“Your Career Advisor” is responding this week to:

• They want to play a very dirty game with me, what should I do?
• I want  to go for an MBA, what is your advice?
• What  is the difference between Chairman, President and Managing Director?

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: They want to play a very dirty game with me, what should I do?

I am a Zagazig University graduate (Faculty of Arts, English Department) in my mid twenties, living in Cairo. I also attended courses in marketing and sales at the American University in Cairo (AUC). Over the last few years I have held a number of sales and marketing related jobs, the latest has been with a mobile telephone company.

The situation I face now is that I applied for a sales vacancy in a large international shipping company (one of the top 10 in the world, an number one in its home country); The Sales Manager interviewed me. He appreciated my education and experience and told me that my next step would be to meet the General Manager of the company in Egypt. However, the problem is he tries to play a very dirty game with me, he told me I am a very good person but that they have a new policy according to which I would work for two months without receiving any salary! In addition to that, my salary will only be decided at the end of the two months!

It is not even clear if after the two months if I prove myself I will receive the salary for those two months.

He justified this by saying it is the matter of supply and demand; and that I am very good but they are looking for a person younger than me! (My age is 26 year). So he wants me to invest in those two months (like an MBA)!

The problem is that it is my first time someone is trying to squeeze me like this guy did.

Some of my friends advised me when I meet the General Manager, I should refuse all this and tell them that there is the usual three months probation period, after which - if they are not satisfied with my performance, they can ask me to leave.

I am convinced that the Sales Manager accepted me, but I don't know if he made this offer to test my negotiation skills or he meant as it is to tell his boss that I hired a well educated and experienced person and testing him without paying anything.

I am in dilemma, I have the stress of unemployment and I feel by this offer he is insulting me. This is a good company, it offers its employees good compensation package including international medical insurance, transportation, mobile fees, and overseas training.

What should I do?

A. A. H. (Egypt)

Replying:

Dear Mr. H.

This is a very odd situation indeed, asking people to work for no salary for certain duration. While this could be acceptable in a small trading venture where a number of people starting a business decide to forgo salary for a while until the business starts generating money; it should not be the case for such a large company. Organizations must do their homework while assessing candidates for job vacancies, and take the risk, if their decisions prove to me bad. It is one thing to agree on a relatively lower salary for the first few months (to be adjusted base on performance later); but to ask someone to work for free? This is unacceptable. Even summer intern, who work during their summer vacations in companies (during their university years) are paid a symbolic salary, sort of pocket money as an appreciation gesture.

So what should you do? Get to meet with the General Manager and express your interest in joining the company. However, be firm but polite about the "work for free" offer, tell him you cannot believe such a great company could make such an offer, and that it is unacceptable to you. Even if you lose this opportunity, you would have preserved your dignity. Also, if this were the way they would like to start the relationship, what would they do after that? The company can sure risk LE 5,000 or LE 6,000 during the probation period (this is a plane ticket for one of the managers travelling on Business Class to Europe for a meeting).

We hope the above was of some use to you, and please keep us updated with the outcome.
Good Luck

Q2: I want to go for an MBA, what is your advice?

I am a 25-year-old graduate of Ain Shams University's Faculty of Commerce. Currently, I am working in a state owned trading organization. I am also about to complete a Diploma in Investment and Finance.

I am interested to go for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Egypt or abroad. Of course if abroad, I will need a scholarship. What is your advice?

A. S. (Egypt)

Replying:

Dear Mr. S.

As we mentioned on a number of similar occasions, going for an MBA is both a costly and time consuming undertaking. It is also more useful for those with a non-business/commerce education (e.g. engineers, Faculty of Arts graduates etc…).

This is not to say it is not useful, you have to confirm your will/ability to go through the studies and your English language competency. Also, if you can afford the costs associated with such a program. As you know a number of institutions offer MBA programs in Egypt: Arab Academy for Sciences & Technology, Maastricht University, the American University in Cairo (AUC) etc…

Studying abroad is even more challenging, since the language requirements are stricter, and obviously the costs / funding requirements are much higher. There are a few scholarships available, however these are very competitive, they require outstanding undergraduates grades, fluency in English and going through interviews. On top of that you should be accepted by the University you are seeking to join. We often publish information about various scholarships on skill-link.com (e.g. Shell, British Council, ORASCOM, Ford Foundation etc…). If you think you qualify to apply, you should keep your eyes opened for those announced.

Alternatively you can pursue professional certifications (e.g. CPA, CMA etc…). These require less time and money; while at the same time will add to your skill base and force you to read/study for the exams.

We hope the above was of some use to you.

Good Luck

Q3: What is the difference between Chairman, President and Managing Director?

I have always wondered about the difference between Chairman, President and Managing Director in companies. Are they the same, or do they reflect different jobs and responsibilities.

F. D. (Lebanon).

Replying:

Dear Miss. D.

These reflect different systems, all having to do with the most senior executive positions in companies.

In North America, Chairman and President are used. The Chairman (or sometimes Chairperson to cater for ladies!) is the person who chair the board of directors, set its agenda etc… The President is in charge of running the organization. The ultimate decision maker, accountable to the board of directors (who in turn represent the shareholders, the owners of the company) is the one who gets designated as the CEO (chief executive officer). In some cases it is the Chairman, in others it is the President. In other situations, one person is the Chairman, President and CEO. For example in HP, the multinational computer company, Ms. Fiorina is Chairperson & CEO. In Microsoft, Bill Gates is Chairman, but the President is also the CEO. Bill Gates wanted to get away from day to day management responsibilities.

In most European countries the originally British system of Chairman and Managing Director prevails. This is the one you will find in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and most countries around the world. It is similar to the one in North America where by both jobs could be combined or separate. In all cases, the CEO powers (i.e. the real executive powers) are always with the Managing Director. This is the person the board of directors have vested with the authority to execute the board decisions and manage the company.

There is actually a third system, mainly in France and adopted by a few countries (such as Lebanon) that are influenced by the French way of doing things. In France they have the PDG (Presdient Directeur Generale). They combine both positions in one.

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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