“Your Career Advisor” is responding this week to:

• "How much should we pay our company's IT Manager?"
• "I Love to write, any suggestions on where to go?"
• "After all those IT courses and sending 174 CVs, I am still looking for a job. What can I do?"
• "Where can I study to become a journalist?"
• "Where would a library and information specialist go?"
• "I am a chartered accountant, how do I improve my career prospects?"

All reasonable questions related to careers, skill development or employment related issues – sent to advisor@skill-link.com - would be addressed in this section every week.

Q1: How much should we pay our company's IT Manager?

I am the Human Resources Manager of a well known Egyptian private sector industrial company, working in a chemical related field. The company's staff are approximately 600 and our annual sales are in the tens of millions of Egyptian pounds. Our products have a very strong brand name recognition and we have the largest market share in our industry. We are also ISO certified.

The company is in the process of recruiting an Information Technology Manager, to undertake the planning, execution and monitoring of all IT activities. Our company is not well developed in that respect, therefore the IT manager will have a challenging task ahead of him. The following are some of the main highlights of what is expected from the IT manager (a full job description is attached for reference):

• "work with the different management levels to define specific IT requirements & prepare resources allocation plans based on projects priorities."
• "Develop and submit for approval the IT short & long term IT strategies, commensurate with the needs of the business including IT annual budget:

Some of the key qualifications we are looking for in the selected candidate, are:

• "experience in developing, implementing and supervising large business applications and systems"
• "good understanding of manufacturing; financial; distribution; and quality control operations"

As per the above situation, the company Chairman strongly believes the holder of that position should be paid an LE 3,000 fixed monthly salary in addition to a bonus / incentive that could reach LE 2,000 per month if / when pre approved targets are met.

What is your professional advice on the above suggested income ? or in other words how much should our company be paying a good IT Manager with the above stated qualifications and expectations ?

M. Y. (Egypt)

Replying:

Dear Mr. Y.

The Head of the IT function in most organizations (regardless of his title: Manager, Director, Assistant GM etc…) usually plays a critical role in the success, reliability, efficiency and effectiveness of the IT infrastructure in place, and how the business benefits from it. Unlike sales, procurement or finance, in most cases senior management does not get as involved in the IT function's activities. Therefore the job holder has to be reasonably competent and trust worthy.

At the level of the Head of IT (regardless of the size of the IT department or the size of the business); a number of functions / roles have to be performed:

1. Development / Systems Integration: this is to identify, select, schedule, introduce, implement and convert to new IT solutions. The solutions could be ready made ones, in house developed or a combination of both. Even if outside consultants are there to advise; and solutions suppliers are there to assist, there should be an ultimate responsible for the whole process. Without this accountability, the company is at risk.

2. IT Operations: this is to run the various routine tasks associated with the existing IT infrastructure / solution in place: such as backups, setting new users, virus detection, upgrading to new releases etc..

3. Technical Support: which worries about the troubleshooting and solving of technical problems (such as hardware / printer failures; network errors etc..) or identifying (and overseeing) expansion of capacity, connection of various locations etc....

Again, whether it is a one person unit or a large department, all the above functions are undertaken. In the case of your company (name withheld) , which I understand has plenty of room for development on the IT front (automating the enterprise, introducing email, upgrading the web site, enhancing the benefits derived more detailed and updated management information etc); the position of Head of IT should not be taken lightly.

In fact, the Job Description (for the position) developed by your company (name withheld) is excellent and to the point.

The job tasks in addition to the requirements and qualifications required for the function are necessary for a company of the size and stature of yours. The issue is that for someone to have the required exposure, experience (project management & technical) and the necessary credibility, an income bracket of LE 5,000 gross per month (and assuming no part of it is tied to any goal achievements) is very low.

The required candidate is coming to build an IT function for Bavaria, he is not just a care taker coming to maintain what his predecessors implemented. Which requires a relatively higher caliber person.

It is therefore our professional opinion and recommendation to your company to set a gross income bracket for such a position in the range of LE 108,000 to LE 132,000 per annum. And it is a worthwhile investment, as you know: the bitter taste of poor service lasts much longer than the sweetness of paying low salaries.

Finally, for the currently budgeted compensation, your company should be able to attract and hire a good IT professional capable of undertaking various IT technical support and operations functions. Additionally, he/she should be able to handle the analysis, negotiations and procurement of office automation, networking and internet solutions required by the company. The formulation of short and long term IT strategies; the identification of business processes to be automated and how these should be reengineered in light of the selected solutions, in addition to overseeing the proper selection, implementation, conversion of data and work methods is beyond the capabilities of such a person.

We hope the above is of some benefit, should you require any clarifications please do not hesitate to seek further advice.
Good Luck.

Q2: I love to write, any suggestions on where to go?

I am a 25 year old holder of a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of the District of Columbia, Washington D.C. I am currently studying for a Master's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism, at the American University in Cairo

Over the years I have been working in a variety of jobs, including that of a writer in a number of publications.

The point is I love writing, both in Arabic and English, but cannot find a proper job that allows me to do what I like. Do you have any suggestions on where to go?

S. T. (Cairo)

Replying:

Dear Miss T.

You seem to know exactly what you like (writing), you have practiced it before (even if on a free lance basis); you are enrolled in advanced graduate studies in that particular field (Master's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism) so you are on the right track. What we cannot tell - out of lack of information - is how well you write (style, intellectual curiosity etc…). These are part talent/gift, part practice / experience and part education.

Since you seem to have many elements in your favor, the issue is where to work ? Living in Cairo and being fluent in both Arabic and English offers wide choices; the following fields are some of them (away from state owned media):

• The growing number of Egyptian monthly magazines in both English and Arabic that are constantly on the look for editors / contributors.
• Numerous regional and international publications (newspapers and magazines) have an interest (and presence) in Egypt, therefore creating chances for contributors. News agencies could also fall in this category.
• The region is also witnessing a growing number of internet portals and online content providers. These live on interesting and up to date content. They are very similar to a printed publication in that aspect. They have the added benefit of being online, thus more accommodating to staff not being all located in the same offices. MSN Arabia, Arabic CNN, Arabia.com, Zawya.com, AmeInfo.com, skill-link.com….. are just a few names. You have the additional benefit of holding a business degree, thus it could be in a business oriented portal.
• Away from the publishing, news and media businesses, large corporations (and in certain cases well funded non for profit organizations) sometimes have their in house Communication Departments. Such departments handle press releases, brochures, newsletters, presentations etc… these tasks require advanced writing skills. While the job may not be as diversified as that of a journalist or information contributor, nevertheless it is needed and could be as satisfying. Again, your business degree puts you at a relative advantage. Companies in that category are the likes of Ezz Group, MobiNil, Vodafone, Ahram Beverages etc…
• A new business has recently arrived to the Arab region, that of Public Relations firms. While working as a public relations consultant requires more than just writing, it is a corner stone. Companies in that category operation in Egypt or the Arab Region are: Spot On, Hill & Knowlton etc...

Always keep a nicely presented file of your work (portfolio) handy, and as you know, it is not required for you to have completed your Master's to be on the look for those exciting career opportunities.

We hope the above was of some use to you.
Good Luck.

Q3: After all those IT courses and sending 174 CVs, I am still looking for a job. What can I do?

I am basically an accountant, having graduated from Zagazig University's Faculty of Commerce in 1999. Because I don't like accounting, I changed my career to the IT field. I do believe in my skills and abilities, also I think I have good IT qualifications and experience too. The problem is that I work for a non-profit governmental institute, and I receive a very dull salary, moreover I don't gain any more experience at all.

I managed to raise some money on my own to get myself trained till I became Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), and I have very good experience with Windows based networks. Unfortunately, I couldn't realize my dream to obtain other certificates like MCSE, NC, or Network +, because these certificates need money for the exams, which I cannot afford with my recent income.

I took so many courses at local technical education centers and at the American University in Cairo (AUC) on networking, Microsoft products, and other IT technologies. I even attended a training program for business excellence in India through an internship.

I have been looking for a good job for one full year now, I sent more than 174 CVs and applications. Till now I did not receive any reply at all; not even an appointment for any sort of interviews !

I do not know what the problem is. I wish to talk to somebody to advise me on my career. I noticed that everybody is looking for engineers, although engineers sometimes are poor IT professionals.

I need someone to tell me what to do to get a suitable job.

M. S. (Cairo)

Replying:

Dear Mr. S.

Let us start by settling a few issues: stop describing yourself as an accountant. This is one of the bad Egyptian habits. Having graduated with a university degree in Commerce (Accounting Section) and having worked on your first job for just a few months as a junior accountant, does not mean you should describe yourself as an accountant. Maybe someone with 10 years of continuous work in the accounting or audit field would, but not you. You like IT, you have been working in the IT field for almost two years, you have attended numerous IT courses; so start thinking about yourself and describing yourself as an IT professional !

Another issue we need to settle, it is not true that engineers are in such a high demand in the IT field. It is true that for an IT position requiring a person with 2 or 3 years experience an Engineer with a degree in computers, IT or telecom may have an advantage, it is not a rule.

Now with regards to you particular case, you seem to have worked hard to enroll in numerous useful IT courses. You did better than a lot of people on that front. Being employed in the government sector, may not play very well in your favor, since private sector employers sometimes get turned off by this fact; however there is nothing we can do about it. Searching for a job while being employed is better that you being at home.

You should also realize, that over the last two years, Egypt has been witnessing a severe economic downturn, a lot of companies have been laying off people or at best reducing hiring. This of course makes finding a job more difficult; but of course not impossible. Skill-link.com sent thousands of individuals to job interviews last year.

We cannot comment on why you sent 174 CVs and got no responses, not even an interview. It depends on who you sent them too (what sort of companies) and their needs. We would be glad to obtain (by email) a copy of your CV and application letter (cover letter) to offer you some advice if applicable.

The good news we would like to end with , is that you have a skill that is (and will remain) in demand, you have the right age and have proven your seriousness and willing to learn by enrolling in the numerous courses you have described in your message.

We hope the above was of some use to you.
Good Luck.

Q4: Where can I study to become a journalist?

I am a 23 year old graduate of the Faculty of Arts, English Department, Tanta University.

I am currently teaching English and American literature in a private institute. I would like to work as a journalist; writing in English. Where can I take journalism courses in order to learn journalism techniques and qualify myself to work as an expert in the field of journalism (specially they I never studied in this field) ?

H. S. H.(Egypt)

Replying:

Dear Miss. H.

First of all, let us agree that any studies you complete in the field of journalism will not qualify you as an expert ! but rather they will provide you with the necessary elements to position yourself on the right track. Being a journalist is part talent/gift, part practice / experience and part education.

In Egypt; you may be interested (if the cost and time commitment are suitable to you) in the Master's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism, offered by the American University in Cairo.

Another option is online distance learning; from the comfort of your own home ! You may be interested in the London School of Journalism. All lesson modules, assignments and returned work are delivered electronically. Students download modules from their own secure page in the student section of the website, and send their completed work by email to the school. Returned work is sent to the student either as simple email, or as an Adobe (.pdf) file email attachment (which allows your tutor to make handwritten corrections to your manuscripts). At the end of your course a complete bound set of current lesson modules is sent to you as a permanent reference set.
The London School of Journalism http://www.lsj.org/  could be contacted at:
22 Upbrook Mews
Bayswater; London W2 3HG
Tel: +44 207 706 3790
Fax: +44 207 706 3780

We hope the above was of some use to you.
Good Luck.

Q5: Where would a library and information specialist go?

I am a female (early thirties) graduate of Cairo University's Faculty of Arts. I am currently working as a library and information science specialist. I love so much the field of information and information retrieval systems. I worked for local and international organizations in this field for the last ten years.

My current job is with a government entity, it used to be a USAID funded project. I am also enrolled in a Masters degree program in public administration.

I like so much my field; I also like the HR field, but have no experience in it. Even though some of my courses for the Masters degree address HR.

I am now actively seeking a suitable job; but cannot find any suitable post matching my experience. It may be useful for you to know that my annual compensation is around LE 18,000 plus benefits.

If you have any advice it could be very important for me.

R. A. R. (Egypt)

Replying:

Dear Miss. R

In light of your age and years of experience, it makes sense to leverage what you have learnt and mastered. Therefore, we would keep exploring other functional lines (such as HR or others) as a last priority. You have a challenge, you area of specialization is not heavily in demand like other fields (eg. secretaries or electrical engineers) in the same time, the supply of qualified people having your skill base is also very limited.

Fortunately, Egypt has never witnessed an interest in libraries, archives and documentation like it does now. The Alexandria Library will be officially inaugurated this month, the National Archives (Dar El Kotob Wal Wassek) is being overhauled, there are model libraries emerging (Mubarak Library, Greater Cairo Library etc…); there are a number of initiatives related to documenting Egypt's heritage taking place, there are also two private universities (French and German) that are supposed to be operational in a year or so. These could all present a wider window of opportunity.

You may also wish to explore the magazines and other media publishing firms, to run a decent newspaper or magazine, you must have very good archives and strong information research capabilities.

Some business associations (such as the American Chamber of Commerce, the British Businessmen Association etc..) would need information specialists / librarian to administer the vast amount of documents and electronic information they use: draft laws, committee papers, government regulations, presentations, position papers etc… We are aware that the Egyptian Canadian Businessmen Association has just been formed. This is a direction you should not ignore.

Having a degree in Public Administration would never hurt, it demonstrates you are serious, keen on self development and supplied with useful tools in management (and in a way understanding how government and civil service operate).

You current income bracket is reasonable, thus we should not anticipate a next move should be a problem with regards to compensation.

We hope the above was of some use to you.
Good Luck.

Q6: I am a chartered accountant, how do I improve my career prospects?

I'm a 29 year old female from Mauritius, currently living and working in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. I'm a chartered certified accountant, having worked all my professional life in audit firms (all from top Big 5 international audit firms).

Because of the tight competition on the market I want to study further. I would be grateful if you could advise me on my next career move.

A. A. (Abu Dhabi)

Replying:

Dear Ms. A

Your attached resume demonstrates a qualified chartered accountant / auditor, that has worked for almost nine years with reputable firms in the audit industry. You already have the main certification for the profession (ACCA - ie. being chartered). The main question concerning you career progress would be: do you want to remain as an external auditor and advance through the ranks, become an internal auditor in a company or move to a mainline accounting and finance corporate role ?

The first and second track are closely related and in our opinion, based on having observed / followed hundreds of similar careers we do not envisage you need further academic studies. This also applies to the corporate / accounting track. The two areas you may elect to further develop your skills in would be: either (i) industry concentration whereby you would like to become more familiar with it and be recognized for your expertise in the field (eg. banking, insurance etc…); or (ii) advanced IT knowledge with regards to computerized accounting systems, ERP (enterprise resource planning) solutions etc… these should give you a relative edge over others. These could be acquired through certification (such as the Chartered Institute of Bankers in the UK) or through attending non degree courses.

Additionally, whether in you current role or other, you should consider 'positioning' yourself for 'management' roles, therefore sharpening your supervisory / management skills would be valuable in all cases. Enrolling in a management program, attending short management / leadership courses or widening your reading interests are recommended. In your line of work, management roles are not only earned by knowing how to manage, it also requires you to demonstrate you have a strong grasp of business issues surrounding your industry and your clients. Thus being familiar with worldwide, regional and local economic developments in addition to business trends are a must for a professional like you. The business publications (printed or online) provide a wealth of resources on that front.

We hope the above was of some use to you.
Good Luck.

Note from the editor: 
Employer names and inquiry sender names were withheld for confidentiality

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