“Your Career Advisor” is responding this week to:

• How to become a well rounded professional?

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 to become a well rounded professional?

I am a recent graduate from Alexandria University's Faculty of Fine Arts. Before that I attended an English language school. I am currently working as an interior designer.

I was hoping that I could know someone or some place where I can develop my skills in business and dealing with clients and workers. In summary, I am trying to develop my design and forward looking skills. There must be a scientific way in developing a person's mind in the various aspects of thing and dealing with people !

I am competent in the use of the famous computer applications in my field; but I think I need more than the computer skills. I need to think in a scientific way in order to get clients to relate to me and have better career prospects.

H. E. K. (Alexandria)

Replying:

Dear Miss. K.

That is the 1,000,000 dollar (or LE) question as they say…. ! Just raising this concern and identifying it the most important aspect you need to develop reflects very positively on you, it also shows maturity on your behalf.

What you are really seeking is the wisdom of experience and to become a well rounded professional. It is unfortunate that the Arabic language does not really have an equivalent to the work "professional" by which we mean a person that is: intellectually resourceful, reliable, aware of what is happening around him/her, correct in his/her dealing, organized, well disciplined, appreciates and respects the value of time, has good communication skills and presentable in the way he / she looks and dresses.

As you may agree, none of these are rocket science, and they are general to encompass most professions / functions in the world.

Now how do we acquire some or all of the above ? That is a good question, there are no courses, schools or pills for it. Some may be part of the person's nature, the rest are acquired by observing others : colleagues, friends, relatives, bosses etc… Reading helps a lot, since it opens new horizons and makes the person aware of various aspects of life (current affairs, business trends, management innovations, laws, fashion & style, etiquette etc…). Reading is not only books, newspapers and magazines are as important. Back to the "observation of others" issue, one of the key reasons those who work for sometimes in large multinational companies feel they have a career advantage on the long run, is that these companies usually enforce a high standard of professionalism in their corporate environment. Therefore a young man/woman joining them gets molded rapidly in the right way, he/she are also influenced by the more experienced people.

Now, the fact is that not everyone works in a multinational company, the second best option is to work with a local private sector company with high standards; these exist, but they are unfortunately not that many !

One can also, develop in some areas through education and social activities. With regards to education, communication and negotiation courses could be considered. If you are lucky to get a scholarship to study for a graduate degree abroad, that would help. In social activities, you may consider an involvement with organizations such as the Roteract or the Friends of Alexandria Library or others where individuals of a certain caliber are actively involved.

Finally, you are more than welcome to pay us a visit in skill-link.com in Cairo for an open discussion. Whenever you feel the time is convenient, please let "Your Career Advisor" know by email to arrange for an informal meeting in our offices.

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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