“Your Career Advisor” is responding this week to:

• Which career path should I follow? (e)
• Any advice for a worried student of pharmacy? (e)
• Would Egypt provide the required IT skills? (h)

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: Which career path should I follow?

I am a mechanical engineering graduate, February 2002, from The American University in Cairo (AUC). I have two specializations; Design and Industrial engineering. I have also a Minor in Business Administration. I have good knowledge in French. I am a student in the 10th level in a 12 level course taught in the French Cultural Center.

I have been a piano player since the age of 9. I have a diploma in Music from the Arabic Institute of Music.

I need your advice about a problem I am facing, which is not being able to determine what career path should I follow. This problem really irritates me.

One of the questions I was asked in many times in different interviews was: What do you want to be after 5, 10, or 20 years from NOW?

I really cannot decide. And I do not feel comfortable about this

Actually, after finishing my high school, I wanted to join telecommunications engineering because I have avid interest for new sciences and technology, communications, satellites, internet and signal processing.

However, unfortunately there is no telecommunications department at AUC. There is Computer Science, but some friends advised me to join engineering because engineers get jobs with higher salaries and have better opportunities in the job market. Add to this that some people did not study computer science and they work in the IT field by taking a course in a center or an institute. Also, computer science was not exactly what I was aiming for (I wanted telecommunications & signal processing) but at that time computer science was more attracting to me than mechanical engineering. However, in the end, I joined Mechanical engineering because this was what almost everyone advised me to do.

During my study I was famous to be the computer and telecommunications amateur expert in Mech. Eng. School to the extent that computer lab assistants were asking me for advice in networking, Security and Intrusion Detection.

Today, I have different career paths to choose from, and I need your advice to choose one of them. The Paths are:

1. Going for a job in IT. However I do not have a certificate in IT or experience required. Besides I think the salary is not that good.

2. Go for a Master's in Computer Science. But it needs to spend a longer time to take undergraduate courses to be eligible to start Master's degree. And I am really not sure it will help me get a job in telecommunications or signal processing at the end.

3. Give up my dream in working in telecommunications and go for a Master's degree in mechanical engineering, though I believe that Master's in engineering is not required in the Egyptian market because companies value experience more. And if I would go for Master's in Engineering, which specialization is required more in the market, design or industrial. For me I prefer industrial. But still think the Master's in engineering does not count much in the Egyptian Market, unless one is going to go for an academic career.

4. Go for a job in Oil Field. Only because of the big salary they offer, thought I know it will be hard and in hostile environments. No strong interest in it.

5. Go for an MBA, depending on my background of Business Administration, and forget about engineering. I think it's more required than Master's of engineering in the market and opens job opportunities in marketing and management.

6. Apply for a job of Diplomatic Attache in the competition exam held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which does not require certain degree. I am not that interested in politics. But I might go for it because of the prestigious position it offers.

As you see, I feel like I have many paths in front of my eyes. But I need to know which one to take and concentrate on.

For me:
- I want a career with a good salary (not less than L.E. 1000 as a start), preferably L.E. 1500.
- In a company that does not have high employee turnover.
- A company where my achievements are recognized.
- I want it to be in a reputable organization.

But above all, I want it to be a job which is not routine and needs innovation and challenging. I love doing practical things and troubleshooting different problems, and solving them.

I do not have problem with relocation or working irregular hours.

So, what do you advice me to do??

M. B. (Giza)

Replying:

Dear Mr. B.

To start with, your registered CV on skill-link.com (registered under candidate # 50651) is too brief, the word CV you attached to your email reflects a very interesting professional... none of this is felt from your online CV that could be seen by our clients (companies recruiting through skill-link.com) or our Recruitment Officers in skill-link.com ! Why ? We suggest you add in the "brief self description" section at the end of your CV (1) something about your GPA and University awards; (2) Your are an amateur Security & IT advisor.

Also in the "employment/job history" section of the CV add the school electronic group and mention what it is and that it is a part time involvement.

Now back to your question:

Your writing skills are extremely good (both the language, the style and presentation), your logic is also very sound and reflects a clear and organized mind - after all you are an engineer :) - and a mature personality.... definitely a rarity in our pool of new graduates.... These alone, combined with your education, achievements and diversity of interests would make you a valuable addition to any company you may join.

It is too late now to discuss your "historical" decision to select your field of studies... friends know as much as you do, and each speak about his own limited experience.... as a ruled you should as much as possible study what you like, specially when it is in a field that can earn you a good living... may be if you were fascinated by insects or astronomy we would have warned you to think twice, but in telecoms... it was a good bet. The good news is that your field of studies / your degree is very useful in any industrial entity, and even if you do not work in the field it added value to you... some of the best professionals in the field of corporate finance and investments had a similar degree... also in the field of software, consulting and others... it is very handy... so you did not waist your time... even though you could have studied Computer Sciences, which is a closer field to telecoms.

The thing about salaries and that people with non technical degrees attend courses and work in the IT field is not valid. Yes they do. What counts is the person, his hard work, willingness to learn and develop, professionalism etc... there are those who have lousy jobs (with or without a technical degree); and those who are in very promising positions, earning handsome salaries in very reputable companies. So, again there is no rule... every one is a special case...

So, how about the various paths you mentioned ?

Going into IT: you can still get in there, maybe after attenging an ORACLE or Microsoft certification.... a suitable area for you in the IT sector where your education will be relevant would be the ERP and other automation solutions to industrial companies... trying to be an implementation consultant is both very challenging and interesting... the good ones are a rarity in Egypt and the Arab region and earn well after a few years of experience... professionals in their late twenties (average 5 years experience, would be earning about LE 7,000 in Egypt). Here you will develop consulting and project management skills, in places like ORATECH, Giza Systems, NCR etc...

If the telecom part of Technology is what you really like, then go for it ... you have a good basis as a hobby and you can enroll in a variety of short course (eg. CISCO, Nortel, Alcatel etc...), some of them are sponsored by the Ministry of Telecom & IT free of charge.

Graduate studies: whether in IT or mechanical engineering or an MBA is not recommended now, you have a good degree, good grades and achievements and what you need most is hands on practical work experience. While working you could enroll in part time studies for a certification or a particular skill. What exactly, this will be determined by your interests on the job. Getting into Oracle or Microsoft or networking courses is more valuable to you now than a Masters in Computer Sciences. With regards to an MBA, it could be useful for someone with an engineering degree... however we strongly advise against it before at least three years of on the job experience.

Oil / Petroleum sector: you answered it.... if you have no particular interest there, so why consider it... forget the salaries... good salaries are there for the good hard working professionals, with a bit of God's blessings and some luck !

Diplomatic Corps: a career as a diplomat attracts some people, however you should think about it very seriously... you will be a civil servant (government employee) for life.. with all the buraucracy and limited salary that entails... you should also be aware that the advancement in telecommunications (telephones, video conferencing, satellite TVs, internet etc...) and in transportation (flights in a few hours to anywhere in the world); drastically changed the job of a diplomat... up till the 1970s... there were no satellite TVs, no CNN, long distance calls were not that reliable.. so diplomats were very critical to communicate with other governments and inform their own countries about what is happening in their posts... now, presidents and ministers can talk freely on the phone with their counterparts, bypassing the embassies, CNN and the likes keep you as informed with what is happening, say in Washington as a person living there, and the internet allows you to read most newspapers from Cairo, without a Second Secretary in Singapore having to tell you what was said about Palestine there... What we are saying, is the nature of the job has changed, and you should think it over. Specially, that it will affect your life style and your future wife and kids... having to live in various places (not all Paris and London, but mostly: Mayanmar, Mozambique and Honduras), not having freinds, chaning school systems... etc..

Your mental image of the employment environment you want to work in is very fair and realistic. Whether the starting salary or type of company. The issue is in what fields, it seems most likely you should be selecting between engineering (in a place like Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Savola etc...) or in a telecom related capacity... maybe start with a small company, get some experience and then move with the big players (Siemens, Alcatel etc..). Another derivative, for creative, non routine jobs would be consulting... where some clients could be industrial entities and you could put your education to use.. places like Accenture in the UAE or Saudi Arabia ( www.accenture.com ) or Ernest & Young etc...

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

Q2: Any advice for a worried student of pharmacy?

I am a young Egyptian currently in my first year at the Faculty of Pharmacy in one of Egypt's new private universities.

I am extremely worried about finding a good job at medical related or pharmaceutical companies, because I am studying a special curriculum based on the American system and subjects...

What do you suggest ? and can you help me find a job when I graduate ?

Bebo. (Egypt)

Replying:

Dear Bebo

Why worrying so much ? you still have a few years ahead of you before you enter the job market.... regardless of the system must is following, this will not have any impact on a large number of jobs in pharmaceutical companies or in medical supplies / equipment or other health care related businesses ... same as someone who studied pharma in Europe or North America... it will not matter... it is not like the legal profession where you must be familiar with the Egyptian legal system to become a judge or a lawyer....

What you must do from now is try and get summer training / internships during your university years... just to make your CV more attractive to potential employers when you graduate... also work on you PC skills and English language communication skills. Read a lot to improve your general knowledge... These are the things that will really count.

You may want to visit our Interest Zone frequently, you will find useful advice in our "Career Resources" Section (related to the CV, job interview, applying for a job etc...) and in the archives of "Your Career Advisor" section.

Of course we will try and help when you graduate, meanwhile, you should register your CV on skill-link.com.

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

Q3: Would Egypt provide the required IT skills?

I am a consulting manager in one of the large multinational advisory firms, based in Europe. Our firm is commissioned by a global IT services company to conduct a strategic location planning study. One of the candidate locations for establishing an IT service center is Cairo. We are in contact with the Industrial Modernization Center (IMC) and the Ministry of Communication & Information Technology to provide us with relevant information about Cairo. IMC mentioned your company as a good source for information.

As our client doesn't want to reveal its name, I am not in a position to identify it, however it is a global IT Services Company, with approximately 3,000 employees, supporting over 80,000 end-users globally.

Specifics about the market for IT personnel is an important issue for our client. Therefore I would appreciate more information about skill availability.

Hence we require information about:

• Please indicate  the ease of recruiting the below described IT competent employees in your metro area. Ranking from 1 to 5 (1 is hard to recruit, 5 is easy to recruit):

• Please comment on the availability (in order to hire <50, 51-100, >100 persons) of these staff categories.
• Please comment on the turnover rate (“attrition”) or loyalty of IT personnel.
• What kind of problems/issues can we expect by hiring IT personnel
• Please comment on the quality of education in Computer Science and Information Technology

I will send you separately questions about salary ranges for various positions.

F. H. (Europe)

Replying: 

Dear Mr. H.

We are delighted your clients are considering Egypt, for a regional location. In addition to the current IT investment friendly laws and growing IT infrastructure, you should find our HR related answers below most encouraging:

Q: Please indicate the ease of recruiting the below described IT competent employees in your area. Ranking from 1 to 5 (1 hard to recruit, 5 is easy to recruit):

Q: Please comment on the availability (in order to hire <50, 51-100, >100 persons) of these staff categories.

Please note in this category, if seeking high caliber individuals (A and B types); the name of the recruiting organization and training/skill development opportunities provided (not only the salary) will play a big role. If the name is recognized, then it is a definite plus.

Also, please note, solution specific skills will differ (eg. Oracle, OS/400, UNIX are more available). SAP experience is in very short supply.

Egypt has a large number of IT professionals working on an expatriate basis in the Arab Gulf (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain etc..) these are always on the look for suitable opportunities to return home. They are not permanent immigrants. Also, after September 11th, numerous Egyptians who have dual nationalities and are working in North America (USA and Canada) have expressed a keen interest to relocate to Egypt, pending the availability of suitable jobs.

·Q: Please comment on the turnover rate (“attrition”) or loyalty of IT personnel.

Low turnover / attrition if:

1.      Salary is within top 25% percentile of the function (not the industry, since IT skills easily migrate from IT companies to Industrial companies to banks etc…)

2.      Employer brand name is strong (Microsoft, HP, Oracle, Accenture, GE, Citibank etc..)

3.      Employer provides ongoing skill development opportunities (training, seminars, finances certifications, sends to vendor training etc..)

High turnover / attrition if:

1.      Salary is average or below.

2.      Employer is small or medium size set up.

3.      No opportunities are availed for skill development. 

Q: What kind of problems/issues can we expect by hiring IT personnel

None, as long as salaries are attractive, premises inspire credibility, the company has clear plans for Egypt (not a we will see how things go approach) and the interviewers spend some time selling the merits of “working for the company” and get back to selected candidates with offers within reasonable time. Involving senior non Egyptians in the interviewing process adds credibility to the “international” flavor of the company and that the head office has a keen interest in this new venture… it is a social thing. 

Q: Please comment on the quality of education in Computer Science and Information Technology

Since the mid nineties, Egypt has had 4 IT University Colleges.. this is addition to the Computers and Telecommunications Departments within Faculties of Engineering in 11 state universities that have been in existence for decades. Egypt also has a good Computer Department @ the American University in Cairo. Newer private universities (3) have also been established, these are less than 5 years old but have IT degrees.

Aside from universities, there are:

• A state owned “Information Technology Institute” http://www.iti.idsc.gov.eg  for new university graduates, to provide them with training in state-of-the-art software technologies. Usually 9 months programs. It has trained over 2,000 people in its 10 years of existence. It also has cooperation programs and joint degrees with some European universities.
• An independent quasi government institute “Regional IT Institute” www.riti.org that delivers numerous IT certification programs and IT post graduate degrees.

Hundreds of Egyptians have had certifications (Microsoft, CISCO, ORACLE etc…) and a good number have obtained  Masters degrees in an IT related discipline in Europe or the USA. Two notable programs to finance these studies are: The British Council Chevening Scholarship, now almost 20 years old, sending over 50 students to study every year in the UK (post graduate studies in various fields) and a USAID funded program for post graduate degrees in Business or IT.

In addition to the above, the Government of Egypt has embarked on an aggressive initiative to develop the IT skill base in Egypt, 2003 is the 3rd year for this initiative where 5,000 young university graduates are trained for 6 months (900 hours of full time training) in IT related areas: software development,  eBusiness, networking etc… This program is fully funded by the government, hence students do not pay any fees, they receive a monthly allowance during training. This program is conducted by companies such as IBM, Oracle, Nortel, Cisco, Alcatel etc..

For the longer term, the Government has adopted a number of measures to make PCs more affordable and available, hence two main initiatives were launched:

1.      PC sales to any willing subscriber of Telecom Egypt (the state owned fixed line monopoly), paid over 24 months, with no down payment.

2.      A PC for every school student in public schools (over 90% of all schools in Egypt), paid over 24 months, with no down payment.

The above is obviously a long term program to instill IT culture among broad segments of the population.

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

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