written By Sufyan Aquil
When observing the education scene in Pakistan, the common phrases to hear are: “it has become commercialized”, “it has become a money-making machine”, “it has become a ‘business’ industry rather than a platform for public welfare”, and so on. Hearing such observations, one can do nothing but nod helplessly in agreement, and wonder where things have taken a turn for the worse.
United States Helps Young Job Seekers in Karachi
A new Career Development Center funded by the United States will help thousands of young jobs seekers in Karachi become stronger candidates for employment and assist employers looking for skilled labor. Dr. Marilyn Wyatt, wife of U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter, inaugurated the Center, which is affiliated with Greenwich University. The Center will provide employment services to current students and jobless graduates from the University.
At the career crossroads
By Hafsah Sarfraz
Today’s world focuses on more variety than what was offered to the previous generations. Take coffee for example … there are so many types of coffee to choose according to your taste and preference. Ice cream, which was available in maximum 10 flavors a few years ago, comes in hundreds of different flavors and combinations now. New cell phone models keep popping into the market everyday while giving us a greater variety to choose from. From lawn prints to cars, laptops or anything you can think of the variety is just growing giving us an astounding amount of choices today.
It goes the same for career. Gone are the days when medical and engineering were the only two options and the rest of the community was getting a simple honors degree just for the sake of an education.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
PIMA’s career guidance seminar for fresh medical graduates
Karachi: “Thousands of medical graduates pass out each year but many of them end up going abroad instead of paying back to society due to lack of proper career guidance and opportunities.” These views were expressed by doctors associated with Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) at a career guidance seminar held at Aga Khan University Auditorium on Saturday.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Career guidance seminar for doctors
Karachi, A career guidance seminar for doctors will be held at the Aga Khan University Hospital on November 10.
Dr Salman Ghauri, a consultant cardiologist at National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, further said that in current circumstances it is important for our future brains to pivotally decide their professional aims.
Dr. Salman who is also the President of PIMA said, senior doctors should feel the responsibility to guide fresh medical graduates and undergraduates and counsel them for their bright professional careers.
Dr Salman Ghauri, a consultant cardiologist at National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, further said that in current circumstances it is important for our future brains to pivotally decide their professional aims.
Dr. Salman who is also the President of PIMA said, senior doctors should feel the responsibility to guide fresh medical graduates and undergraduates and counsel them for their bright professional careers.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical engineers apply engineering and scientific methods to find solutions to problems in medicine and the life sciences.
Career counselling plays vital role in child’s future development
Khalid Khattak, The News
Lahore: Parents are their children’s first teachers or counselors therefore they must realize and accept this responsibility, says veteran educationist and career counselor Syed Abidi, emphasizing parental support in developing the future of a child.
Speaking to The News exclusively, Syed Abidi says career counseling could play a vital role in developing the future of a child. Mentioning a research, he says parent support is more important at school success than a student’s IQ, economic status or school setting. “Parents who are involved in the initial development of their children enable them to achieve higher grades and test scores and attain better attitudes and behavior,” he observes. He advises parents to help their children identify interests, explore careers and develop plans for future.
Lahore: Parents are their children’s first teachers or counselors therefore they must realize and accept this responsibility, says veteran educationist and career counselor Syed Abidi, emphasizing parental support in developing the future of a child.
Speaking to The News exclusively, Syed Abidi says career counseling could play a vital role in developing the future of a child. Mentioning a research, he says parent support is more important at school success than a student’s IQ, economic status or school setting. “Parents who are involved in the initial development of their children enable them to achieve higher grades and test scores and attain better attitudes and behavior,” he observes. He advises parents to help their children identify interests, explore careers and develop plans for future.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Essential Skills for New Economy
How to Stand-out at a Job Fairs
Follow a PET (Prepare, Engage, Track) strategy to stand out and get most out of your job-fair experience.
Prepare
The most common mistake students make at job fairs is the lack of preparation. Therefore the first rule of success at job fairs is to research selected organizations. It's a good idea to have a mix of well-known, popular companies as well as some smaller, not so known ones.
Engage
Next important step is to engage the recruiter or HR manager. Ask them what they do within the company and what they like about working there. What challenges they are facing and what they are looking for. You could also use a pocket resume for less distraction and more conversation.
Track
Lastly do a follow up with the recruiter/manager, which is a rare practice among students.
A simple post-fair email really get you a long way in employers book!
Five reason why you fail to find a job
1. You don’t know how to find a job.
Better learn job search strategies that works for you. If you knew them you`re not looking for a job now!
2. You don`t know where to find a job.
Finding employment by looking at a newspaper, internet job boards, or sending unsolicited resumes will not work for you - most of the time. Majority of the employment opportunities are never advertised and job seeker must learn how to approach employers in a strategically effective ways.
3. You are using the wrong tools.
Most job seekers are often stuck with one tool - resume, and often it does`t work. Therefore you must learn how to create and use variety of tools for marketing yourself to the employers.
4. You are harder to sell.
If you are targeting employers for full time job. By showing your willingness to accept part-time, contract or temporary work you make yourself more marketable and flexible to the employers.
5. You are unaware of Social Media.
You are your Google result. The personal branding guru, Dan Schawbell says “Your first impression isn’t a handshake anymore. It’s your online presence that will decide the fate of your career.” Managing your online presence is a key to career success in today`s interconnected world.
Better learn job search strategies that works for you. If you knew them you`re not looking for a job now!
2. You don`t know where to find a job.
Finding employment by looking at a newspaper, internet job boards, or sending unsolicited resumes will not work for you - most of the time. Majority of the employment opportunities are never advertised and job seeker must learn how to approach employers in a strategically effective ways.
3. You are using the wrong tools.
Most job seekers are often stuck with one tool - resume, and often it does`t work. Therefore you must learn how to create and use variety of tools for marketing yourself to the employers.
4. You are harder to sell.
If you are targeting employers for full time job. By showing your willingness to accept part-time, contract or temporary work you make yourself more marketable and flexible to the employers.
5. You are unaware of Social Media.
You are your Google result. The personal branding guru, Dan Schawbell says “Your first impression isn’t a handshake anymore. It’s your online presence that will decide the fate of your career.” Managing your online presence is a key to career success in today`s interconnected world.
Career Advice for the Parents and Students
Often parents assume that as long as their sons and daughters work hard and pay attention to their studies, they’ll be rewarded with a good job at graduation. The path from college/university to a good career is not automatic; it takes considerable work on the student’s part, starting early in their time at college. Follow the suggestions below and so they could gain maximum advantage and enjoyment from their education.
Self Assessment - Why it is important for students
Self assessment is a key element of a career decision making process. It begin with an evaluation of your personality, interests and values. In many cases students bypass, overlook or does not give enough consideration to self assessment and end up in a career which keeps them unhappy or unsuccessful. In either case students passion does not matches with the profession.
Many times student have an interest in arts but ends up in accounting because of parents, uncles or other family member suggests so.
Therefore knowing your personality, interests and values will eventually gives you a better start then many others who does not goes through this step of self evaluation or assessment.
Many times student have an interest in arts but ends up in accounting because of parents, uncles or other family member suggests so.
Therefore knowing your personality, interests and values will eventually gives you a better start then many others who does not goes through this step of self evaluation or assessment.
Drop-out - Opt-in Theory of Career Development
Drop-out theory of career development
In a career development process if a student does not get admission in a program of his interest because of low marks, or lack of financial resources, then s(he) drop-out of competition and rely on the remaining educational options on a career ladder. Occupations on these career ladders are defined by actual or perceived demand of particular occupation.
In a career development process if a student does not get admission in a program of his interest because of low marks, or lack of financial resources, then s(he) drop-out of competition and rely on the remaining educational options on a career ladder. Occupations on these career ladders are defined by actual or perceived demand of particular occupation.
Education and Learning - Who's responsibility!
The focus of education and learning should not be on getting a piece of paper but it should be on improving knowledge and skills, which they could use to create value for themselves, at their work and in the community.
Most parents think that it is the responsibility of schools and colleges to educate students but it is an equal responsibility. If students does not perform good at school it does not mean the school system is not good rather it could be the parents who are responsible for this situation.
It takes two hands to clap....
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