Selecting your Career

Asad-Ur-RehmanExecutive Director

Open Integrated Solutions (Pvt) Limited asad_urrehman@yahoo.com

It is a non-profit organization and determined to bring substantial improvement in Pakistani ICT industry.

Pakistani ICT industry witnessed a downfall after year 2000.

Most of the ICT service providers either had to closed down their operations or operated in survival mode, were not progressing.

In 2002, some senior and like-minded ICT professionals sat down and discussed the declining state of Pakistani ICT industry.

In April 2003, Ponder Alliance was formed to address the issues faced by the Pakistani ICT industry. Want to bring Industry & academia

closer

http://www.linkedin.com

Today's Session

Frequently Asked Questions

How to chose a Direction for career

Develop Roadmap

Plan Exaction

Importance Skills for growth

Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness

FAQs

What jobs are highly paid nowadays?

What jobs are hot nowadays ?

How can I pick the perfect career ?

I am not sure what path is suitable for me ?

Which career should I choose ?

Shall I do MBA OR MS after my BCS ?

Career Selection is influecned

IndividualCommunity

Workplace

Home

SchoolCollegeUniversity

Events

Roles

Events

Roles

ParentsInfluences

Friends Influences

Follow Trendsbe Engg or Dr.

Or banker Society

Influences

Have you ever ponder ?

Two graduates passing from same institute having approx equal technical

knowledge;

one would excel . . . other would not ?

How do you take important decisions of your life?

What is the best method for taking

decisions?

A Generalised Career Selection Process

We are influenced by parents, by friend by teachers

We are not sure how and when to take decision

What is the general process that will improve the possibility selecting a better career?

Career Selection

We must focus on two things in general

1- Single mildness of purpose in our life

2- High motivation

Focus on one thing.

What is it that you wish to accomplish?

You must be aware of your objectives in life.

You cannot specialize in two things.

Career Selection

Single mildness of purpose in our life

Find things you enjoy?

Discover what you don’t like

What are the things that you can do well,

What are your individual skills, abilities and interests?

Career Selection

High Motivation

Career Selection Process

1- Chose a direction based on your strengths

2- Develop a roadmap

3- Execute, Monitor, Analysis

Take Corrective action and adjust roadmap

GoingOK

No

Yes

1.1 Analyze yourself1.2 Find out options1.3 Setup a target

2.1 Skills I should have2.2 Action Plan

• Action• Periodic analysis• Lesson Learned

1- Chose a Direction

This fear is a natural that what if . . I select a wrong target.

One must select a achievable target, even if it turn out to be wrong after some time.

It is still better than people who have no direction and having career based on some events in their life.

Remember career development is a lifelong process and involves more than simply taking straight decisions.

Absolute clarity is not necessary before you make a move.

Chose a Direction

1.1 Analyze yourself

1.2 Find out your strengths

1.3 Find out Job options

1.4 Setup a direction

Chose a Direction

1.1 Analyze yourself

What do I want out of my life ?

Do not focus on earning money only.

What do I want my career to do for me ?

How do I wish to spend my time for rest of my life ?

How can my values, interests, strengths, and preferences be actualized ?

Everyone of us is born with a unique combination of talents and personality.

Chose a Direction

Which subjects do I excel in ? How do I like to spend my time ? What are my favourite subjects ? What is really important to me ? What activities do I find satisfying ? What adjectives would I use to describe

myself ? What kind of work environment would I feel

most comfortable in ?

1.2 Find out your strengths

Chose a Direction

1.3 Find out Options

Invest some time knowing your options.

Learning about your career choices is very important step.

Develop knowledge about the world of work.

Your decision should based on knowledge not based on assumptions.

Must know what the pros and cons of each career option are?

Do you know what are the career options available for you?

Chose a Direction

1.3 Find out Options

Find out the opportunities available in the market based on your skills and strengths.

Collect data required for decisions making; must explore the options available.

You can explore the Job opportunities by

o Meet professional in the same field

o Search & read from Internet / Magazines

o Discuss with faculty members

Chose a Direction

1.4 Set Target

You know your strengths . . .

You know job opportunities . . .

Setup a target for yourself

Communications skillsAnalytical approachPeople friendly

Software DeveloperQA EngineerNetwork EnggCommunication Engg

People whose work is satisfying, achieve a high level of success.

Chose a Direction

1.4 Set Target

What I want to be ?

Biz Analyst

SystemAnalyst

QA

Project Manager

Network Manager

MarketingManager

Is it the money I get attracted OR it is my interest in that field ?

2- Develop a Roadmap

2- Develop a Roadmap

2.1 Skill sets I should have

2.2 Action Plan

Once you have enough data about the possible career options available in the market than develop a plan where you would to be

Develop a Roadmap

2.1 Skill sets I should have

What qualification I should have? What kind of experience will help in

acquiring that kind of job? Do I need to have special training or

some certification?

Suppose . . . I want to be a Project Manager

Find out requirement for your target

Communication Skills

Leadership

Biz Knowledge

Interpersonal Skills

Develop a Roadmap

2.2 Action Plan

Standing

here

Wants to be there after 5-

years

Degree Relevant Experience

Higher Studies

SpecialTraining

Desire to be a Project Manager

Qualified to be a Project Manager

1-year 2-years

3-years

4-years

We plan our vacations with better care than our lives

3- Execute & Analyze

Execute & Analyze

You have setup a target . . .

Developed an action Plan . . .

Now execute your plan

Learn lesson from your mistakes / failures

Correct your action plan

Take further action and move on

Action must complement your plan, otherwise it is wishful

thinking

Important skills for growth ?

Soft skills are important

Soft skills plays very important part in your career growth.

o Attitudeo Leadership o Communicationo Inter-personal Skillso Initiative

Happy to take your questions