THE

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 Written by:
Syed Waqas Ali

Contributions made by:

Saeeda Sarwat Naqvi - Mechanical Engineer
Yasir Farooq - Electrical Engineer
Neha Mahmood - Civil Engineer
Wasif Khan - Chemical Engineer
Danish Hameed Mirza - Material Science Engineer
Uzair Javaid - Chemical Engineer
Saqib Zafar - Software Engineer
 Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Market Trends
3. Higher Education Commission
4. Getting your First Job with PEC
5. Where to Find a Job? – The Basics
6. Preparing your CV/Resume
7. Cover Letter
8. Entrance Exam – NTS
9. Entrance Exam – PIEAS
10. Preparing for the Interview
11. Internships after Graduation
12. Job through Masters
13. Connections, References & the GPA Link
14. The Importance of GPA
15. Hard work & Persistence
16. Online Freelancing
17. Employment Opportunities Abroad
18. Join Pakistan Army
19. Civil Services
20. BONUS: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
21. Conclusion
 Copyright 2015 by EngineerU, LLC - All rights reserved.

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 Foreword
Thank you and congratulations for downloading, “The Secrets to Getting an
Engineering Job in Pakistan”. This book will give you an exclusive inside
look into how engineers all over Pakistan are getting jobs within the highly
competitive engineering industry. We have put together a top team of
engineers from various backgrounds ad industries to put together this guide.
Whether you are straight out of college and looking for your first engineering
job, or you have been in the industry for years and want a fresh start, this
comprehensive book is the missing ingredient you need to land your next job.

Introduction
Engineering is one of the world most established professions, and one of the
fastest growing ones in the 21st century. Since the industrial revolution, the
world has changed and natural sciences have advanced by a great deal.
Educational institutions have flourished, curriculums have been prepared, and
engineering has become a vital field for the progress of society.
Fast forward to the 21st century, the age of globalization.
The world is no longer what it used to be. The lines between developed &
developing countries have blurred, and widespread connectivity has put
several nations at vigorous competition. Talking with respect to Engineers,
knowledge is limitless. No single person can learn each & every course book.
Concepts such as specialization, networking and juicing up one’s CV are on
the rise, and play a significant role in securing a job.
While developed countries have speedily altered their social & educational
system to accommodate the growing need for employment, countries like
Pakistan have been slow to adopt to these changes. They still follow decades
old customs & regulations, which can sometimes make it extremely difficult
for a fresh graduate to secure a decent job.
Guidance is one of the biggest issues in Pakistan, as much of the population is
still undergoing an educational revolution. This means that a very small
percentage cyclically benefits from their experience within the educational &
professional landscape of Pakistan.
However, not all is grim. There have been numerous success stories and the
continued uplift of the private sector has breathed new life into the market.
Today the Pakistani Engineering Market is a complex place for a fresh
Engineer and works on a hybrid of connections, merit and experience.
How can one master the art of securing an Engineering Job in Pakistan? This
book covers every single aspect, comprehensively explains the ambiguities
and uncovers the secrets behind success in the job market.
Read on and find out.
 Market Trends
The Pakistani market is a very diverse one. Full-scale industrialization kicked
off in the 1960s and since then, one way or another, the country has been on
the path to development. The requirement for engineers has grown, but in
recent times, the continued economic crisis due to a plethora of reasons has
resulted in an acute employment problem.
Forgetting about the previous grievances and focusing on the current ones in
particular, it has to be admitted that the country is seen in a positive light.
More foreign direct investment is coming to Pakistan than ever before, and
government sponsored infrastructure projects are creating more avenues for
engineers than ever. But then why are there so many jobless Engineers in
Pakistan, right? Have some patience and you’ll have the answer.
Before we move ahead, there is one entity that can’t be ignored, given its
massive impact on Pakistan’s economy: China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Termed as a game-changer by the government on numerous occasions, the
massive infrastructure project has singlehandedly uplifted the country’s
economy. In fact, it has had a domino effect and is indirectly responsible for
alleviation of several problems, leading to increased commercial & industrial
projects.
Terming the Pakistani Engineering Market in Black & White is a difficult
thing to do, but stating clearly, a fresh Engineering Graduate has the following
options after completing his Bachelors:
- Apply for an internship/job at a Government Firm
- Apply for an internship/job at a Private Company
- Apply for Full Time Masters at a Government University
- Apply for Masters abroad
- Entrepreneurship
These five options await every single Engineer in Pakistan, unless of course
he/she plans on taking the route towards an established family business.
While these may seem simple and easy-to-follow, there is a never-ending
abyss in each of them which can easily turn into a freshy’s worst nightmare
upon graduation.
Don’t worry as we’ll be giving you clear & comprehensive how-to style
instructions on tackling each of these options. Note that, we’ll not be starting
off from the very first year of your Bachelors, but instead treat you as a final
year or graduated engineer.
 Higher Education Commission
Starting off with the very beginning, being from a revered Educational
institution can help you a great deal in succeeding in the Pakistani Job Market.
While the factor of referrals, recommendation or “sifarish” may be venturing
in your mind, I would like to state it very clearly that those work only in
Government Sector. Even though they are important for securing a job in
Pakistan, making sure you have the right start can mean the world to you.
HEC Recognized Universities
HEC or the Higher Education Commission is an independent government
body, established for overseeing, regulating & maintaining the higher
education institutions of Pakistan to the highest of standards.
At all times, you must be clear about one thing, having a degree from an HEC
recognized university is the single most important thing when it comes to
getting a job as an Engineer in Pakistan.
There are hundreds of degree-granting universities all across Pakistan, but
without accreditation from the HEC, the degree is literally a piece of paper.
As of 2017, there are 179 degree awarding institutions in Pakistan registered
with the HEC.
A list of recognized universities is as follows:
http://www.hec.gov.pk/english/universities/pages/rank.aspx
HEC accreditation is something that most undergraduates are aware of and if
you’re from an engineering University that isn’t recognized by HEC, then
you’re in for a lot of trouble.
There’s no easy way to put this, but your job prospects would narrow down as
time progresses and your skills will be exploited by every business owner
looking for an Engineer. In a nutshell, you’ll have to do Bachelors once again,
from an attested university.
 Getting your First Job with PEC
The PEC or Pakistan Engineering Council is the second most important
governing body every fresh Engineer should think of. Basically, this is a
federal institution for regulation of chartered & professional engineers. The
PEC is known to follow strict global standards, and recognize institutions
based on their curriculum & research standing. In addition to accrediting
institutions, it also holds test for fresh engineers for registration of engineers,
consulting engineers & technicians.
This is the first & most basic step to securing a job in the Pakistani
Engineering Market, something many people are not aware of. Having sound
knowledge of the workings of PEC can get you your very first job, right out of
university!
Who is a Registered Engineer?
A Registered Engineer is a person who has an accredited engineering
qualification, whether he is working privately or employed by an engineering
public organization, and registered by the PEC.
Who is a Professional Engineer?
A Professional Engineer is a person who has an accredited engineering
qualification and after obtaining a professional experience of five years, has
passed the prescribed engineering practice examination and is registered as
such by the Council.
What is the difference between the two?
A new graduate is registered with PEC as Registered Engineer. A Registered
Engineer can become Professional Engineer after completing five years’
experience and passing engineering practice examination.
Is it necessary for an Engineer to be registered with PEC?
An engineer cannot undertake any professional engineering works unless
registered with PEC. Therefore, registration with PEC is mandatory.
What is the difference between B.E, B.S and B.Sc. (Engineering)?
There is no difference. There are different nomenclatures which are used by
different Engineering universities.
Registering one’s self with the PEC is one of the first & foremost steps an
engineer must take after graduation. Doing so, would put him/her on a
national list of Registered Engineers which is available at all times to
potentially interested companies.
How can a fresh Engineer register with PEC?
This used to be one of the most complication & complex problems for
engineers after graduation, but today the entire operation has been
streamlined.
Simply visit the website: http://www.pec.org.pk
Simply clicking on the tab, “New Registrations of Engineers” would be
enough!
Supervisory Engineer
According to a landmark ruling that went into effect after 1st January 2017, all
firms active in the construction industry are now required to employ engineers
that hold a supervisory certificate.
This ruling has instantly created thousands of jobs for fresh graduates, mostly
for Civil, Mechanical and Electrical ones. How can you reap benefit of this?
Here’s how:
You’ll need to apply for a Supervisory Certificate through the PEC website:
http://www.pec.org.pk/ApplySup.aspx
There are three prerequisites before you can apply:
1. You must be a registered engineer.
2. You must have graduated in 2016.
3. You must not have received a supervision certificate before.
From there on, you can simply register online, apply for a certificate and
receive it from your regional PEC office.
Once obtained, you’ll be a part of the following list:
http://www.pec.org.pk/Suplist.aspx
This is a great first step towards securing a job in a construction firm, as it
would not only provide much-needed experience to a fresh engineer but also
required technical skills.
If you’re worrying about getting a supervisory job in this never-ending list,
then rest-assured, as there are hundreds of construction firms in Pakistan that
are registering themselves as the noose is being tightened by the regulatory
bodies.
Therefore, this is the number 1 opportunity for a fresh graduate, but with
every other thing in the world, there’s an evil side to this as well.
Malpractice
There have been instances where firms have bought-off Engineering
Supervisory Certificates from Engineers for a one-time sum.
Many fresh graduates are unaware of the legality of this action, and can
sometimes get tricked into selling their certificate. You must be aware that
this is illegal, and if you’re found guilty, you will be held responsible as much
as the firm, and prosecuted alongside it.
PEC has set the minimum wage of a Supervisory Engineer as 30,000 PKR. If
any firm fails to honor this then you can make the firm pay a hefty fine by
timely reporting to the Council.
So, there you have it, a fresh engineer with a decent salary equivalent to that
of an internship!
 Where to Find a Job? – The Basics
Getting hired as a Supervisory Engineer isn’t an option available for everyone.
For that, you must have a graduate year of 2016. In fact, the competition
would be stiff even if you’re a 2016 graduate as there are only 12,000
expected posts that need to be filled.
So how about you look for a proper job? Internship, job, probation, etc. there
are several technical terms that burden the mind of young engineers. For this
chapter specifically, we’ll be considering anything that leads to a paycheck a
job.
In a country like Pakistan, which is a hybrid of both conventional & modern
technologies, there are several mediums through which a job may be posted.
One of the most widespread & frequently used one is through Newspapers, in
the classified ads section. The following is an example of an Ad in the Careers
section of the “Dawn” Newspaper:
This is just one of the dozens of job postings that are printed every day,
however most of these belong to the Government-sector. This is more of a
formality for public-corporations to erase the myth of nepotism and to ensure
every Pakistani gets equal opportunity.
While the newspapers’ classified section is enough for government-sector
announcements, there are some jobs that don’t get printed in these sections as
the firms are looking for engineers who get there on their own. By doing so,
these firms are actually filtering out unwanted applicants who are simply a
waste of time for their HR department. So how can one know which company
has an opening?
There are two ways to do so:
- Surf every single potential company’s website.
- Create an account on online classified services website.
While the first option may not seem exhaustive to a young mind, it eventually
becomes a waste of time as one gets more & more responsibilities.
Pakistan has embraced the connectivity revolution with open arms and despite
every problem it faces, has a hugely connected population. The availability of
internet also sprang up several online services for job-hunting Pakistanis. By
using online classified ads services, not only will you get up-to-date postings
but also a bigger chunk of the market.
So, which websites can be your biggest ally in securing a job, specifically in
Pakistan?
1. Rozee.pk
This is the work of a Pakistani entrepreneur who now owns Naseeb
Networks Inc. It was created primarily to help young unemployed
individuals with decent-paying jobs. The website works on
international-standards and has a completely streamlined interface &
algorithm.
It is the 2nd most trafficked employment website in Pakistan and has
helped over 1 million job-seekers since it came online.
The procedure is simple, simply visit the website, create your account
and set the credentials.
The best thing, it’s free so you won’t have to pay a single rupee when
applying to jobs. Doing so would only increase your likelihood of
securing a job sooner, rather than later.
 2. Paperpk.com
Even though this is the most visited online job-portal in Pakistan, it
doesn’t have a solid interface, especially for younger individuals. After
asking several young engineers, we found that they preferred Rozee.pk
than Paperpk.com due to its simplicity.
The procedure is similar to Rozee.pk. Create an account and start
applying.

3. Jang Classifieds
Jang is a very renowned & trusted Urdu newspaper that has been in
circulation for decades now. Like several other companies, Jang has
also embraced the internet-revolution currently going on in Pakistan.
Recently, it has launched an online classified service, through which
one can easily get a comprehensive idea of the available jobs in the
Pakistani market.
Simply go to: http://classads.jang.com.pk/
Set your city and you’ll be good to go.
Jang is currently leading other Pakistani newspapers in this particular
field, due to its strong links to the commercial & industrial sector as
well as its wide audience.
Reference
This is just a prelude to the complete chapter we’ve written on this topic. In
Pakistan, the social & professional landscape is quite linked with each other.
People often fail to differentiate between personal & professional lives, often
doing favors and exchanging them at a later time.
The concept of “Reference” in Pakistan is quite rampant, and in simple words,
if you know someone at a higher post in an organization, you’ll be able to
secure a job for yourself. Some young engineers do have their fathers or
uncles, etc. at a higher position and find no difficulty in entering a specific
company, however for engineers who must work their way to the top on their
own, getting a job is a huge challenge.
How to build connections & establish references in reputed organizations?
This is the real question, and if someone masters this art, he/she can easily get
himself hooked into the job market.
Stay tuned, as I have an entire chapter on making new connections &
executing them at the right time.
 Preparing your CV/Resume
Even if you’re applying for the Supervisory Engineer post at PEC, the firms
that will ultimately hire you would want to see professionalism from your end.
Remember, the post isn’t something to be taken for-granted.
Not just that. Even if you’re in your final year and looking to score an
internship between your semester break, you’ll need a decent CV to address
your case.
A CV or Resume is a universal document, one which has high significance in
both developed & developing countries. For students, in particular those who
lack personal image or reputation in the field, a CV can be a nifty way in.
Whenever there’s a topic regarding CV/Resume, every fresh graduate or
undergraduate has one question in his/her head: What is the difference
between a CV and a Resume?
Well, a CV or Curriculum Vitae is an in-depth document that goes on for two
or more pages, packing a high level of detail about one’s achievements. The
CV usually covers publications, awards, honors and accomplishments.
On the other hand, a Resume is a concise & brief document that doesn’t go
longer than a single page. The prime intention is to give a quick overview of
one’s personal achievements without going into too much detail.
To sum it all up, the three major differences between the two are:
- CVs are long.
- They cover the entire career.
- A CV is static for multiple jobs while Resume is customized for each
position.
By now, I’m sure the difference would be clear. If you’re still confused as to
which one you should write, here’s our recommendation.
- If you’re an undergraduate in the final year or a fresh graduate, then it
would be better to stick with a CV because, you may lack specialized
experience for a specific position.
- On the other hand, if you’re an engineer who has considerable amount
of experience working in various firms, then stick with a Resume.
Both are essentially the same except for the stated differences.
Getting Started with your Resume or CV
Although this rule is general, for resumes, it is important to keep in mind that
your document should be specific to your experience and the position for
which you are applying. You have flexibility in the choice, naming, and
placement of sections. While your contact information and education are
usually listed first, other sections can be in any order, based on your strengths
and the requirements of the position or opportunity. If you are unsure if you
should provide a resume or a CV, you may want to contact the organization
directly to see which they prefer.
1. Make a rough list of your experiences: Education, research, teaching,
publications/presentations, organizations, etc.
2. Think about your contributions, skills you used and developed, and
your significant achievements
3. Begin to craft your resume or CV by organizing these experiences into
sections.
The following is a description of several of the most common sections
contained within a CV or Resume.
Contact Information:
Include your name, present and/or permanent address, telephone number, and
email address.
Summary of Qualifications:
Included on a resume, a set of bullet points (skills statements) that concisely
highlight skills and experiences on your resume that relate directly to the
position.
Education:
Include all institutions of higher education you have attended and are
currently attending in reverse-chronological order (most recent first). Include:
The degree you are seeking, university name, college name, city and state of
the university, your (expected) graduation date, and GPA. Thesis and
dissertation titles, minors, coursework, academic awards, and study abroad
programs may also be included in this section.
Thesis/Dissertation:
Provide the title and a short description of your work, its framework, and your
findings, as well as your advisor and committee members.
Experience:
For each experience (paid or volunteer) include your position title,
organization name and location, and dates of employment.
Example of skills statement: Demonstrates teamwork
Weak Skills Statement: “Manufactured diagnostic reagents”
Strong Skills Statement: “Collaborated in a team of 4 to efficiently fabricate
voltage-inverters.”
Avoid using personal pronouns such as “I” and make sure verbs are in the
correct tense (past tense for past experiences and present tense for current
experiences). List your experiences in reverse chronological order (most
recent first). Consider creating specific experience sections to highlight
different types of experiences, such as “Related Experience,” “Research
Experience,” “Leadership Experience,” etc.
Skills
Include tangible skills, such as language, technical, and laboratory skills.
Consider your level of proficiency. Avoid including transferable or “soft”
skills, such as communication skills.
Publications:
Provide a list of published works and presentations authored or co-authored
including the title, co-authors or presenters, place of publications or
presentations, and dates similar to a bibliography page.
When included on a resume the list of publications should be selected based
on the job description. On a CV, you will provide a complete list of your
works.
Professional Associations:
List professional associations/organizations in which you hold memberships,
including dates of your involvement and a description of your contribution if
you have been involved beyond general membership.
Awards & Honors:
List competitive scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships received, names
of scholastic honors, and teaching or research awards you have received,
specifically those most relevant to the position.
Certifications:
Include certificates related to your field you have earned. List the name of the
certificate and its expiration date.
Grants Received:
Provide the name, dates, and amount of grants you have written and received.
References:
When requested as part of an application, include the name, job title,
organization name, address, phone number, and email address for 3-5
individuals. It can also be helpful to provide a brief statement describing your
relationship with each reference. If included along with a resume, references
are on a separate page that is formatted to match your resume. If included as
part of your CV, references may be placed at the end of the document.
If arranging such information would be difficult then you may simply state,
“References would be provided upon request”.

Tips while writing your Resume or CV:

A resume or CV may seem to be a simple document, but in fact crafting the
perfect balance is an art. By following a few simple tips, you can greatly
heighten the level of your CV/Resume, and have a better a prospect at a job.
• The length of your resume or CV will depend on your level of
experience and qualifications. Generally, a graduate resume should be
1-3 full pages and a CV should be 3-5 pages long. However, based on
your experiences, career field, and the position description, it could be
longer or shorter. Whatever the case, only print your document on one
side of the paper and include your name and the page number at the
top of each page.
• Avoid using a resume or CV template. This decreases your ability to
personalize and make changes as your document evolves.
• Your resume or CV should be well organized, without spelling errors,
and easy to read. An employer spends a short amount of time reading
your document—it is imperative that the employer clearly sees the
most important qualifications.
• To organize your document, you may choose to use bold, italics, all
caps, indenting, and bullets. You will want to use these sparingly to
emphasize the most important information. Avoid pictures, graphics,
 non-black ink, shading, and symbols instead of traditional, round, solid
bullet points.
• It is a good idea to start with a 1-inch margin on each side. You can
expand the margins if need be. Font size should be between 10-12
point, and you will want to choose easy to read font styles, such as
Times New Roman, Arial, or Garamond. Keep font size and style
consistent throughout your CV (except for your name, which should
be a larger size).
It is imperative that you realize that a CV or a Resume is a unique & personal
piece of document. Looking at samples isn’t forbidden but it is better to have
a personal touch in your own work. Being honest and factual is the key, while
at the same time highlighting your strengths. The last bit is important as a
fresh graduate doesn’t have a lot of cards to play. Remember to organize the
document so that the most important bits of information are at the top.
About the tailoring part. While a resume needs to be highly altered, a CV
needs only slight modifications. Still, you shouldn’t paint your entire life’s
story on the CV and still modify it according to the position. You must make a
simple and to-the-point resume with the least number of bells and whistles,
your resume or CV must contain correct and elaborate information of your
schooling and college degrees. It should contain one to three references of real
people who can attest your character and skills. If you provide reference of
your teachers it would be best – and will look great on your resume.
Don’t worry as we’ve got a few examples lined up for you.
UZAIR JAVAID
B.Sc. Chemical Engineer
Contact:
E-mail:
CNIC:
Address:

CAREER OBJECTIVE
Seeking a career with suitable job according to my abilities and qualification which will provide me the
platform for become a well-recognized professional.

EDUCATION
Qualification Year Institute & Board Percentage/CGPA
M.Sc. Chemical
2012-2014 University of Engineering and Technology Lahore 3.32
Engineering
B.Sc. Chemical Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering
2010-2012 3.146
Engineering and Technology Multan (Governed by UET Lahore)

Intermediate 2008-2010 Rise College of Science Multan / Bise Multan 80.81%

Matriculation 2006-2008 Govt. Pilot Secondary School Multan / Bise Multan 80.67%

INTERNSHIP
Worked as internee at AL-HAMMAD CHEMICAL and Fertilizer Industry in Jaranwala (Pakistan) from April 2011 to
June 2011 (three month)

Learnings:
 Manufacturing of H2SO4 (Sulfuric Acid), SSP (Single Super
Phosphate) and ZNSO4 (Zinc Sulfate).
 Laboratory testing of above mentioned products.
 Health and Safety Aspects.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Organization: Musa Pak Chemicals Industries Pvt Ltd
Website: http://www.musapakchemical.com
Tenure: August 2011 – Till Present
Designations: Trainee Engineer
Responsibilities:

 Supervising plant operations

 Maintain product quality
  Investigating and troubleshooting plant/process problems
 Ensuring that equipment works to its specification and to appropriate capacities
 Assessing safety and environmental issues

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

 Aspen Plus
 MATLAB
 Microsoft Office
 Microsoft Visio

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

 Hardworking, Energetic and well Disciplined

 Positive Thinking and self-motivated
 Team working and team management skills
 Adaptive to new environment
 Flexible
 Quick Learner
 Good communication skills

ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXTRA CIRCULAR ACTIVATES:

 Got PEEF (Punjab Education Endowment Fund) scholarship at Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University
of Engineering and Technology
 Got laptop as scholarship from “Shahbaz Sharif (Chief Minister Punjab) youth initiative program”
 Indoor games
 Reading Newspaper
 Social working
 Attend seminar and awareness session

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

Father’s Name: Javaid Hanif

Date of Birth: 14 Aug 1990
Domicile: Multan (Punjab)
Marital Status: Single
Nationality: Pakistani
Religion: Islam
Muhammad Yasir Farooq Phone:
Electrical Engineer E mail:
OBJECTIVE:
A dedicated, dynamic Electrical Engineer looking forward for a cooperative organization where there is healthy
growth and competitive environment to apply his skills, efforts and technical and analytical expertise effectively.
ACADEMICS:
B.Sc. Electrical Engineering: University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore CGPA 3.20/4.0 2011-2015
F.Sc. Pre-Engineering: Govt. Degree College, Kot Addu (BISE DG Khan) Percentage 86% 2009-2011
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Shirazi Trading Co. Ltd (Atlas Group of Companies) Executive Engineer, July, 16-Cont.
 Sales & Services in Healthcare division of General Electric (GE), installation of Bio-Medical equipment
 Troubleshooting , Quotations and Tenders, Sales excellency, Demonstrations and Customer meetings
 Performed preventive maintenance, fault identification and fault removal of Bio-Medical equipment
HUAWEI Technologies Pakistan Ltd. 5 Month Internship, 2015
 Project Management Process (PMP), Management hierarchy, Worked on 3G & 4G project of CMPak
 Microwave Transmission, Network Monitoring System (NMS), Line of Sight surveys, ATP procedure
Kot Addu Power Company Limited (KAPCO) 1 Month Summer Internship, 2014
 Studied operation and working of gas turbine and steam turbine in combined cycle operation
 Worked in maintenance department and switch yard, Learned excitation system if generator
GENCO III, TPS Muzaffargarh 1 Month Summer Internship, 2014
 Worked in Electrical operation system, Worked on Current Transformer and Potential Transformer
 Understanding the working of steam turbine & Rankin Cycle, observed transformer testing in lab
Heliostat Mirror Mechanism Final Year Project
Improved and research oriented Heliostat Mirror Mechanism for concentrated and clean energy
 Modified the functioning technique of Heliostat with less resources to achieve high efficiency
PLC Training & Programming 3 Days Workshop
Understood basic PLC Architecture, HMI and Programming in Ladder Logic using Mitsubishi Fx
SEMESTER PROJECTS:
 GSM MESSAGE RECEPTION: SMS receiving & networking through GSM module with the local network.
 POWERLESS AM RECEIVER: Amplitude Modulation radio without any external power source.
 TRANSFORMER DESIGN: 106 KVA transformer Model for the distribution purpose of electricity.
 FEEDER DESIGN: Designed and recommended conductors for Multan feeder with future growth.
 ADDER & MULTIPLEXER: Implemented logic circuits in logic designing using only universal gates.
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
 Head of sports organizing team, UET-Lahore
 Member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME-UET Chapter)
 Member of Society of Electrical Engineers (SEE-UET Chapter)
 Member of Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET-UET Chapter)
 Organizer of the Domestic Solar System Design Workshop
 Played U-16 for Pakistan Cricket Board at district level
 Winner of ‘Compete the Smarter’ IQ quiz at UET Lahore
 Runner up of ‘Code the Prize’ programming competition
 Blood Donor member in Blood Donor Society
COMPUTER & SOFTWARE SKILLS:
 ETAP  FDR-ANA  MATLAB  XILINX (Verilog)
 C Programming  PWS  Mitsubishi FX  PIC Asm
 iRiver RTN  Express PCB  Microsoft Office  Proteus
INTERESTS:
 Cricket  Badminton  Table Tennis  E-Gaming
 Movies  Newspaper  Teaching  TV shows
Danish Hameed Mirza
Materials Sciences Engineer

Career Summary & Objectives

An experienced Materials Sciences Engineer working in the field of Asset Integrity, Corrosion Management and NDT for the past three
years. I have a vast experience of working with multinational companies participating in projects for clients in the oil & gas industry.
Currently I am employed at Applus Velosi as an Integrity Engineer in their Asset Integrity Division and working on various projects for
clients in Pakistan, Middle East, North Africa & South East Asia. I am an API-580 Certified Risk Based Inspector & EXIDA Certified
Functional Safety Professional.
Aiming to work in an organization where I can maximize my techno-managerial skills and learn the various dimensions of both the
technical and non-technical operations involved in the running of the organization.

Key Skills
Corrosion Protection and Monitoring, Corrosion Damage Mechanisms (API 571), Risk Based Inspection (API-580) Non-Destructive
Testing, Defect Assessment, Corrosion Risk Assessment, Material Selection and Properties, Ultrasonic Testing & Wall Thickness
Analysis, Remnant Life Calculation, Pipeline Inspection and Risk Assessment, Bell-hole Selection Criteria, Internal External and Stress
Corrosion Cracking Direct Assessment, Cathodic Protection System (ICCP & SCP) for Tank Bottoms, Pipelines and Vessel Internals,
Inspection of CP System (PSP, E-logI), DCVG, CIPS, PCM, Soil Resistivity (Wenner Four Pin Method, Corrosion Management
Strategy, Chemical Injection, Protective Coatings, Integrity Operating Window, Safety Integrity Level Study.

Work Experience & Projects

Applus Velosi, Pakistan August 2014 – Present
Project Lead Engineer, Asset Integrity Division
Corrosion Management Program using CP and other Strategies for Jazaan Oil Refinery Saudi Aramco
 Detailed assessment of refinery operational parameters, P&IDs and PFDs for Corrosion Risk Assessment and RBI
Study in accordance with API-580 and API- 571
 Developing Integrity Operating Windows, Key Performance Indicators and Dashboard based on operational
parameters & design premise
 Detailed Evaluation of Cathodic Protection System for adequate protection to buried pipelines and tank bottoms.
 Locating Existing Corrosion Monitoring Locations, Chemical Injection Points, and Sampling Locations and
providing recommended locations for new points of corrosion monitoring chemical injection and sampling for
complete corrosion management
 Development of Inspection Plan based on Risk assessment as per API 580 Risk Based Inspection
 Developing Corrosion Management Program (CP System, Coating Selection , Chemical Injection and Material
Selection based on Service Velocity)
 Active monitoring of project progress using S-Curve and MS Project Bar Charts
Corrosion Management Program for Berry Gas Plant Saudi Aramco
 Detailed assessment of plant operations, engineering drawings and inspection history for development of
corrosion loops
 Determination of active corrosion damage mechanisms for each corrosion loop using API 571
 Development of Integrity Operating Windows with critical parameters for corrosion control, parameter
controlling and measuring points, consequences and actions required in case of parameter upset.
 Development of Corrosion Management KPI’s and Dashboard for various managerial levels
 Detailed study of Three Consecutive OSI reports and Corrosion Assessment Reports to determine major
corrosion challenges and provide possible remedial actions

Page 1 of 4
  Locating Existing Corrosion Monitoring Locations, Chemical Injection Points, and Sampling Locations and
providing recommended locations for new points of corrosion monitoring chemical injection and sampling for
complete corrosion management
 Listing highly critical areas based on Inspection Reports for areas with Corrosion rate more than 5 mpy as per
Saudi Aramco requirements
 Carrying out Risk Based Inspection Study with detailed risk assessment in accordance with API-580
 Evaluation and Up gradation of Corrosion Management Strategies (CP, Protective Coating & Chemical Injection)
 Development of Inspection Plan based on Risk assessment as per API 580 Risk Based Inspection
 Active monitoring of project progress using S-Curve and MS Project Bar Charts
Asset Integrity Management System for Oman Oil Company Exploration & Production
 Detailed assessment of OOCEP Operations & engineering drawings for development of asset integrity
management program
 Risk Assessment for identification of areas of concern and major challenges to integrity of the facility
 Development of Asset Integrity Management System including Dead Leg Risk Management, Corrosion Under
Insulation Risk Management, Chemical Injection Strategy, Corrosion Management, Pipeline Integrity
Management and Structural Integrity Management.
 Carrying out Risk Based Inspection Study with detailed risk assessment in accordance with API 580
 Development of Inspection Plan based on Risk assessment as per API 580 Risk Based Inspection
 Active monitoring of project progress using S-Curve and MS Project Bar Charts
Pipeline Integrity Management SNGPL Pakistan
 Detailed Risk assessment based on SNGPL Operations
 Development of Pipeline Integrity Management Program based on ASME B31.8S
 Detailed analysis of corrosion risk present in SNGPL pipelines, consequence analysis based on radius of impact
area and probability of failure calculations based on API 58I and Defect Assessment (ASME B31.G) for SNGPL
Pipelines
 Recommendations for Bell Hole Locations for External Corrosion Direct Assessment based on Coating Defects
(DCVG Survey) and Critical Angle of Pipeline
 Development of SOPs for Inspection of SNGPL Pipelines for DCVG, CIPS, PSP, PCM, PSP, UTS, MPT, DPT,
General Visual Inspection, Coating Inspection, Soil Resistivity, Soil Composition Analysis, ICDA, ECDA,
SCCDA,
 Development of Inspection Plan based on Risk assessment as per API 580 Risk Based Inspection
Comparative Assessment of ILI & Phonon Diagnostic Technique for Talisman Energy Malaysia
 Detailed Study of Mock Test carried out for Talisman Energy using Phonon Diagnostic Technique
 Detailed Study of In-Line Inspection reports for actual surveys carried out by Rosen and TDW
 Developing a comparative analysis report based on results of the mock test and actual inspection reports and the
criteria of NDT techniques developed by Pipeline Operator Forum.
 Active monitoring of project progress using S-Curve and MS Project Bar Charts
Safety Integrity Level Study for Sonatrach Algeria
 Safety integrity level study as per IEC 61508
o SIL assessment using risk graph and layer of protection analysis
o SIL verification using simplified equations and using industrial failure rate data
Safety Integrity Level Study for Qatar Petroleum Refinery
 Safety integrity level study as per IEC 61508
o SIL assessment using risk graph and layer of protection analysis
o SIL verification using simplified equations and using industrial failure rate data

Page 2 of 4
MAS Services, Pakistan January 2014 – July 2014
Cathodic Protection Engineer
Design of Internal Cathodic Protection System for Tank (Mg Anodes) for Sapphire Power Plant
 Design of SCCP CP System for Internal CP of Vessel
 Liaison with principal material supplier for timely supply of Mg Anodes
Annual Maintenance and Inspection of CP System for Tank Bottoms, Pipelines, Buried Tanks for Shell Pakistan
 Review of annual inspection reports of CP system installed at four sites of Shell Pakistan
 Annual Inspection of CP System to assess health of installed system and protection level using PSP survey,
Commissioning of CP System for Fire Water Line at Uch Power Plant
 Final Commissioning Report for 4 km Fire Water Line at Uch Power Plant
 Detailed analysis of problems faced during commissioning of CP System and recommending solutions based on
NACE standards
Development of SOPs based on Industrial Standards
 E-Log I Survey
 Soil Resistivity Test (Wenner 4-Pin Method)
 DCVG
 CIPS
Supply of Corrosion Monitoring Material
 Managing Principal Material Suppliers including Corrosion Technology Services, Rohrback Cosasco, Nixus
International
 Handled technical queries for clients and liaison between client and supplier for corrosion coupons, strongback
(pipe reinforcement tape), anodes, flange isolation kits and other material
Industrial Contracting (Tenders)
 Handling Tenders for projects of cathodic protection system and material supply
 Aware of terms involved in contracting such as Bid Bond, Performance Bond, LD Charges, and Inco-Terms
 Handling queries and enquiries from various clients including MPCL, SSGC, SNGPL, OGDCL, Shell Pakistan
and MOL
 Ordering material and ensuring timely delivery with proper handling of shipping documents
 Handling quotations and ensuring costing is done accurately and completely address client requirements
Internships & Freelance Work
Nestle Sheikhupura Factory, Pakistan July – August 2012
Intern Supply Chain Department
 Design of visual standards for raw & packaging store as per Nestle SOPs
 Design of warehouse yard for new raw & packaging storage facility as per Nestle safety standards

SNGPL, Pakistan July – August 2010

Intern Corrosion Control Department
 Pipeline current mapping survey for coating faults of buried gas pipeline
 Coating scratch test for 3 layer polypropylene coating

Page 3 of 4
Education
Bachelor of Engineering [Materials Sciences & Engineering] 2009-2013
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI) Pakistan

Trainings & Certifications

Certified Functional Safety Professional Certification Body: Exida
Certified API 580 Advanced Risk Based Inspection Professional American Petroleum Institute
Registered Engineer Pakistan Engineering Council
IELTS British Council Band: 8.5/9.0

Software Skills
Designing and Simulation: AutoCAD
VAILPLANT In-house RBI Software
Others: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project,

Page 4 of 4
 Cover Letter
An effective CV/Resume when coupled with a sparkling cover letter forms a
complete package, and greatly increases your chances of getting a job. For the
Pakistani Job Market in particular, cover letters are a necessity for
Government Companies as well as Private Conglomerates.
This wasn’t the popular trend a decade ago, but has a become a norm today,
owing to the number of graduates coming in the market each year. Therefore,
knowing how to write an effective & comprehensive cover letter will greatly
increase your chances of getting a job in the ever-competitive Pakistani
Market.
Basically, a cover letter performs the job of marketing you & your resume to
the reader. It forms a link between your resume and the job you’re applying
to. Together, these two pieces of documents would decide whether you would
be getting a call for interview or not.
Your cover letter must be geared towards your audience. Follow these steps
for a perfect one:
- Engage: As your cover letter, will form your first impression upon
your employer, you should be quick to engage his/her attention.
Convincing them to read the entire letter is a huge achievement as each
job in Pakistan gets thousands of entries.
- Research: Carrying out a pre-emptive strike per se would help you
with the technicalities of the job. In addition, you must be aware of the
organizations’ environment before you apply. You can use Google or
newspaper articles to get better acquainted.
- Review the Job Description: Always notice the skills that the
company requires, and once you do, link your resume with them.
Identify specific examples from the resume that demonstrate clearly
that you hold these skills.
- Address to an actual person: Whenever possible, try not to use “To
Whom it May Concern”. Call or email the location to get the
recipient’s name or at least the title. Non-seriousness can sometimes
cost you an interview in Government-sector jobs.
- Tailor: In addition to writing a clear, concise and error free letter, be
sure to add specifics to your letter. By doing so you’ll instantly
distinguish yourself from the rest of the group, as HR departments
receive hundreds of applications for each post they advertise.
There’s no better way to learn something than by actually doing it. Here’s a
sample encapsulating the format of a cover letter:
[Your name in full as reflected in resume]
[Address Line 1]
[Address Line 2]
[Date]
[Name of Hiring Manager]
[Designation of Hiring Manager]
[Name of company]
[Company Address Line 1]
[Salutation] [Surname of hiring manager],
RE: Application for XXX Position
Opening Paragraph: Introduce yourself to your reader (e.g. “I am a fresh
graduate from UET Taxila writing to apply for xxx.”). State where you saw
the position posted. Mention the contact who referred you – with her/his
permission – if the employer knows them. You might briefly summarize your
specific qualifications for the position or interest in the organization, or do so
later in the letter.
Middle Paragraph: Focus on one or two specific examples from your resume
that demonstrate you have the skills sought for the position. Emphasize
accomplishments and results that relate to the position. Don’t repeat long
sections of your resume. Use terms and a language style appropriate to the
field. Show you’ve researched the organization, but don’t recite facts and
figures from their website. Connect what you know about the organization to
your experience and skills. Your goal is to show why you would be excited to
have this specific position at this specific organization. By briefly stating the
organization’s mission, clients, programs, products, or services make the
receipt clearly understand what you would add to the organization.
Closing Paragraph: You might briefly summarize your qualifications and
interest in the position unless you’ve done so above. Offer a next step: “Will
you call to arrange an in-person or phone interview?” or “Will you be in the
area on a certain day and follow up to arrange a time to meet?” If you prefer,
simply use the closing paragraph to say that you look forward to hearing from
the employer and thank them for considering your application.
Yours sincerely,
[3-4 lines in between],
[Your Name]

Entrance Exam – NTS

Pakistani Companies analyze their prospective candidates in a variety of
ways. Usually, this is a four-tier process:
- Verification of initial credentials (Engineering Discipline)
- Entry Test
- Interview Call
- Background Check
Assuming you’ve applied for a job related to your own discipline, the next
step is passing the Entry Test. The idea of conducting Entry Tests may sound
absurd to many undergraduates and fresh engineers due to its duplicity, but it
has become a prerequisite and common trend in Government or Semi-
Government organizations.
On the other hand, private firms aren’t usually concerned with Entry Tests if
you CV/Resume fits their criteria. In addition, your interview is most
important and has the most weightage for securing a job in a private company.
Back to the entry test preparation.
NTS or the National Testing Service is the prime organization responsible for
conducting entry tests of various public-sector companies, from University
Entry Tests to Oil & Gas Jobs to Water & Power Development ones. Leaving
out a few merit-based organizations, NTS has become the government’s right
hand when it comes to recruitment.
NTS itself is a government organization, formed in 2002 and claims the
conduction of efficient, transparent and international standard tests for
admission, scholarship & recruitment. The truth however, is very ugly.
Generally speaking, if you’re an Electrical Engineer, you’ll want an exam that
tests your knowledge pertaining to circuits, rather than your knowledge about
global politics or history! Correct?
You may have gotten part of the picture. NTS is busy conducting test that put
a candidate’s general knowledge to the test rather than ensuring competition
in technical aspects. This means that any able candidate who wants to secure a
job must first open-up books related to General knowledge, and absorb as
much as he possibly can.
There is no easy way, no shortcut to preparing a NTS exam. You’ll have to
get tutored/tutor yourself, practice with past-papers, and build on your general
knowledge in addition to your field knowledge. One particular mistake that
several fresh engineers make is taking the test too lightly.
Remember, you’ll get selected for an interview on the basis of your entry test
percentile. The bad news is, that the percentile is never fixed. It will always
depends on the quality & quantity of students. You may be called for
interview at 78% or you may even be rejected at 85%. So, the best offense
would be to prepare as hard as possible.
Generally, NTS tests have the following pattern, although this may vary from
organization to organization:
- English (40%)
- Quantitative (30%)
- Analytical Subjects (30%)
English is usually filled with General knowledge questions, while the rest are
related to your field.
Where to prepare for NTS test, irrespective of organization?
There are two answers to this question.
- Tutor yourself
- Get tutored
Candidly speaking, the choice depends on your own evaluation of yourself.
Preparing for entry test may seem easier for fresh graduates but getting used
to the format & pattern can be extremely difficult.
Once again, the answer can’t be stated in terms of black & white, therefore,
we’ll make two sections:
- Tutor Yourself:
The only way you can tutor yourself for these tests is if you’ve tutored
yourself in the past, specifically in the university. If you’ve been a
student who has been slow to catch-up with professors and have had to
engage in self-learning, then this won’t be a problem for you.
You’ll need to practice NTS’s Sample Papers/Past Papers related to
the job you’re applying for. For this you can either visit:
 https://www.paked.net/, or you can buy one of the many books
available in the market.
Here’s a tip; don’t buy books from retail sellers, instead visit Old Book
Banks in your vicinity. They would have the oldest collection, and at a
bargain price as well!

- Get Tutored:
Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi are the
educational hubs of Pakistan. While there are Tutoring Academies all
across Pakistan, from villages to metropolises, the above-mentioned
cities are most experienced in preparing students for entry tests.
How to identify the best “Academy”?

There is no best “Academy”; there are only excellent teachers. Most

students conjure an image of spoon-feeding when they listen to the
word “Academy”. Alas, this is a culture that fails to come to a halt,
even with fully-mature engineers.

Remember, don’t join an Academy based on its colorfulness or its

manner of presentation, join it only if its recommended by a professor,
or another engineer who’s gotten a job after studying there. There is no
specific method written in stone when it comes to classifying
academies, therefore its best to:
- Take a look at the sample papers (link given above)
- Ask around your seniors or professors.
- Take classes for a week (most academies allow this)
- Join the academy if you’re satisfied.
All this was concerned with preparing the exam, academically. What other
tips should you have at your disposal to ace the test?
Tip #1:
Keep revising the test pattern from time to time.
Many students are busy memorizing the answer to MCQs till the morning
before the test; this however isn’t the best approach. Making concepts will
give an edge over others as there are always 5 – 7 questions in each
section that are meant to differentiate brilliant students from the rest.
The internet is filled with tips & tricks on management so I won’t spend
too much time explaining it to you. Make Timetables for books, subjects
 and days on which you have to study and utilize different times of the day
for different subjects.
Tip #2:
General questions are related to the following areas:
- Urdu
- Islamic knowledge
- Pakistan Affairs
- Every-day science
- English grammar
- Communication & Verbal skills
- English Essay
- Current Affairs
The best wat you can tackle these is by solving past papers, example sheets
throughout the preparation time.
Tip #3:
Even if you don’t plan on joining an organization that relies on NTS’s testing
mechanism, you must prepare for it as it is an excellent platform for more
advanced testing services such as CSS or PCS. In addition, it will give you a
good overview of the pattern and get you familiar with other types of
organization-specific tests, like the ones I’ve explained in the upcoming
chapter.
 Entrance Exam – PIEAS
Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences is one of the most
prestigious & outstanding academic institution in Pakistan in a multi-
disciplinary manner. It is the biggest engineering institutions in Pakistan and
has the most share of jobs in all Nuclear Organizations in Pakistan specifically
PAEC, KRL, etc.
PIEAS offers various two-year postgraduate degree programs in various
disciplines that carry a direct guarantee of securing a job in these
organizations. Note that most of these organizations come under the folds of
the Federal Government, and such a job is highly-desired in Pakistan due to its
surety, decent salary and attached allowances.
In addition, once you’re admitted, there are no fees, no charges, nothing. In
fact, you’ll get a monthly allowance of over 30,000 Rupees. In a nutshell,
you’ll be able to support your family, through your studies!
Application for admission to these programs of study are taken from all over
Pakistan and admission is based on merit. Now, here’s the twist: PIEAS
doesn’t pay heed to NTS’s requirements, nor does it take any assistance from
it for conduction of tests. It has its own testing mechanism, its own test dates
and course contents as well.
The university offers the following MS programs:
1. MS Nuclear Engineering
2. MS Systems Engineering
3. MSc Nuclear Medicine
4. MS Medical Physics
5. MS Process Engineering
6. MS Materials Engineering
7. MS Mechanical Engineering
8. M. Phil. Physics
9. MSc Radiation and Medical Oncology
10. M. Phil. Computer Science
11. MS Electrical Engineering
12. MS Radiation Physics
The problem arises when many people give up on this wonderful opportunity
due to confusions about the academic criteria. It is stated in PIEAS’s MS
guidelines that any applicant must have 2.5 CGPA at a scale of 4 throughout
the academic career. There is only once exception in this case, where one
2.5/4 SGPA is allowed. Other than there is no relaxation.
Not everyone has his/her transcript of awards filled with As & Bs, there are
Cs as well. And since even C+ means 2.3/4.0, students get disheartened and
abandon hope.
This may seem as an absurd problem but this is a problem nonetheless. What
PIEAS guidelines truly mean is that you’re allowed to have:
- 1x Semester GPA or SGPA
- Less than 2.5
- But greater than 2.0
- Throughout your 8 semesters
We hope that clears things up.
How to Prepare for the Entry Test?
The written test designed by PIEAS is a true aptitude examination that is
designed to test both your general intelligence & understanding of technical
knowledge. The emphasis is put on technical knowledge while general
intelligence is kept to a minimum. This ensures that the organization picks up
only the students that it needs & doesn’t waste its time with resourceful
individuals.
The written test is broken down into two parts:
1. General Part:
It consists of three subjects, Physics, Mathematics and English. The
general part is to be attempted by all candidates, irrespective of
specialization. The general part consists of a total of 50 questions.
2. Specialization Part:
This part contains 50 questions, and the candidate is given the paper
that corresponds to his/her selection earlier on.
Here’s a breakdown of the topics and their detail along with their share in the
Specialization Part of the Question paper. Having a thorough know-how of
your own field and the expected questions will help you give an edge over the
competition.
Physics
Mechanics, Waves, Thermodynamics Equal Share
Electricity and Magnetism, Light and optics and Modern Physics
Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry (Classical Quantitative Analysis, 15%
Instrumental Analysis)
Inorganic Chemistry (Basic Chemistry of Elements, Periodic & 25%
family trends, Electronic & Nuclear Structure, Transition Metal /
Coordination Chemistry)
Organic Chemistry (Conversion of functional groups, Reactive 30%
intermediated and
reaction mechanisms, molecular structure
Physical Chemistry (General Chemistry, Classical and Statistical 30%
Thermodynamics, Quantum and Structural Chemistry, Kinetics)
Mechanical
Mechanical Design and Analysis 30%
Kinematics, Dynamics and Vibration 15%
Materials and Manufacturing 15%
Thermodynamics and Energy Conversion Processes 20%
Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machinery 20%
Electrical Engineering with Specialization in Electronics
Microprocessors, FPGA, VLSI, DLD, etc. 24%
Power Electronics, Electronic Circuits and Components, 24%
Instrumentation and Measurement
Controls Systems, DSP, Signals and Systems, Probability and 52%
Random Variables,
Electrical Engineering with Specialization in Electrical Power
Electrical Engineering General (Circuit Analysis, Basic 50%
Electronics, Electricity and Magnetism, Digital Logic Design,
Signals and Systems, Control Systems, Measurement and
Instrumentation, etc.)
Electrical Power Specialization (High Voltage Engineering, 50%
Power System Analysis, Power System Protection, Power
Generation, Power Transmission and Distribution, Power
Electronics, etc.
Chemical
Mass/Energy Balances and Thermodynamics (Mass Balances, 20%
Energy Balances and Thermodynamics)
Fluids (Fluid Transport, Mechanical-Energy Balance, Flow 20%
Measurement Techniques,
Heat Transfer (Mechanisms, Applications, 20%
Mass Transfer (Phase Equilibria, Mass Transfer Contactors 20%
(Absorption, Stripping, Distillation, Extraction,
Miscellaneous Separation Processes)
Kinetics (Reaction Parameters, Reaction Rate, Reactor Design & 10%
Evaluation. Heterogeneous Reaction Systems)
Process Control 10%
Metallurgy/Material
Physical Metallurgy, Mechanical Metallurgy Same Share
Thermodynamics & Phase Transformations
Ferrous & Non-ferrous Alloys and Their Extraction
Composites, Polymers and Ceramics
X-ray Diffraction + Optical Metallography + Electron
Microscopy + Non Destructive Testing
Corrosion and Surface Engineering
Material Processing
Civil
Environmental 20%
Geo-Technical 20%
Structural 20%
Transportation 20%
Water Resources 20%
Mechatronics
Basic Mechanical Engineering 10%
Electrical & Electronic Engineering 30%
Systems Design Engineering 10%
Control Engineering 30%
Computer Engineering &Science 10%
Robotics and Factory Automation 10%
Mathematics
Calculus and Analytical Geometry All topics
Real and Complex Analysis have same
Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations share
Vectors, Vector Spaces and Linear Algebra
Number Theory, Group Theory and Ring Theory
Mechanics
Mathematical Statistics and Probability
Numerical Mathematics

As a final step, you can buy the necessary past-paper/sample-paper books

from Old Book Banks and keep on practicing till the date of the test.
In addition, you can contact any senior or your own university professors to
put you in special groups made for PIEAS MS Fellowship program
preparation.
 Preparing for an interview
Almost every company, corporation or organization in the world conducts
interview for employments. Whether you’re applying for a Government Job or
a Private one in Pakistan, you’ll need to be well-prepared for the interview,
once you receive the call.
The interview part of the problem comes right after the results of the Entry
Test have been announced. So, what do you after you receive a call for an
interview.
Well, the first thing to note here is that there is very little difference between
interview conducted by governmental or private companies. Both ask almost
the same number of questions and of the same type. The weightage is different
however, with private organizations giving priority to students who are able to
answer most technical questions.
So, let’s break down the entire ordeal into three parts to make it simpler:
Before your Interview
Research
Carefully read over the job description and about the history of the
organization, vision, and mission of the organization. You must have all the
necessary reasons for joining the organization in your mind at all times.
Practice
Prepare for the interview by going over your skills and personality traits.
Make sure you feel comfortable speaking in front of a panel. Write down your
skills and situational examples, and bring those notes with you to the
interview. Know what skills you can offer.
Dress Appropriately
The skilled trades may require certain work clothes while on the job, but for
your interview you should look professional. A suit, pant-coat or shalwar-
kameez would do good.
What to Bring
Your interview invitation letter will specify if you need to bring anything. It is
suggested you bring a copy of your resume for you to reference while in the
interview, a pen and paper for note taking, and a bottle of water.
Location
Know the exact location and time of your interview. Do not at any cost arrive
to your interview late.
When You Arrive
It is recommended that you arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled interview
time.
Once you arrive at check in with the receptionist or the person-in-charge to let
them know you have arrived. Maintain your professionalism from the moment
you enter to the moment you leave. Take advantage of the extra time before
your interview to look over your notes and mentally prepare yourself.
During the Interview
 Come prepared and on time. A good first impression counts for a lot.
Listen and show an interest in what the interview panel is saying. Be
attentive, thoughtful, and look directly at the interviewer. Project a
positive attitude and show enthusiasm for the position. The interview
panel usually consists of the senior-most members of that organization
in addition to the HR representatives. This means that even the
slightest amount of annoyance can tip them off, and bleak your
chances of securing the job.

 You may find that you know someone on the interview panel. If this
happens, be sure to answer the interview questions as if they do not
know you; be as detailed as possible in your responses. Panel members
cannot assume a candidate has a certain skill or ability unless they
verbally tell them so.

 Any notes you take during the interview regarding the questions asked
will need to be left with the panel at the end of the interview. This is to
maintain the security of the interview questions. Any interview notes
you bring with you are yours, and don't need to be given to the panel.

 Panel members will be taking notes throughout the interview. Do not

get discouraged or think they are ignoring you if they do not make
constant eye contact; they are trying to listen and record your
responses as accurately as possible to aid them in rating your
interview.
 If you get stuck on a question or can’t put together an answer, say,
“Can we return to this question at the end of the interview?” Just make
sure you allow yourself enough time to finish all your answers.

 Give specific examples for each interview question. Give relevant

details without going off on tangents. It’s OK to pause before you
answer a question. Say something like, “I’m going to take a moment to
organize my thoughts,” to let the panel know you are processing your
answer.

 Repeat your key strengths three times. It’s essential that you
comfortably and confidently articulate your strengths. Explain how the
strengths relate to the company’s or department’s goals and how they
might benefit the potential employer. If you repeat your strengths, then
they will be noted and if supported with quantifiable accomplishments
they will more likely be believed.

 It is impossible to predict what type of technical question you will be

asked. The best way to prep for technical questions is to review the
skills you listed on your resume that relate to the job. It's likely the
technical question will come as a result of what kind of work or
research experience is on the resume; therefore, prepare by reviewing
any kind of project or experience that is in the resume. It is almost a
given that the questions will come from it, such as, "Could you tell me
more about
your role in the 'X' intern program? How could you apply this research
to the oil and gas industry?"

 Ask questions. The types of questions you ask and the way you ask
them can make a tremendous impression on the interviewer. Good
questions require advance preparation. Just as you plan how you
would answer an interviewer’s questions, write out any specific
questions you want to ask. Then look for opportunities to ask them
during the interview.

 As a last resort, you may switch the medium completely. If the

interviewer has asked something which you cannot answer in English,
then switch to Urdu while switching back to English periodically. This
way you’ll be able to catch-up your flow easily, and keep yourself
calm.
What are some basic strategies for answering technical questions?
 If you know the answer, then go ahead and do your best. Be sure to
use pictures and diagrams if it will help. Use the white board, or draw
on a pad. When you finish, ask if that was what the interviewer was
looking for.
 Often, technical questions will be asked and you won't know the
answer. The interviewer will direct the candidate to go ahead and try
to answer. Remember, that the interviewer is evaluating your process
for approaching a problem just as much as your answer.
 For technical questions, be direct, solid and assertive.
 Most important is how you answer the question in addition to what
you say. The panel tries to assess your thinking process and delivery of
the answer. Logical and reasonable thinking is preferred over a one-
line response.
These were all the things you must have in your mind at all times. Now, there
are a few things that you should try to avoid before and during your interview.
These are:
 Don't treat the interview casually; remain professional from the
moment you arrive until the moment you leave.
 Don't allow your cell phone to sound during the interview. If it does,
apologize quickly and turn it off.
 Don't make excuses. Take responsibility for your decisions and your
actions.
 Don’t be late! Arriving late will take away from your interviewing
time and will not set a good first impression.
 Don't use slang or acronyms, unless you first explain what they mean.
 Don’t go off on tangents. Stick to the questions being asked and
information that is relevant to the job you are applying for.
 Don't make negative comments about previous employers or
coworkers.
 Don't answer with a simple "yes" or "no." Give a detailed explanation
whenever possible.
 Don't rely on your application or resume; you still need to sell
yourself.
 Don’t share information that will not play a role in the hiring decision
on the application, such as marital status, religious affiliation, etc.
Pet Questions
There are a couple of questions that have become habitual for Pakistani
Interviewers to ask. These have been around for decades and have made their
way into almost every organization, whether it’s the army, R&D or
manufacturing organizations. Being prepared for these is as close as you can
get to the real-deal.
These are as follows:
Introduce yourself?
This is the most common question that is usually asked in almost all
interviews. So, it is better to prepare a short statement in your mind. But be
careful that it should not feel a rehearsed one. Keep your answer to one or two
minutes; don't ramble. Use your resume summary as a base to start.
What is your experience in this field?
Talk about the related experience about the field you are applying for. If you
do not have a related experience in the job you have applied for then talk
about close experiences that can help you.
What was the reason to resign from the last job?
Always be positive about your past experiences. No matter how ill-mannered
your previous boss was, never discuss all the negative things in your
interview. This will affect your impression. Be positive, be cool and explain a
positive reason like a better opportunity or a chance of growth.
Are satisfied with your work in previous company?
Briefly answer yes and explain that you were paying your duties well. A better
answer can be that you were completing your set goals and projects before
time so you are more than satisfied.
Why you have applied for the job or this organization?
Don't talk about what you want; first, talk about their needs: You would like
to be part of a specific company project; you would like to solve a company
problem; you can make a definite contribution to specific company goals, etc.
What are the other jobs you are applying for?
If they ask such questions be honest but avoid talking too much about this.
Keep your focus on the job you have applied for.
Why you are interested in this organization?
Think a little about its answer. But be careful your answer must be based upon
research. Relate the purpose with your long-term goals in your career.
Do you have a reference in this organization?
Be careful about the answer of this question. If you have a reference, then be
sure that he or she has a good reputation in the company. In addition, if your
reference sits in the interview panel, avoid naming him/her!
What is your expected salary?
Wait till you are well-aware about your duties & responsibilities; only then
should you answer this question. If you answer this question ahead of time,
you’ll lose the opportunity to negotiate. This is true only for a private
company.
Counter this by asking more about the job. Remember, you’re a fresh engineer
so don’t oversell yourself or desire a very high-paid job in the already
saturated Pakistani job market.
You can’t argue in a government organization since the scale is fixed.
What is your strength or why should we hire you?
There can be several answers to this question. You should state your strengths
like your problem-solving skills, ability of work under pressure, ability of
work in the tough environment, your ability to focus on projects, your
professional skills with high qualification or certification, etc.
Relate past experiences that show you've had success in solving previous
employer problem(s) that may be similar to those of the prospective employer.
Are you a team player?
Yes, you are. Give numerous examples about your team work in different
situations. Be factual and avoiding dragging on.
How long would you like to work with this organization if you are hired?
Try to change the direction of this question by answering something along the
lines of, “as long as I’m challenged and receive competitive growth
opportunities”. Don’t be specific.
What is more important for you the money or the job?
Be truthful in this answer, i.e. both matter and you cannot choose one over the
other. However, try to bring in your passion as a motivator for accepting the
job at a lowered salary.
In a nutshell
Research, Rehearse, and Relax
No matter how well qualified you are for a job or how articulate you are about
your strengths and experience, there is nothing that can replace preparation.
Once you have practiced asking and answering questions, the next step is to
relax and remind yourself that:
1) There is no question you cannot answer,
2) You are well suited to the position, and
3) You would be an asset to the company.
Visualize yourself sitting in the interview feeling serene and confident. Get a
good night's sleep before the interview, arrive a few minutes early, take a few
deep breaths and seize the day.
Wasif Khan, a former employee of Pepsico & Lucky Cement said:

“The first and most important thing is confidence. One should not be nervous
during the interview, just feel normal. The gesture and posture also play a
great role in a successful interview. The candidate must prepare his CV i.e. he
must know what he mentions in his cv. The candidate also prepare his self for
the questions about his final year project(New grads), Internship(Freshers),
and practical experience. Before the interview one should rehearsal again
and again.”.
 Internships after Graduation
Internships have become a global prerequisite for acquiring a proper job after
graduation. While multinational and top public companies hire internee
engineers on a minor pay-scale, most companies in Pakistan squeeze every
drop of juice out of a fresh graduate looking for an internship. This may paint
a horrific picture, but that is the hard truth.
So, should you skip an internship altogether and look only for a job? No!
The basic strategy you, as a fresh engineer should have in mind should be to
go with the flow. Hardships will be a common part of your early engineering
life, however once you’re through, you’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Starting off, Internships have become a compulsory activity for acquiring a
degree in most Pakistani universities. This has been the result of pressure from
the PEC and the HEC so that engineers would have some field experience
after they graduate.
Almost all the engineers we interviewed had done internships during college
which, they had acquired through relatively easy means. First off, if you’re a
third year undergraduate or even in your final year, and you’re in a
government university, it is the responsibility of the institution to get you an
internship. The quality of the internship would be dependent upon your GPA,
but nonetheless you’ll get one.
If you’ve recently graduated, I would advise you to visit your University’s
placement center and apply for an internship, as most universities keep their
doors open for their Alumni.
That’s the standard route. However, internships for undergraduates are
advertised each year during summer months by both private & public
companies, so if you’re passionate about your work, you’ll have a good
chance of landing one.
You must know that the engineering market in Pakistan is already saturated,
so if you’ve just graduated there’s a very little chance you’ll be able to obtain
a job, through any standard way. One of our interviewees Neha, who has done
Bachelors in Telecom Engineering from NUST, stated that “It took me
months before I could land a decent job”. This is given the fact that Telecom
sector is one of the most rapidly expanding one in Pakistan.
Getting an internship would serve as a gateway leading to a job. This has been
standard practice in most private and semi-governmental organizations such
as PTCL.
The procedure for obtaining an internship in Pakistan is the same as obtaining
a job. You look for job postings in newspapers, you apply, and you get an
interview call.
But applying without thought shouldn’t be your strategy. Know that private
organizations, unless they’re multinational ones plan on exploiting an
engineer as soon as they get a hold of you. So, your priority list when
applying for internships should be as follows:
- Government organization
- Semi-government organization
- Multinational companies
- Large enterprises
- Small & Medium Enterprises
By following such a list, not only will you be able to secure an internship
faster, but you’ll also not hate yourself for working there. In addition, the
prospects of turning an internship into a job would also be higher, as semi-
governmental organizations & large enterprises often have such structures in
place to facilitate outstanding internees.
 Job through Masters
Previously we stated the prospect of getting employment in government
Nuclear & associated programs by obtaining a Fellowship MS degree from
PIEAS. This is a one of a kind opportunity for students in Pakistan that
guarantees decent & high-paying employment after graduation. With that
being said, the intake is only of a handful of students a year, while the number
of graduates fall within the thousands. What about the rest?
When we asked about the importance of doing Masters for obtaining a job in
Pakistan, we got replies such as:
“In my experience, it doesn’t matter. I have worked with and hired people
having both bachelors and master’s degrees. In my experience, it’s your skill
that always matters. It’s the “Can-do” attitude that helps you more than your
degree. It’s a common misconception that if you have a master’s degree you
can achieve more in life. It totally depends on the individual. I am not saying
that master’s degree is not useful. It’s very useful to get higher education once
you have had few years of experience in your field.”
- Muhammad Saqib Zafar, Project Manager Granjur Technologies,
Lahore

While another engineer stated:

“Yes, in some case it helps but depends on the type of Job you are seeking.
Most companies do not require Master but Lectureship and research Jobs
usually prefer applicants with Master degree.”

- Saeeda Sarwat Naqvi, SEO Project Manager at Strategic Websites

LLC
While it is clear from such answers that a postgraduate program isn’t
necessary for obtaining a job in Pakistan, it is also inferred that a Masters’
degree does help in securing higher positions within an organization. This is
true, given you have a genuine interest in your field and wish to work for its
advancement from all your heart.
Now the real deal. Masters in Pakistani universities (government) may be
cheap, but in reality, it doesn’t greatly improve an engineer’s chances of
getting a job. The situation can be understood by reading the following:
Not necessarily. It may even become a liability. The more one studies, his
expectations from the job market (the prevailing conditions of which are not
very favorable for fresh graduates) become higher and failure to get the
expected job results in unhappiness.

- Neha Mahmood, currently doing MS at NUST

This is the bitter reality of Pakistan where firms do not take into account the
learnings of a student who has obtained a higher degree as most industries are
unidirectional towards production rather than R&D.
So, what should one do then? There’s a simple answer to this question: study
abroad. Pause all the thoughts running through your head after reading these
words, as this isn’t what it seems like.

Remember, having a tag of “foreign education” is much different than having

one of “local master’s degree”!
One of our interviewees, Mr. Wasif Khan who has worked for two major
companies stated:

“I think pursuing a masters degree from abroad helps in increasing one’s self
confidence, self-awareness, and self-sufficiency. Working/studying with the
people of different cultures and nations will increase the ability to adapt to
new environment quickly, which will benefits one in practical life. Also, there
will be bright chance to be hired by foreign company.”

HEC has truly advanced in the field of catering fresh engineers with jobs and
scholarships for higher education. It is well-understood that foreign education
is expensive, however given Pakistan’s status as a developing country, several
countries especially those in Europe have set up quotas for emerging students,
backed by fully or partially funded scholarships.

There are two ways to apply for a Master’s degree abroad:

- Through HEC
- Through individual institution

The first route may suite many fresh graduates, as it is the most simple one,
and helps a student cover the maximum number of universities in one go.
Students are placed in those technologically advanced countries that have
nominal fee rates for which HEC and universities in the host countries have
signed Memorandum of Understandings.
Check out the following link:
http://www.hec.gov.pk/english/scholarshipsgrants/Pages/InternationalScholars
hips.aspx
A total of 2000 scholarships are awarded every year out of which 450 are ones
that directly lead to PhD. The deadline is usually April/May of every year.

The other way of applying to a Master’s program abroad is by shortlisting

global universities according to your own criteria, and applying one by one.
This is a longer route and contains several prerequisites that often require you
to give more than one tests, such as that of language proficiency. However,
these programs have a lot more flexibility as you have a seemingly endless
pool to choose from.

Recently, a “Knowledge Corridor” was opened between the USA and

Pakistan, which has been aimed directly towards helping Pakistani engineers
obtain a higher degree. There may be political reasons behind the creation of
this corridor, but in the end Pakistani students benefit from it.
Check out the following:

http://hec.gov.pk/english/scholarshipsgrants/US-Pakcorridor
The main benefit behind this is that the government will bear all expenses for
proficiency tests, GRE tests, etc. while the student would simply have to show
academic excellence.
Now, once you’ve obtained a higher degree, and returned to Pakistan, you’ll
have increased job prospects as you’ll be holding higher-quality knowledge
and you’ll have a tag of “foreign education” in your CV.

If you’ve opted for an HEC backed Masters’ program, there’s good news as
well as bad news. The bad news hidden within the good news is that you’ll be
forced to sign an accord, according to which you’ll return to Pakistan after
obtaining the higher education degree, and teach in a governmental university
for a set number of years.

Looking at the bright side, you’ll get a job right after your return, in a
government university, with a significant pay and all the associated benefits of
the pay-scale. This may not be good news for people looking to work in the
field, but for research-oriented candidates, it doesn’t get any better.
While for students who’ve obtained a Masters’ degree, without any help from
the HEC, you’ll be the number one priority for large-scale industries as well
as government research organizations due to the advanced knowledge you
hold. We would recommend you to opt for government research organizations
as you’ll be fairly rewarded in terms of pay, and job security. Examples of
organizations willing to have you by their side will include NESPAK,
NASCOM, NDC, SUPARCO and PAEC.
 Connections, References & the GPA Link
If you would ask anyone, “off the record”, as to what the number one way is
for obtaining a job in Pakistan, he/she would say “Sifarish”, almost always in
comparison to GPA.

Sifarish
“Sifarish”, an Urdu word that has meaning synonymous to reference has
become a widespread phenomenon in Pakistan. This isn’t something limited
to Pakistan, but is occurring at a world-wide scale. As globalization makes
inroads within developing countries, the need for connections is becoming
more & more of a necessity.
The word “Sifarish” applies to every single person in Pakistan, and while
having connections in corporations & organizations is vital on a global scale,
it is a matter of survival in the Pakistani job market. We will be discussing
every possible way through which one can develop connections within the
Pakistani job market and put them to use.
The problem with Pakistan is that there is ever-increasing talent-saturation.
There are thousands of engineers who hold the same amount of advanced
knowledge, but due to lack of employment opportunities are forced to settle
with whatever comes their way.
Before starting, it must be stated that referrals and connections, or “Sifarish”
is important in both private & public companies. While the inclination
towards the latter may be greater, the importance cannot be ruled out for
private companies, in the slightest amount.
Let’s take a look at the typical steps required for getting a job in Pakistan:
- Read the classifieds
- Appear in Entry Test
- Get called for an interview
In one way or another, almost all organizations follow these three steps for the
selection of a candidate. The steps seem simple, enough don’t they? They are,
and in fact most people easily get to third one (read the entry test chapter for
clarification).
So how does the interview committee choose between two equally talented
candidates for a set number of positions in their department? I’m sure you
know the answer to this: connections!

Background
In several Asian countries, including Pakistan the concept of “community” is
alive & well, where every person has a special sense of longing for his native
city, town or village. Almost every university in the country has an abstraction
of this concept in one form or another, whether it’s at provincial level or at
regional level.
In your four years at Engineering College, no matter how anti-social you are,
you’ll still develop a company. Simply having association with your Regional
Community will get you fueled up for the time to come.
Now, your final year has passed, and you’ve bid adieu to your institution. As
soon as you pass out you should start reinforcing connections with your
seniors, specifically those who passed out the year you came into College!
They would be full blown Engineers by now and have tons of advice for you.
Most importantly these seniors, having gone through hardships, try their best
to prevent the same thing from happening to you.
For instance, your seniors have networked within the job market, and are
aware of all the forums through which an internship or job can be acquired.
Internships are the way to get in, as the job market is highly saturated, and this
is where a fresh engineer is best at.
By simply contacting a few of your seniors, you would get loads of contacts,
and you’ll be able to skip all the common road blocks. Getting an internship is
the easiest thing to do if you’re referred by someone, but can become one of
the hardest things in the world if you’re there without a single connection.
This is close to an ideal-case scenario where you’ve developed a good
understanding with your seniors. There are many students who don’t get along
during the first half of their university, and when they realize the importance
of networking, it’s already too late? How do these students cope with the ever-
increasing requirement of getting a referral?

Networking
Networking is about developing useful two way relationships with people who
can help you in your career development and your search for work experience
or employment. Networking doesn’t mean asking for a job directly, but
instead building your knowledge base to a level that can help you in the
future. While networking may have a “two-way” meaning in Pakistan, it can
sometime lead to a direct job with little or no questions asked, depending on
the level of authority your network sits on! And even if you ignored every
person during your Bachelor’s degree, there’s still a very good chance you’ll
be able to build a strong network and get a referral in the Pakistani job market.
One point, which is a must-add, is the advent of social media and its
widespread acceptance within Pakistan’s industrial and commercial sector.
Pakistan has been quick to adopt the benefits associated with the internet, and
with every passing year developed an even stronger presence online. The
creation of dedicated groups related to a specific field, locality or profession
along with LinkedIn profiles has made online network-building a promising
dimension in Pakistan.
There are 3 major ways through which your networks can help you get a job
in Pakistan:

- Get you advanced knowledge of a job opening beforehand

- Get you a guaranteed interview call
- Give you an upper hand over the competition and compensate for your
GPA at times

In a nutshell, by developing the proper connections, you’ll always be a step

ahead of the competition and you’ll waste minimum time trying to figure out
the right direction.
So how can one build his/her network, specifically in the Pakistani social
environment?

There are several ways to do so:

People you Already Know

This is the first step towards developing your circle. Getting started with the
list of people you know would serve as a platform for further development.
Split the people you know into the following categories:
- Family & relatives
- Friends & Classmates
- Seniors
- Work Colleagues (if any)
- Teachers
Your family & relatives should be the number one go-to connection right after
you’ve graduated, as they’re most likely to get you’re a high-level interview
call, by passing most of the rules or making them extremely easy for you. This
is very much dependent on the family member’s position, and closeness to
you.

Next, you should look towards your Friends & Classmates, the ones you’ve
studied with for four years. Retaining contact with them after graduation
would be beneficial to you in the long-run.

As stated previously, seniors are one of the most important avenues towards
getting an internship/job. This would once again be dependent on the position
your senior holds, but rest assured as your seniors would clear out several
hurdles from your way.
After that, you should maintain contacts with the people you’ve worked with,
whether it’s been at your 3rd year internship or during a volunteer activity.
Lastly, you should be keen on keeping a line open with your professors, as
most government universities get contracts from government infrastructure
departments, which can easily become a small-scale gig for a fresh engineer.

Social Media will be the number one tool at your disposal, when you’re trying
to establish connection with the people you already know. Facebook &
LinkedIn should be your top bets to get in touch with these people, as through
these you’ll be able to go as far back as your school-friends, while keeping
regular tabs on what your contacts are up to.

Develop New Contacts

Now that you’ve developed a base of operations, you’ll need to expand it, as
maintaining a dynamic status is the key to getting as many referrals as
possible.

- Firstly, you’ll need to form a list of contacts you’re close to,

emotionally. Naturally, these are your family, relatives and close
friends. Ask them to introduce you to people they know in connection
to a specific job or a company you plan on applying to. It is very
unlikely that you’ll get a dinner or lunch reservation with such an
individual, however once again you may play the social media card
and “add” people with reference to your relative/friend.
 - Next, you’ll need to join all the existing Alumni, regional, university
level or organization level groups you can. For instance, joining a
community level group based within your university will help you get
a knowledge of the incoming jobs as soon as they’re out. Plus, you can
develop personal relations with people based on the mutual affinity for
land. Next, you should certainly join your university’s placement
group or email-list, as it would be a big help for you, years after
graduation.

- Attend reunion parties such as Alumni dinners, hostel gatherings, etc.

These are great places to form strong connections as people are most
likely to be in a jolly mood, ready to share their personal &
professional experiences. This may seem cunning, but it’s a standard
practice, and many individuals carry out this practice from the first
year of their university. So, there’s no shame in doing so.

- Olympiads, MUNs and Declamation contests are the three major types
of events that take place in all academic institutions of Pakistan, from
schools to all the way up to the university. Every university in Pakistan
is obligated to hold a 5-day Student’s Week, which is filled with all
kinds of inter-university events, with outsiders allowed almost always.

While Olympiads may not be of great use to you, MUNs and

Declamation contests often contain quite mature & learned teams &
audience both. This is therefore an excellent opportunity to expand
one’s network.

Starting out small would be the key here, as you don’t need tons of
global-affairs knowledge to start-up a conversation. Simply asking
about someone’s interest and workplace would be a good enough
conversation starter.
Finally, it’s very important you keep yourself alive in all kinds of group/event
discussions, so that your circle remains updated & thriving. In addition, you
should also be vigilant while managing your network. You should think about
ways to keep your network in constant contact and how you can keep the
information logged properly.

But how can you get the most out of your network in terms of information?
Using your Network
Reestablishing connections and developing your circle is great, but it’s of no
benefit if you don’t actually put them to use. Unless you’re able to get an
appointment or a lunch/dinner reservation with the person you wish to meet,
there’s very little chance you’ll have a lot of time to have an in-depth
discussion about the job.
First, read career literature, company information and biographical
information about the company or individual you wish to know about. You
should be thinking about what you hope to learn and develop questions that
will produce maximum amount of information from the contacts’ side.
Questions you may want to prepare should be related to the following:

- A detailed description of the entry mechanism: several companies in

Pakistan follow the malpractice of disclosing very little information in
their advertisements, merely to earn as much as they can from the
entry-exam fee. This may come off as a profit for the company, but
leads to frustration for the unexperienced engineers who have no
direction for a proper cover-letter, in line with the requirements of the
company. When you meet a contact related to a company, you should
ask him/her of the entry-mechanism in place and detailed information
about what kind of applicants the company is expecting.

By doing so, you’ll be guided in the right direction and gain a

competitive advantage over the several other people applying for the
same position.
- Once you have all this information, you should ask about a detailed
description of the job. This should include questions about what a
daily-day looks like, the number of hours required, the rewards &
frustrations and growth opportunities.

- Next, you should ask advanced questions like career goals and
opportunities the person sees for the organization in the future. In
addition, if possible you should ask about the work environment,
current issues within the industry and lifestyle implications.

Almost all your questions should revolve around these three points. The level
of detail will be dependent on the amount of time you have with the person.
Some typical questions include:
 - What is your current role in the organization?
- What has your career path been so far?
- What type of work experience was useful to get into the company?
- What was the recruitment process like when you took the job, and how
has it changed?
- What skills are essential for this sector?
- Do you know anyone else who might be able to help me with this?
- Could you introduce me to someone working in the XYZ department?

How to Network?
I’m sure you won’t need to be spoon-fed when it comes to networking, but
getting a hold of your connections in a subtle manner is the key to networking.
Know that networking works on reciprocating, so you might get a favor from
the person today but you’ll have to return the favor another day. So ask only
what you can give back.
A few general points to remember once you enter the world of networking
include:

- Be polite & professional every time you’re around a prospective

connection.
- Present yourself professionally during meetings, lunches, dinners, etc.
- Have a notebook whenever you’re meeting a person of superior
stature.
- Too much persistence can be annoying. Know when to ask and when
to let go according to your judgement of the situation.
- Don’t ask for too much time from people who you aren’t that close too
like professors or coworkers.
- Slip in your achievements and distinctions from time to time so that
the other person is impressed by your abilities to perform in the
organization.
- With a concise, articulate and relevant introduction delivered with
confidence and a firm handshake, you’ll be able to establish a great
first impression.

Social Media Presence

Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are the three most used websites in Pakistan
when it comes to socializing. In order to maintain a well-tuned online
presence there are a few steps you should follow.
First off you should be clear on where to start:
- Decide which version of your name you want to use, i.e. full name,
missing the family name, etc.
- Choose an appropriate photo, one that isn’t too formal, but at the same
time doesn’t enunciates immaturity from your end.
- Have a memorable profile headline, one that is quick to have a first
impact.
- Highlight your skills by mentioning the projects you’ve undertaken
during university years.

Facebook:
Join groups, networks and alumni pages so that you’re always connected to as
many people as possible.

Twitter:
Follow companies and people of interest, keeping in mind that your viewers
can see who you follow. Retweet, ask questions and use hashtags to build-up
online presence.

LinkedIn:
Highlight your achievements, skills and continue to update your profile with
every opportunity or project your complete.

Where Does GPA Come in?

If only networks & connections are required to get a job in Pakistani
Engineering Market then why should one attain a good GPA at all? Should
he/she just obtain passing grades, and spend most of his/her time networking,
in search of the right “Sifarish”?
These are some of the questions that must be going through your head after
reading the magnitude of benefits connections & networks bring with them.
But here’s the deal: your networks will only get you so far, as even with the
most senior connection or Sifarish, merit will kick in at some point.
NOTE: Nepotism is strictly banned under Pakistani law, and anyone engaged
in such malpractice is liable to be prosecuted by the police, the FIA or other
concerned authorities. It is therefore our sincere advice that you stay away
from people who promise “direct postings” without any prior application of
merit.
Back to the topic; after interviewing several people and asking them the
connections vs GPA query, we got almost the same answer from everyone:

This has been quoted from Danish Hameed Mirza, currently employed at
Applus Velosi UAE.

• GPA Does Not Matter

GPA does matter, that is the one thing I learned the day I graduated when my
class mates with similar skill set and knowledge were getting selected for
companies like Schlumberger, MOL and OMV and we were being rejected
just because we did not meet the criteria. So yes GPA Does Matter. Kindly
highlight this in your book as much as you can because this is one of the
biggest misconception present in our engineering student body of Pakistan,

• It’s all about personal connections

I think it is about being lucky, sometimes even personal connections can’t
land you a good job opportunity and sometimes they can do wonders.
Personal connections do matter and yes most of the time they can get you to
the interview seat, but relying on them is not a good idea. Engineers should
focus on personal development and improving their knowledge and skills.
I’m sure after reading these statements, the fire of “GPA Doesn’t Matter”
would’ve started to light out.
 The Importance of GPA
This is a continuation of the previous chapter and explains the importance of
GPA when it comes to obtaining a job in Pakistan.
You may meet several people at key positions in major businesses who would
state one thing, and one thing only: GPA Doesn’t Matter. Back to square one?
Right.

Let’s break this down step by step, and by the end you’ll know the importance
of an excellent GPA.
First, limit yourself to the Pakistani job market and the professional dynamics
at play in this country. GPA is one of the most vital elements a fresh graduate
has at display when he applies for a position at a company. Most students
don’t have a juiced-up resume/CV when they apply for jobs/internships after
graduating, so the only thing they have to differentiate themselves from the
rest is their academic achievement.
So where did this myth begin then? Right after getting an admission, you
might’ve heard seniors gallivanting, “GPA Doesn’t Matter”. Soon enough,
before you know it, one of your friends obtains a low score, and joins the
gang. Now, two years have passed and more & more people have joined the
bandwagon.
Finally, it’s graduation day, Public & private companies have come to your
university in search of talented & brilliant young Engineers. Take a pick: Who
do they choose? A high scorer or a student who’s managed to obtain a C
average? Of course, a high scorer.
This is a scenario tilted in favor of the low achievers. Here’s what really
happens. Government jobs, being the most desired job opportunities are
always at a shortage with hundreds applying for a single post. So, when a
position opens up, the hiring committee selects a GPA criteria beforehand to
screen out as many applicants as possible. For prestigious government
institutions such as WAPDA, NESPAK, CDA, etc. the minimum criteria is
3.0/4.0. This statement is confirmed by one of our interviewees:
GPA matters a lot, if the company you have applied to is giving higher
priority to applicants with higher GPA; which is very common, as more and
more students graduate each year and competition is higher, companies are
raising their selection criteria by adding high GPA as one of the major
requirements.

But otherwise, some companies and managers also look to hire those in whom
they find potential for growth and a specific skill set.
- Saeeda Sarwat Naqvi, Mechanical Engineer, GIKI

Now that we’ve established that GPA does matter, the major question
remaining is: to what extent does it matter? What qualifies as a good GPA?
If you’ve graduated, the answer to this question would be of little value to
you, however, if you still have a year left then you must know that there’s no
quantifiable answer to this question.

GPA over 3.0 is a necessity for government posts, but even after that there’s
too much competition. Here’s where your connections would kick in. If you
spend the right amount of time connecting on & off campus with the right
people and developing an actual skill, then you wouldn’t need to worry about
obtaining a 4.0 GPA.

You’ve graduated below the government threshold

Many people do fall within the trap of “GPA doesn’t matter” and right after
graduation realize they’ve fallen prey to others’ entertainment. So, what does
a fresh graduate do if he/she fails to secure the minimum threshold GPA for
governmental positions?
This is where the private corporations come into play, and so does the
internship factor. Sure, you’ll be squeezed for your skills, and may not always
get a full day’s pay for a full day’s work, but this is a price you’ll have to pay
for a low GPA. The only way you can escape exploitation would be to master
a skill within your profession to a level, that you become an asset rather than
an expendable employee. You’ll have to truly love your profession to be a 2.0
GPA engineer with astounding skills compared to a 3.5 one. To convince you
that there’s hope left, read the following:
“GPA really doesn’t matter, as you can see in my case. I got an internship,
then a job with a GPA of 2.4. It’s how you use your GPA rather than the
amount of it. GPA shouldn’t dictate your passion, it shouldn’t dictate your
skill. It’s something that comes from within. As I have experienced in my field,
GPA is just a number. I have seen better engineers with 2.0 GPA than those
having 3.5 GPA. It’s simple to explain. During an interview I always look for
a person’s desire, attitude and skill. Rather than knowledge of how something
works. Because that can be taught without any issue. In the industry you will
never use 100% of your knowledge of you degree. It will be your desire to
succeed and passion for your work that will take you places.”

- Muhammad Saqib Zafar, Project Manager Granjur Technologies,

Lahore
Which direction to move into? Read on and find out!
 Hard work & Persistence
As the famous quote goes, “If you’re good at something, never do it for free”!

Hard work, persistence, and knowing your ability to perform are the three
things that will get you a job in any marketplace, not just that of Pakistan.
Why? Because hard work pays off.

In the previous chapter the importance of GPA was mentioned, but at the end,
a quote from one of our interviewees may have gotten you confused regarding
its importance. It’s a sad reality of Pakistan that government and/or a few
semi-governmental organizations do not recognize true talent in a particular
person, if he/she fails to obtain a minimum GPA. (3.0, etc.)
However, with the increasing number of SMEs in Pakistan, there’s a good
chance that a Pakistani engineer will land a job based on his/her skills. The
starting pay may be less than a salesman at a local store, but nonetheless it
will get you kickstarted into a professional environment.
But how do you a land a job at a private organization if you’ve scored too
little of a GPA?

Assuming you have minimum connections in the professional world, the first
thing you’ll need to do is master a particular skill. Pakistan is embracing
digitization at a massive rate, and having sound knowledge of software
applications related to your field can be of great resource. This is one of the
easiest ways to get a job in Pakistan, even if you a have low GPA as
companies are looking for people who can actually get the job done, at a
minimum pay.

What kind of Software should you work on?

CAD and Mathematical Modelling

While the world of engineering software is filled with hundreds of useful tools
& applications, there are only a few that can truly make a difference. Your
number one priority should be learning CAD software, as it is in a high
demand in Pakistan’s private sector, and can easily get you started. Examples
of popular CAD software include AutoCAD, which overlaps Electrical,
Mechanical & Civil Engineering.
Next, you should develop a strong sense of mathematical modelling. The most
commonly used software in this field is MATLAB, which once again overlaps
a number of disciplines.

These were just two of the many software available. For sound knowledge,
you’ll have to visit a senior, a professor or a relative who has knowledge of
the industry’s requirements.

How do you learn these Software?

This is a question for dummies. The internet is filled with all kinds of tutorials
& resources for all types of software, whether it’s AutoCAD, MATLAB,
Visual Studio, etc. Most of these tutorials are of very high quality, and are
free, so I’ll advise against purchasing a book, and actually following a website
or a video tutorial guide.

You’ll need to put in a lot of hard work and persistence into this, as it may
sound like following a few simple steps, but actually this is a long, curvy
road! Remember, you need to compensate for lower grades, so you’ll have to
show the companies that you’re capable of getting the job done.

One of our interviewees said:

“The factor which makes a great difference and impact is your skill to
convince the employer as being the perfect match for the posted Job and
position. This needs to be done in all honesty as before applying to any job,
we should ensure that we are actually capable of performing the job well
enough matching the level of skills and expertise as required by the client.”
What do you do once you’ve developed significant knowledge regarding a
Software?
How do you know you’ve developed significant knowledge of a Software? By
simply passing the tests at the end of a tutorial? The tutorials will get you so
far, but to gain practical knowledge, you’ll have to get exposed to the field.
How do you get exposed to the field if you don’t have a job?

Ironic, isn’t it?

If you wish to develop software knowledge related to your field then you’ll
have to take one of the following two routes:

- Join a minimal internship program

 Private companies advertise their internship vacancies almost every
couple of months. The intake is usually high but the catch for a fresh
graduate is that the compensation is very minimum, usually only
covering the transport costs. On top of this, you’ll have to start from
scratch, and throughout the course of the internship battle frustration.
The only benefit however of such a program is guarantee of a job,
once you’ve shown your skillset & resolve. Even if you don’t secure a
job, you’ll have a stuffed-up CV, which will make acquiring the next
job a whole lot easy.

- Online Freelancing
The extremely profitable opportunity deserves a chapter of its own.

Take what you’re offered

Being happy with what you’re getting is an advice for all Pakistani engineers,
whether they have a 4.0, a beefed-up CV or a 2.0 GPA. The initial struggle
within the professional world may seem as if it never ends, but it does pay-off
pretty well as you end up with technical & social knowledge of the industry’s
workings.
“To start, take any Engineering Job to gain some experience and learn
expertise required for real life projects. Sometimes your first job can also
become your dream Job because once you start working at a company there
are many chances of career growth and also many companies move their
employees to different departments depending on their aptitude.”
This is what Saeeda Sarwat Naqvi, an engineering graduate holding 12 years
of experience had to say.

Hard work is necessary for everyone to secure a job in the Pakistani market.
Sure, your GPA will help you secure more opportunities, but in the end, you’ll
have to prove your abilities in the form of an entry test, interview, etc. The
only way you can do so is work as hard as possible, and apply for as many
jobs as possible. The latter is good for two reasons:

- You gain experience from rejection,

- Your chances of securing a job multiply automatically
Uzair Javed, an engineer at Musa Pak Chemicals Pvt. Limited said:
“Actually, Fresh engineer should take any engineering job after getting
his/her degree at the start. If he/she look for a higher paying job/their dream
job then he/she will lose many other opportunities. In this way, he/she will
waste his/her time. If he/she did not find any good job then he/she should do
any engineering job. First take the experience in some small level industry
then apply for the good one.”
It would be clear by now that taking on any job is the key to surviving in the
Pakistani job market. By applying on as many vacancies as possible, and
giving as many interviews as possible, you can learn and hold a better of
chance of securing an internship/job. Nonetheless, your priority list for job
application should be as follows:
- Government organization
- Semi-government organization
- Multinational companies
- Large enterprises
- Small & Medium Enterprises
Once you’ve accumulated significant amount of experience you can either
change the company or ask for a permanent position, whatever suits you.
Finally, don’t give up. Setbacks will become common occurrence once you
graduate, but by working hard, showing resolve and mastering your skills,
you’ll be able to make a name for yourself in the saturated Pakistani job
market.
 Online Freelancing
A freelancer is any person who offers his/her services to businesses or
multiple clients for a fixed price or hourly fee. The fee is usually pre-decided
while the contract remains open for a set period of time, and is not permanent
until both the parties agree on doing so.
While freelancing is common throughout the world, and is ranked quite a
lucrative business, its “offline” form isn’t popular in Pakistan. Companies are
usually speculative of hiring engineers on a freelance basis, due to their lack
of responsibility, skills, or ability to do work. However, internet freelancing
has been booming in Pakistan for more than a decade now, and has become
the source of income for engineers, college students and even those with a job.

Why has online freelancing been so successful in Pakistan?

The reason is simple; online freelancing connects skillful Pakistani youth to
international companies, which are looking to get the job done at a cheap
price. Pakistanis do have the advantage of a cost-savvy lifestyle compared to
developed Western countries, therefore agreeing on the low price offered by
the client. It is thus, a win-win situation for both.

For a fresh graduate, or even an undergraduate, Freelancing is the easiest,

healthiest way to make a quick buck. Today, there are dozens of websites for
freelancers to work on, but we’ll only list out the ones that will help you the
most:
- Upwork
- Fiverr
- PrestoExperts
Why not Freelancer, you may ask? While Freelancer may be rated as the
number one freelancing website by many, the website often requires
candidates to pay-up a “promotion” fee so that their profile is better visible to
the clients. This isn’t an affordable option for graduates who are already cash-
strapped and looking to make a fast buck.
The three websites that I’ve mentioned above provide the best alternate source
of income, have no start-up fee, and greatly improve your skillset & resume,
giving you an insight into the practical world.

Creating a Profile
We strongly advise you to create a classy profile, so that you’re able to secure
a strong impression on a prospective client. While bio, photographs and
portfolios may be edited and perfected overtime, your prime concern should
be choosing a skill category in which you can perform and build a name for
yourself.

Sure, you’ve learned engineering software, but believe me when I say this,
there’s still a long way to go. By taking it all step by step you’ll be able to
build a profile, make a name for yourself and then slowly alter your skillset.

There are several job categories that you can choose from when building your
profile, varying from website to website, however more or less they fall within
the following range:
- Web, mobile and Software Development
- Design and Creative
- Content Writing
- Sales and Marketing
- Admin Support
- IT and Networking
- Translation
- Engineering & Architecture
- Customer Service
- Accounting and Consulting
- Data Scientists and Analytics
- Legal
- Medical
For fresh graduates and undergraduates, I would advise to build a profile
around the following categories:

- Content Writing
- Translation
- Customer Service
- Data Entry
- Design

These four categories are the easiest ones, and don’t demand a lot of learning.
You can directly dive in with these categories, and get to work as soon as
possible.
While you’ve created your profile around these skills, you have the possibility
to explore other areas as well, such as Engineering & Software Development.
You may simply add them to your search results’ feed and get updates
regarding each new job posted. This way you’ll be able to get a clear idea of
what the industry requires, allowing you to prepare beforehand before vaguely
applying on an Engineering Job Posting.
Back to the issue at hand: Creating a freelancing profile. Follow these steps to
create a professionally sound profile, which can be later tailored as you get
more experience.

1. Create an Effective Headline

The headline you build should be clear, on-point and effective. Websites like
Upwork & Fiverr support a “headline” field to give prospective clients a quick
overview of the freelancer.

You may find freelancers’ profiles filled with all kinds of fluff, but remember,
by incorporating the following three things you’ll be able to get a client to
open your profile:

- Position Title
- Years of Experience
- Your Specialty
The second point may be a bummer for many, so you may skip it if you want.

2. Upload a Professional Photo

A picture is worth a thousand words, especially if you’re trying to impress
someone thousands of miles away.
For a newbie online Freelancer, a professional profile picture can make all the
difference in the world. I’m not saying that you need to head to your local
photo-studio and get a portrait taken. No. Simply take a snap from a high-
quality camera in a well-lit environment. You don’t need to be wearing a suit
& tie either. Simply smile, enunciate a warm impression and you’ll be good to
go!

Sometimes, you may not want to upload a photo of yourself due to any
number of reasons. If this is the case for you then try considering an avatar or
an illustration that positively reflects your skills and personality. For instance,
if you’re a graphic designer then upload a professional logo, and so on.
However, I would recommend you to-upload a personal photo, given your
newly built profile and lack of experience.

3. Open-up with your Qualifications & Experiences

When it comes to filling the profile description, no need to spin around in
circles. Cut right to the case, opening your profile by telling the client why
he/she should hire you. This is your one shot at making a strong first
impression.

If you hit all their checkpoints, you’ll either earn yourself an interview or get
directly hired.
Open your profile with:

- Years of experience
- Areas of expertise and your specialty
- Technical skills and program knowledge

Don’t enter too much detail as there will be specific placeholders for such
information on your profile page. Employers will quickly glance at your
profile so try your best to summarize as much information as possible.

4. Backup your Qualifications with your Academic Background

This may not be true for some of the classifications, however all kinds of
academic achievements can help make a better impression. Clients often wish
to know the amount of formal training you have in the field. Surely, as an
engineer you won’t be able to convince them of your skills as a content writer,
but by cleverly paraphrasing your educational background you’ll be able to
give an impression of your potential abilities.
For instance, you can state that you’ve written technical documentations at
College/University level which have greatly enhanced your abilities as a
content writer.
Similarly, you can mention mastery in Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Vector
Graphics to convince a client of your abilities.
In addition, you shouldn’t leave your Bachelors’ degree out of the picture.
Most freelancing websites have separate places for adding such information.
You should fill such spaces at all costs as it would help develop a strong,
educational background.
5. Add any & every kind of activity that displays your versatility
All freelancing websites allow the freelancer to maintain an experience list,
containing all the achievements related/unrelated to his/her field. Since you’re
already short on experience, fill in this space by mentioning your final year
project, an event you’ve managed, your internship, non-profit activities, etc.
This will beef up your profile, while at the same time not taking up any of the
A-list space in your profile.

6. Including Contact Information

Before stating your contact information outright, beware of the respective
bylaws of the website. Freelancing sites such as Upwork and PrestoExperts,
strictly prohibit the exchange of contract information over private channels.
This is a well-placed concern as many clients-freelancers tend to make private
relations to cut the website’s service charges.

Failure to abide by these rules may result in the termination of your profile
and your email ID getting blocked from the website’s servers. Thus, before
taking your profile one step further, be clear of the website’s policies.

What to avoid on your profile?

In addition to not violating the website’s policy, you should avoid “fluffing”
up your profile. Fluff is basically anything that takes space but doesn’t add
substantial meaning to your profile. Too much emphasis on skills like
“satisfaction of client”, “meeting deadlines”, “punctuality”, would only add to
negative impressions as the client would already expect these qualities from
you.
Fluff is one of the many wrongs freelancers in Pakistan commit that cause
them as well as other fellow freelancers precious time & money. A
quantitative look at them is as follows:

1. Poor Marketing
Your technical skills & experience may be the cornerstones on which
your entire freelancing career rests on, but don’t rule out the
importance of clever marketing. Marketing is one of the most
underrated concepts in Pakistani youth, mainly because they fail to
understand the benefits linked to it.
 Elance, a freelancing website that recently merged with Odesk, stated
that successful freelancers are those who carry a business mindset.
Therefore, it’s quite easy to infer that freelancing should be taken as
more of a business in which you have to portray your image rather
than a static job.

Freelancing can transform from a part-time hobby to a full-time side-

profession so I highly recommend you to be clear while building your
profile. Plus, sending proposals shouldn’t be taken as a simple hit &
trial activity but instead performed as a serious task.

2. Unclear Value Proposition

Underselling is a problem not common in Pakistan only but in most
developing Asian & African countries. Freelancers often don’t
understand their potential and agree to work at lower rates. This
attitude is common in beginner freelancers as they don’t realize the
impact their work has on the client’s business.
For instance, writing articles & blogs may be your skill but this isn’t
your value. If you’re a ghostwriter and you’re providing quality work
to Kindle author then your value is dependent on the number of sales
of that book. The point is, carrying out a few background check of
your end-product won’t hurt anyone, but will actually raise your
earnings.

3. Working for Everyone

Having multiple streams of income isn’t always beneficial.

Freelancers often place dozens of bids on every possible job they can
find, and end up getting most of those. The result? They get bogged
down working multiple hours a day, while they already struggle with a
packed schedule. This severely deteriorates the quality of one’s work,
no matter how easy the project is.
No matter how dedicated you are, at one point or another you’ll snap
and start performing averagely. As a result, sooner or later you’ll lose
your clients and end up with a bad reputation, and no means of
freelance earnings at all.
4. Varying Skills
Another very common mistakes made by beginners:
Suppose you’re a content writer, but due to lack of jobs in that field,
you start applying in jobs that require a graphics designer, based on a
day or two of experience.
With the jobs you get, you’ll only destroy your reputation, plus you’ll
lose your “job credits”, when the content writing market re-floods!

5. Low Balling
I, myself am a first-hand witness to this activity. Freelancers in
Pakistan, especially the beginners who’re in it for a short-time, looking
to make big-bucks compete with the professionals by lowering the
compensation for a particular job.
At one point, I witnessed low ballers, low balling each other, across
dorm-rooms.
No matter how difficult the job or project is, they’ll simply ask for a
lower rate, which will make the client think twice before hiring the
more skilled worker. This is true for websites like Fiverr &
PrestoExperts where clients are looking for the cheapest Freelancer.

6. Generic Proposals
Whether it’s Freelancer.com, Upwork or any other website, attaching a
cover letter and/or a proposal has become a norm. I agree that many
jobs are similar in nature and require only a copy/paste proposal, but
the key to succeeding in the online market place is adding uniqueness
to your work.
Adding just one to two lines as to how your skills will benefit the
client and/or his job will put you as a top contender for the project.
 Employment Opportunities Abroad
It’s the hard truth that the geo-political situation seems to be getting worse day
by day. Western countries have tightened their immigration & work-visa laws,
making it difficult for skilled engineers, doctors, etc. to gain a foothold in
other countries.
Irrespective of the problems & hurdles, there are always some ways to get a
job abroad and ultimately settle in that country. How? The one word answer
is: synergy.
This is the 21st century, a time when knowledge isn’t everything. Competition
is at its peak, and there are hundreds of students with the same level of
intelligence & academic excellence as you do. In such a situation, molding
one’s self according to the situation is the key to success. This book discusses
several ways to get a job in Pakistan like Technical Strength, Connections,
Freelancing, etc.
When it comes to securing an employment abroad, any singular thing
becomes highly irrelevant. Instead, hosting a number of skills & techniques
becomes precious, useful and ultimately leads to opportunities abroad. The
main reason behind such a statement is that foreign countries have rules &
norms that are very different from the ones practiced in Pakistan. The
competition in Pakistan is already gut-wrenching, but is nothing compared to
the one faced in Western countries where academic standards are as high as
the Himalayas.
Nonetheless, through patience, discipline and a few skills, you can multiply
your chances of getting a ten-fold paying job at a foreign country:

- Theoretical & Practical Knowledge

- Connections & References
- Immigration Rules & Procedures
- Persistence

Theoretical & Practical Knowledge

You may conjure the three infamous letters, “GPA” while reading this section,
and to some extent you’re right. In the world where competition has a
suffocating sense, GPA is an extremely important entity for survival. Once
again, I’m not demanding a 4.0 GPA but a nominal one, i.e. 3.0 or one that
meets the employer’s requirements.
Remember, here’s a rule of thumb:
A higher GPA is more suitable for research-oriented jobs while a lower one is
suitable for field jobs.
No matter what job you’re applying to, knowing what type it is will save you
a lot of time & money. All jobs, no matter how diverse can be categorized in
two ways:

- Research
- Field
Research jobs are those that that involve innovation & testing with new
techniques & materials whereas field jobs involve day-to-day routine
activities employing existing engineering principles.
A research job as stated is more suitable for a person holding higher GPA as
he/she is more likely to hold in-depth theoretical knowledge compared to a
student with a lower GPA. On the other hand, graduates with lower GPA tend
to compensate their lesser aptitude by developing a core practical strength,
something much more useful in the field.

Therefore, when applying for a job abroad be sure that you hold the required
technical and/or theoretical skills to stand-out and pass all the underlying tests
with flying colors. There is absolutely no room for error as the quota for
foreign candidates is already very minor.

Moreover, “Specialization” is very much necessary when applying to foreign

jobs. The era of “Jack of all trades” is long gone. Science has advanced at
rocket-pace and is now filled countless classifications. Having a solid foothold
over one field or specialization is much more valuable compared to having
incomplete knowledge of all possible tracks. Once you hold detailed
theoretical and practical knowledge over a specialization track, you’ll
automatically overtake hundreds of candidates applying on the same job.

Connections & References

Transparency is one of Pakistan’s biggest problems, which is why having
valid connections & references is so important here. But what about Europe &
America? Does the rule apply there as well?
Yes, it does, but in a different sense. Having connections & references abroad
isn’t the same as that in Pakistan. In Pakistan having a mighty reference may
get you a top-level job without any interference, but in foreign countries
having a reference will get you so far as giving you an upper hand during the
interview or setting you up with the right people.

Nonetheless, with the saturation and hardships a Pakistani engineer is likely to

face in a foreign country, it is very important to have even a single reference
that can guide you through some of the most common problems faced by a
young engineer.

Who can be your guide abroad?

- Relatives
- Friends
- Work Colleagues & Peers.

Relatives & friends living abroad can truly act as a beacon of light for a young
Pakistani engineer whose unaware of the social & professional dynamics at
work in another country. Even before you start applying on foreign jobs, it is
best to get some facetime with them so that you have a rough idea as to what
you’re about to step in.

Lastly, work colleagues & peers. How can one develop these if he/she lives in
Pakistan? Freelancing. I have been freelancing for over 3 years and
throughout this time have formed connections with dozens of my clients in
several countries all over the world. From time to time, I talk on a personal
level to these clients so that I can keep my references alive and put them to
use when needed. Similarly, you can follow such an approach, and in
exchange of quality work, can not only obtain a fair fee but a long-term
contact in a foreign country as well!

Having connections & references will help you get to know the external
environment and get you a head start compared to other candidates. It may
also help you apply to a job well-suited for your skills as clients are
sometimes more aware of a person’s expertise than he, himself.

Immigration Rules & Procedures

As mentioned at the start of the chapter, it is becoming increasingly difficult
to obtain any type of visa or travel permit for a foreign destination for
countries situated in and around the Middle East. Getting into the reasons
would be an endless activity, but the point is having sound knowledge of these
protocols is extremely important.
I’ve seen graduates being turned down from Embassies even though they had
been accepted at foreign universities due to improper documentation and
several other reasons.

Explaining each & every travel requirement is out of the scope of this book so
its recommended you contact a travel agent for detailed guidance. You may
need to invest a few thousand rupees but the result will be definite and fruitful
to say the least.

Persistence
This is one word we can’t stop using. Have faith in yourself and never give
up. I can give you examples of dozens of entrepreneurs and famous
personalities who succeeded simply because they didn’t give up, over the top
of my head, from Edison to Jack Ma.

Gaining foreign employment can be an extremely difficult task. The

conditions aren’t set for external applicants and the struggle is even more
tiresome for someone without proper guidance. But, we learn from our
mistakes, and thus, I’ll advise you to keep on trying until you’re one step
ahead of where you were the previous time you tried.

Keep applying on jobs online, keep sending out applications and keep beefing
up your resume; one day your prayers will get answered.
 Join Pakistan Army
Pakistan Navy, Air Force and Army are three of Pakistan’s most respected,
transparent and disciplined institutes with employment opportunities for all,
civilians or military personnel. Out of the three branches, being a part of
Pakistan’s army is one of the most sought out as well as readily available
opportunities for a Pakistani youth.
Many start preparing for the dream-job as soon as they’re in high-school,
while those who miss try to enter the cadres in the first year of their
engineering! It’s true, as most students don’t have any desire to be an
engineer, but instead are forced by their parents, siblings or relatives. So as
soon as they’re in the first year and realize the ordeal they’re in, they start
looking for alternate paths.
Many undergraduates progress and manage to join the Pakistan Army through
a Regular Commission, completely abandoning their BSc degree in favor of
being an Officer. Others, who have been forced into getting an engineering
degree, cope with the multi-pronged challenges on a daily basis, finding
themselves worried about employment as their degree-tenure ends.
Not to worry as Pakistan’s defense forces offers a multitude of opportunities
to fresh graduates whose interest lies in the serving their country.

Long Course
In simple words, this means regular commission in the Army, through which
you end up serving as an officer in one of the fighting cores. The minimum
qualifications for this course is a college degree, but if you haven’t yet tried
your luck then its best you begin with this.
Why? You’ll have the greatest growth opportunities while working in
adventurous locations, with minimum engineering knowledge requirements.

Educational Requirement:
Candidates who have completed Intermediate (F.A/FSc) or Bachelors
(B.A/B.Sc)

Selection Procedure/Process to Join Pak army

 • Initial/ Entrance Test at Army Selection and Recruitment Centers
(Intelligence Test, Verbal, Non Verbal and Academic Test
(Mathematics, English, Physics etc.)
• Initial Medical Test
• After passing initial medical candidates will undergo interviews.
• Shortlisted candidates of Interviews will be given ISSB Call Letters
• ISSB Test-Interviews Recommended candidates will be considered for
final selection after Final Medical Examination at nearest CMH.

Age Limitation
Age limit for Intermediate Candidates are 17-21 year, for Bachelor 17-23
years, while age limit for 4-year degree program is 17-24 years.
Even if you’re hearing about this for the first time, if you’ve completed a
Bachelor’s degree, then there’s absolutely no need to worry about preparing
for the initial screening out tests. Only once you receive a call-letter for the
“ISSB Test”, should you join an academy and seriously start preparing for the
army.

Short Service Commission

The difference between Regular Commission and Short Service Commission
is that you join as a Captain with the latter while as 2nd Lt. with the former.
Short Service Commission is the Army’s way of inducting skilled technical
personnel into their cadres, who require minimum training. The initial
procedure is same, as it was for Regular Commission. First, the candidates
will appear for a written test in the Army Recruitment Centre. After getting
screened-out, they will get called for physical and medical check-up.
Once they’re through, they will be invited to the “ISSB Test”. The ISSB Test
for Engineers is difficult compared to those applying for Long Course as
engineers must be technically sound in addition to having the guts to perform
at the front lines.
All in all, there are four entry levels in the Army for engineers:
- Corps of Ordnance
- Corps of Engineering
- Corps of EME
- ICTOs
The specializations offered are as follows:
- Civil
- Telecom
- Software
- Electrical
- Mechanical
- Computer
- Aerospace

A minimum GPA of 2.5 out of 4 is required for being eligible for the tests.
Once again, preparing for the ISSB test should be done under the guidance of
a renowned academy or a teacher who has proven experience.
For both Long Course as well as Short Service Commission, visit:
https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/

All the details as well as Registration Portal are available on the website.
 Civil Services
The Civil Services of Pakistan is the key institution considered as the engine
& wheels that drive the country. No matter what form of government the
country is ruled by, no matter what party, no matter how bad the situation is,
Civil Services is an established institution that keeps the country upright &
stable in all conditions & environments.
CSS or Civil Services is Pakistan’s form of bureaucracy left by the British. It
is one step ahead of other government employment opportunities as it deals
with the foundations of the countries and the major decisions that keep the
country rolling on a daily basis.
From Engineers to Arts Graduates, CSS is open for all and screens its
applicants through competitive examinations. For fresh engineers this is an
ideal opportunity as the aptitude developed during the 4 years comes in quite
handy and gives a competitive edge over other candidates.
Before going any further, please look at the different branches available under
the Civil Services:

 Police Service of Pakistan

 District Management Group
 Foreign Service of Pakistan
 Customs and Excise Group
 Income Tax Group
 Pakistan Audit & Accounts Services
 Commerce & Trade Group
 Postal Group
 Railways Group (Commercial & Transportation)
 Information Group
The examination is conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission in
major cities of Pakistan simultaneously.

Age Limit
The minimum age limit is 21 while the maximum is 28, making this an ideal
opportunity for fresh graduates.

Educational Requirements
Please read these carefully as many candidates fail to understand the
requirements until they’ve appeared for the test.

A candidate must hold at least a Bachelor degree in any faculty of one of the
Pakistani Universities or an equivalent degree or comparable educational
qualifications of a foreign University. (The candidate must have acquired the
requisite qualification, on or before 31st December of previous year).
No candidate who has obtained a Third Division (or 'D' grade where result is
declared under Semester System) in his Bachelor's Degree will be eligible for
the Examination except in cases where he/she has obtained a higher Division
in Master’s or Law Degree or where, from time to time, the Federal
Government may relax the condition in respect of under developed under
represented areas. For the Competitive Examination, this relaxation would he
admissible to candidates front the following areas/regions

Sindh (Rural)
Balochistan
Federally Administered Tribal Areas as defined in Article 246 of the
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Northern areas.
Kashmir
Now that you know the basic requirements of CSS, you may be asking
yourself: “Why should an engineer opt for CSS examinations?”
This is an understandable question as engineering itself is a difficult field,
requiring hard work and dedication. Obtaining a degree in any kind of
engineering discipline with passing grades is as cumbersome as any other
profession like medicine or economics. So why should an engineer, after
spending 4 whole years, change his route and direct his efforts towards
becoming a Civil Officer?
Pakistan is a country, which currently lacks the employment opportunities
required to empower its struggling youth. Competition is one thing, but the
absence of opportunities is another. Sometimes employers take advantage of
this fact and offer so little compensation to graduates that it’s disgraceful to
say the least. To escape all these miseries, CSS is a perfect, fool-proof option,
once you’ve passed the test of course.
Remember, the four years you spend on your degree changes you in a
multitude of ways, not just in terms of knowledge but in terms of coping with
challenges. Civil Services may be a rewarding road but it isn’t the easiest. On
average, you need to prepare for 6 months before appearing in an exam that
tests your wits. An interview follows, after which a final merit list is released.

However, engineers who opt for the CSS route often succeed as they manage
their time efficiently, and develop skills that Arts’ graduates fail to
understand. Many of my seniors who started preparing for CSS exams right
after graduation are now CSS officers. Not all of these seniors had 3.0 CGPA,
but they had one thing in common, motivation & dedication. Joining an
academy is only part of the story, studying till you need to soak your feet in
cold water to stay up is the other part.

But once you’re through you’ll be rewarded in ways that your counterparts
can only hope to accomplish. From monetary standpoint, to growth
opportunities, CSS rules all employment types in Pakistan.
 BONUS: China Pakistan Economic Corridor
What began as an idea is turning into a reality.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC is one of the most trending terms

in global markets today, mainly due to Pakistan’s strategic position and
China’s global ambitions. While the term may be a pet word for every child in
Pakistan, there are engineers who aren’t aware of the complete scope of this
project.

CPEC is a 3,218-kilometer-long route, to be built over next several years,

consisting of highways, railways and pipelines. The actual estimated cost of
the project is expected to be US$75 billion, out of which US$45 billion plus
will ensure that the corridor becomes operational by 2020. The remaining
investment will be spent on energy generation and infrastructure development.

The much advertised US$45 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will

pass through the beautiful Gilgit-Baltistan province in the north which will
connect Kashgar in China’s western province Xinjiang to rest of the world
through Chinese-operated Gwadar port in the country's south. This mega
project is expected to take the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and
China to new heights, it’s a beginning of a journey which hopes to transform
the economy and help bridge Pakistan’s power shortfall.

The CPEC project has been divided into phases, the first phase being the
completion of Gwadar International Airport and major developments of
Gwadar Port. This phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

The project also includes the expansion of Karakoram Highway- the road that
connects China with Pakistan and placement of fiber-optic line ensuring better
communication between the two countries. It is estimated that if all the
planned projects are implemented, the value of those projects would exceed
all foreign direct investment in Pakistan since 1970 and would be equivalent
to 17% of Pakistan's 2015 gross domestic product.

It is further estimated the CPEC project will create some 700,000 direct jobs
during the period 2015–2030 and add up to 2.5 percentage points to the
country's growth rate.
That’s right, 700000 jobs. And remember, this is an infrastructure
development program so it’s bound to create more jobs for engineers and
technical workers rather than researchers. The rate at which CPEC is
developing is truly staggering and the benefits are already being harvested by
the local population up North and in the South from where the development
has originated.

CPEC is beneficial for all engineering disciplines, but is most valuable for the
disciplines of Electrical, Mechanical and Civil Engineering. Why?
Almost 80% of the China’s oil is currently transported from Strait of Malacca
to Shanghai, (distance is almost 16,000 km and takes 2-3 months), with
Gwadar becoming operational, the distance would reduce to less than 5,000
km. If all goes well and on schedule, of the 21 agreements on energy–
including gas, coal and solar energy will be able to provide up to 10,400
megawatts (MW) of energy by March 2018.
As part of infrastructure projects worth approximately $11 billion, and 1,100-
kilometer-long motorway will be constructed between the cities of Karachi
and Lahore, while the Karakoram Highway between Rawalpindi and the
Chinese border will be completely reconstructed and overhauled. The
Karachi–Peshawar main railway line will also be upgraded to allow for train
travel at up to 160 kilometers per hour by December 2019.
Over $33 billion worth of energy infrastructure will be constructed by private
consortia to help alleviate Pakistan's chronic energy shortages, which
regularly amount to over 4,500MW,8 and have shed an estimated 2-2.5% off
Pakistan's annual GDP.9With approximately $33 billion expected to be
invested in energy sector projects, power generation assumes an important
role in the CPEC project. Over 10,400MW of energy generating capacity is to
be developed between 2018 and 2020 as part of the corridor's fast-tracked
projects.

Job postings have already started making their way in newspapers and online
classified websites. The employment channels seem to be widening day by
day. An example of the opportunities that are about to come on a daily basis
include:
Vacancies / Positions

• ---Supervision Staff
• Resident Engineers 15 years relevant experience as RE. Must have
experience with FIDIC Contracts. B.Sc. Civil! M.S Civil
 • AREs (Structures/Highways) 10+ years’ experience in supervision of
highways & bridges. M.Sc/B.Sc Civil

• Planning Engineers B.Sc. Civil with previous experience of using

Primavera for large construction projects. M.Sc/B.Sc. Civil
• Material Engineers 15 years Material Science and Soil
Testing/Engineering background. M.ScJB.Sc Geology or B.E. Civil.

• Site Inspectors! Engineers 3+,10 +years’ experience in

Highway/Bridge Construction. B.Sc Civil.
• Quantity Surveyors 10+ years relevant experience in measurements,
billing, project monitoring of highway projects. Diploma (Civil)

• SLTsILTs 10+ years’ experience in testing, ASTM, AASHTO

specifications, B.Sc, F.Sc.
• Surveyors 10+ years’ experience in site control and surveying.
Diploma or 1 year Certificate Course in Surveying.
• ----Design Staff
• Structure Design Engineers 3+ years’ experience in Design of bridges.
Must be familiar with AASHTO, LRFD. Bridge modeling on SAP
2000. STAAD Pro, ETAB. M.Sc/B.Sc Civil.
• Highway Design Engineers 5+ years’ experience in Design of
highways & pavements. M.Sc Civil

• Cad Draftsmen 3+ years’ experience in structural drafting using

AutoCad.
Note that the vacancies will only increase with time as power projects and
motorways are inaugurated. Right now, CPEC is in its initiation phase, in 1 –
2 years it will kick-off in full-spin and will be active in all provinces of
Pakistan. For more information:
http://cpec.gov.pk/faqs
 Conclusion
For a Pakistani Engineer, getting a job is one of the hardest and tiresome
things to do. Graduation only means end of an era which is characterized by
tension-free lifestyle and free-will! But graduation shouldn’t be seen like this.
Instead it should be felt like entering into a new, exciting phase of life which
is bound to empower a young engineer and bring his/her dreams to life.
Even a discussion about getting employment sparks discouraging &
depressing remarks. This book acts as a neutralizer for such remarks &
thinking and provides young graduates with hope in the form of techniques &
guidance that will help them land a job, and get on their own feet.
From local opportunities to foreign ones, this book covers it all, and leaves no
stone unturned in making sure you get the best-in-class guidance, all in one
place. The advice isn’t something that’s been thought of by a single individual
but is the result of brainstorm sessions, interviews and meet-ups with
professionals indulged in field & research activities.
Wish you the best for your future!