“Your Career Advisor” is responding this week to:

• What salary range should I target as an application developer? (c)
• How can I become a TV announcer? (e)
• Could you provide me with an HR Director job description? (g)

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: What salary range should I target as an application developer?

I am an Ain Shams University graduate with a degree in Computer Engineering (1998), I worked as an IT specialist in an industrial company and after 1.5 year I worked in another company as an applications developer, During that time I became a Lotus Certified Specialist.

Could you please inform me about what salary range should I be targeting when negotiating with a new employer?

E. N. (Cairo)

Replying:

Dear Miss. N.

As we always mention, salaries vary based on the role, scope of responsibility and the type of business you are in. For those working for IT companies, in software development for example, they may expect a higher salary than someone with a similar experience in a trading or manufacturing company.

The following figures, reflect a skill-link.com survey recently conducted for the average salaries of Egyptian IT professionals working in the field of application development with 3 to 5 years of experience:

Average: LE 2,085
Among this group, the average monthly salary of the five highest paid was : LE 6,020 while the lowest five were paid: LE 610

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

Q2: How can I become a TV announcer?

I am a 22-year university graduate with a degree in English from the Faculty of Arts. During my studies I was able to get internships in a number companies, where I worked in public relations. I am currently working as a translator and journalist in a small newspaper.

I am dying to be a TV announcer, how should I go about realizing my dream?

D. A. S. (Cairo)

Replying:

Dear Miss. A.

This is a difficult one, since working as a TV or Radio announcer / anchorwoman is not like getting into a bank or joining a hotel.

You are well aware, that the TV channels in Egypt are predominantly owned by the government. There are a few exceptions of course, two private companies have recently started operating: Dream and El Mehwar. You could add to those the Arab channels that produce some of their programs from Egypt's Media Production City (Madinet El Entag El Ealamy), these include ART, ORBIT, MBC and Al Jazeera. Other regional channels free lance correspondents to report news (eg. a number of channels from Lebanon, Jordan and Kuwait).

As per the above, you could try applying to the Egyptian Radio & Television Union, which operates all the government owned channels, however we would not build too much hope on this route. You could also approach other private Egyptian or Arab channels … but with no experience it will be difficult to convince them. Another route is to get into other jobs in those channels, example editing, or program preparation… once they know you more there… it may be your chance, if you have the right character to move into an announcer or anchorwoman's role. You mentioned you are a reported in a newspaper, if you are good at what you do, then you have an advantage over others, you can collect information and express yourself well. These are necessary ingredients for those that work as copywriters or editors for programs.

You may wish to get a formal education in the field, if you can afford the time and cost. The American University in Cairo offers a Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, with specialization in Television Journalism. There are also distance-learning degrees (where you study from home, without the need to attend) from universities in Europe and the US in the field of communication and broadcast journalism. These prepare for careers in TV (presented, news anchor etc…). To check one of those degrees, click here.

The above relates to formal education, reading is also a very powerful learning tool. Unfortunately the Arabic library is very poor with regards to titles in your field of interest. On the international front, there are numerous books you may be interested to read; for example:

• Broadcasting Realities: Real-Life Issues and Insights for Broadcast Journalists, Aspiring Journalists and Broadcasters (by Ken Lindner)
• Peterson's Breaking into Television: Proven Advice from Veterans and Interns (by Dan Weaver, Jason Siegel)
• Aim for the Heart: Write for the Ear, Shoot for the Eye: A Guide for TV Producers and Reporters (by Al Tompkins)

As we started by saying, there is no easy way into this field, it depends on your character, your looks and your luck similar to acting and other performing arts.

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

Q3: Could you provide me with an HR Director job description?

While we constantly read interesting articles on skill-link.com related to human resources management, recruitment and skill development; you never provided us with a job description of a Human Resources Director or manager.

I am the office manager of the Chairman of a Commercial Bank, and since we are going through a major restructure, was asked to identify a suitable job description for a Bank HR Director. You assistance in that matter will be highly appreciated.

N. M. (Egypt)

Replying:

Dear Ms. M.

As per your request, we are presenting below a job description of the Head of Human Resources (regardless of his title Vice President, General Manager, Director etc…). It was customized to suit a bank, however the roles are applicable in any large organization.

ROLE:
Support the Bank with its most critical competitive weapon: a motivated and overall more competent work-force by successfully attracting, developing, motivating and retaining the best skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure Human Resources plans, policies and procedures are developed, maintained, properly implemented and abided by.
• Oversee staff remuneration setting; amendments and processing functions are properly performed together with the necessary Social Security and Income Tax filings and payments.
• Plan with other bank departments their staffing requirements and how these requirements will be met (i.e. recruiting, transfer, promotion).
• Develop and monitor the implementation of an objective and proactive recruiting process in the bank.
• Ensure a proper salary scale and benefits scheme for all positions (reflecting position value, market trends, competition..) is in place and that it is regularly revised to reflect changing conditions.
• Develop Performance Evaluation guidelines and constantly monitor the process is properly administered to ensure all staff are being evaluated in a timely and standard manner by their superiors.
• Oversee the development of career paths guidelines for various lines within the bank (ie. operations, secretarial/support, business development etc ) setting criteria for promotion and advancement. These will be maintained for each staff, reflecting his experience, training, performance evaluations and proposed next assignments.
• Ensure a proper training process (needs identification, planning, development, delivery etc.) is in place catering for current and projected needs within the bank. Training delivery could be internal or through service providers.
• Encourage and facilitate the creation of a work environment supporting a two way communication process between staff at various locations and senior management (meetings, informal gatherings, bulletin boards, newsletters...).
• Recommend and monitor compliance with Bank staff code of conduct and dress standards.
• Investigate, propose and administer personnel services that would contribute to enhancing the moral and loyalty of employees (eg. medical coverage, insurance, emergency loans program, end of service fund, transportation service, summer vacation facilities etc…)

BACKGROUND & KEY QUALIFICATIONS:
The holder of this position must have previously held a management position in the area of human resources in a services sector organization (preferably a bank). He/she will most likely have over 15 years of experience, the last few years of them with responsibilities related to the human resources management, personnel administration, organizational development, and training functions. The following are necessary qualifications for the position:

Business

• Reasonable understanding of the business of banking and its services and operations.
• Appreciation of the country's business environment and labor market.

Technical knowledge

• Solid experience in developing and running the majority of the components of a successful human resources function: compensation structure, performance appraisal system, career planning, objective recruitment mechanism, staff communication programs, effective training…

Management Skills

• Ability of planning and monitoring a multitude of activities and projects.

Personal Attributes

• Strong communications skills (presentations, business writing, leading meetings etc..)
• Self-motivation and reasonable aggressiveness.
• Credibility and professionalism.

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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