Studying Abroad for A Career in Pakistan

Want an international education but a career in Pakistan? One thing or another always brings us back home. It could be the circle of life or the need to be back to the culture and tradition we know so well, but often students choose to go study abroad and then return home to work on their career. This could be because the workforce here offers more opportunities, or someone might decide they want to work to improve the country in some way. But what are the careers that will help you maintain a stable lifestyle in Pakistan? We’ve mentioned below some of the best career and job opportunities available in Pakistan:

  1. Chartered Accountants:
    Chartered accountants are very successful entrepreneurs. There’s a lot of respect for this career in Pakistan, and it is a very well-paying job due to the high qualifications and skills of the individuals who take up this job.
  2. Architect:
    Architecture is a rising profession and field of study in Pakistan. As Pakistan extends international relations, there’s more scope than ever for architects to work with international and local companies to make a name for themselves.
  3. Surgeon:
    Surgery is a tough profession, but it is all the more valued in Pakistan due to its ever-needed necessity. There’s a deficiency of well-educated and well-trained surgeons in Pakistan who are extremely successful with their patients, which makes it a very high-paying job and one that many should seek out.
  4. Lawyer:
    Pakistan is a progressing country, and its youth are learning more and more about social issues and the awareness that should be brought about because of them. As a country that’s doing its best to advocate for legal business and conduct, law has become a popular career choice. One needs to be able to understand the legal foundations that the country is built on and what is legal and illegal here, which is why so much of the youth is opting for law, and not just because of the pay.
  5. Engineering:
    The world is moving towards an era of innovation and technology where people can see the world and create solutions to miniscule problems, which makes the need for engineering all the louder. Pakistan cherishes all types of engineering, which could be mechanical, biomedical, electrical, chemical, etc. As a developing country, Pakistan now needs more than ever: young, bright-minded individuals who can look at the country and its issues from a different perspective and understand in depth what could be done to tackle all the practical difficulties the country is facing.
  6. Software Engineer/Software Development Manager:
    As the world moves on to its digital era, the rise in the need for software engineers and development managers is felt all around. Pakistan is catching up with the rest of the world, but any developing field requires a push. For Pakistan, the push would be brilliant-minded students who have studied at internationally acclaimed universities and learned what other countries have done to remain afloat in the digital era, who can implement what they’ve studied and worked on within Pakistan and develop the software industry in Pakistan.
  7. Digital Marketer:
    Within every industry, there is currently a need to broadcast the services and products offered. This task is taken on and carried out by digital marketers and professionals in their field, who know the best ways to reach out to an audience and consumers. Pakistan has seen the works of these people played out on TV or on the billboards along the way, and this field only remains rising more and more.
  8. Physician:
    Pakistan is susceptible to many diseases due to a lack of well-developed healthcare systems, which makes physicians more needed. With the onset of COVID-19, dengue, rubella, measles, polio, diabetes, etc., physicians are a highly demanded profession in the country, with almost every hospital needing more and more.
  9. Dentist:
    Lack of awareness and implementation of proper dental hygiene causes some of the worst dental cases in Pakistan. Almost every other person has some sort of dental problem, which is why dentists are highly paid in Pakistan.
  10. Pilots:
    As more international traffic heads to and from Pakistan, there is an added requirement for trained pilots who can cope with different time zones, long flights, and the issues that may arise with the aircraft.
  11. Information Technology and Systems Professionals:
    More and more companies are digitizing to keep up with the fast-moving developments that the world is making, and with that comes more opportunities for people highly qualified to deal with all the equipment that is needed to keep everything stored in a cloud.
  12. Project Manager:
    Pakistan is a country that’s working to make a name internationally in all industries possible. It’s a busy country with many things happening all at once and many projects coming up that are promised to take things to the next level. This calls for a project manager, someone who can organize all the tasks and deadlines of everything that has to be done to ensure efficiency. A project manager position within any of Pakistan’s well-known companies is a very well-paying and well-respected job.
  13. Supply Chain Manager:
    Being authentic and meeting certain set standards is something that Pakistan is famous for. To ensure that all needs are being met and all operations are carried out to full capacity while meeting quality standards, a supply chain manager is very important to any company or business. The hype for supply chain managers in Pakistan has only increased in the past few years and will continue to do so, which is what makes it such a good career option.
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Should I consider a degree that offers work opportunities and experience during the course of my study?

It’s a well-known fact that once a graduate enters the working force, the one common requirement by all industries is proof of some sort of work experience. To help with this dilemma, universities have started offering degrees that offer work opportunities and experience during the course of your study program. There are many types of structured work experiences, such as co-op placements, internships and so on.

Universities and colleges usually have affiliated firms where co-op students and interns can enroll to study and participate in a job position which is relevant to their field of study.

Co-operative education combines your study program with an official paid work term. Co-op aims to mimic a career in your field, and to introduce you to tasks that you would be doing if you continue in this career.

Co-op programs have many benefits that you could consider before applying:

–   You get work experience in your field

–   You get paid for your work as a co-op student

–   You can network and make valuable connections

–   You can take a break from your studies

–   You get interviewing and resume-building skills

–   You can understand what a workplace culture is like

–   You can increase your awareness of global challenges and industry issues

However, a co-op program isn’t for everyone. Here are some cons that you should think about before applying:

–   A co-op program can cause your degree to take longer to complete

–   You need more organization to plan your degree because some courses are only offered at certain times.

–   The workload can be hectic

–   A co-op program can cost more than without.

–   There is no guarantee of a co-op position

Some universities in Canada offer co-op programs.

Internships are supervised full or part-time work experience opportunities related to a student’s area of study. This could be paid or unpaid. The advantages and disadvantages are the same as those of co-op programs. Where co-op programs are multi-work term agreements, internships are only one-term work assignments, usually in the summers,

Some countries that are well-known for programs that offer such work oppurtunities:

·   Australia

Many students in Australia take part in internships. For some courses, it’s even compulsory, and students get academic credit for their work. Usually, however, these internships are unpaid.

·   Canada

Universities in Canada offers programs for co-op, internships and/or work-integrated learning. International students are required to apply for a co-op or intern work permit if they want to participate in these programs.

·   United Kingdom

Institutes in the United Kingdom offer for students: internships and work placements for work experience opportunities.

Internships vary in how long they can be, and students don’t receive academic credit. Students are paid at least the National Minimum Wage.

·   United States

International students in the US have some options for work experience while studying: CPT (Curricular Practical Training) and OPT (Optional Practical Training). Students are required to complete their first year before they can be considered for these programs.

CPT is off-campus training outlined in a degree outline. OPT is off-campus internships or employment within their field of study. However, for OPT, students are required to apply for an additional visa.

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What is Career Counseling?

Career Counseling is a process that will help you to know and understand yourself and the world of work in order to make career, educational, and life decisions. Career development is more than just deciding on a major and what job you want to get when you graduate.  It really is a lifelong process, meaning that throughout your life you will change, situations will change, and you will continually have to make career and life decisions. The goal of Career Counseling is to not only help you make the decisions you need to make now, but to give you the knowledge and skills you need to make future career and life decisions.

Your Career Counselor WILL:

  • Help you figure out who you are and what you want out of your education, your career, and your life.
  • Be someone for you to talk to about your thoughts, ideas, feelings, and concerns about your career and educational choices, who will help you sort out, organize, and make sense of your thoughts and feelings.
  • Help you identify the factors influencing your career development, and help you assess your interests, abilities, and values.
  • Help you locate resources and sources of career information.
  • Help you to determine next steps and develop a plan to achieve your goals.

Your Career Counselor WON’T:

  • Tell you what to do, or tell you what you should major in or what career you should pursue.
  • Advise you in course selection or scheduling.

Who needs Career Counseling?

Since career development is a lifelong process, Career Counseling can be appropriate for anyone, including freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and even alumni. The earlier you get started making intentional decisions about your future, however, the better prepared you will be! We recommend that all freshmen come in and visit with a Career Counselor.

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