Share Your Work Experience Form
Name: Syed Azmat Ali
Organization: Allied Bank Limited
Designation: Senior Vice President and Head of Remittance Business Unit
Work Experience (in years): 22
Industry: Banking/ Financial Institution
Expertise:
Q. What to expect at the entrant level? (Ups and downs during the early years)
More importantly, what one should look for in the very first organization one joins? I was fortunate to have worked for American Express Bank, Karachi, Pakistan as my first formal job.
From the word go, it had an enabling environment, where every individual was allowed to expand their professional horizons by participating in the entire growth of the organization. As a person at the lowest rung of the professional ladder, I was allowed to do a number of things other than my own direct responsibilities. Managers encouraged participation in various other administrative or organizational activities such as Social Committees, Sports, non-Formal Business-Quality or Product-Development Cross-Functional Projects, Newsletter Production, etc. Participating in such activities allowed for greater cross-functional interaction which resulted in better understanding of the other departments functions.
So it is critical to join an organization with an enabling, supporting environment, rather than one where you would be pigeonholed into a specific job function and not encouraged to have a broader view of what the organization does and how.
Q. Explain the Career progress that is typical to this field? (Growth pattern/ promotion chances/ overseas placements)
I started off my career as a Software Professional. After obtaining my IBA Masters in Marketing, I moved to the domain of Business Analysis and Systems Design and from there to Technology Solution Management. Recently, in the last 10 years, I have primarily been responsible for Business Operations and now also for the departmental P&L.
As we start to enhance our knowledge and experience throughout our careers, each one of us gains a better understanding of what our most strong skills are. One must then choose the career path based on one’s strongest skills.
It is extremely important that we be open to career changes in our lives, especially in the first 5 years of our career. There is nothing wrong or foolish in deciding that a completely different line of work is most suitable to what we want to do in our lives.
Sadly, in Pakistan, 95% of people decide to choose the BEST PAYING career option. While monetary compensation is a great satisfier in the long run, it makes for a very painful and uncomfortable career in the initial years.
To be able to do what one loves is the ultimate career choice. It may be playing a sport professionally, or deciding to paint through life or simply be a number-crunching banker, if you like what you do, you will excel in it and therefore monetary compensation will follow.
Q. What pre requisite courses need to taken to help students to enter this career path? (Courses/ certifications that help in this field)
For any job, the ability to communicate clearly is the most important skill set especially the ability to write clearly, concisely and without leaving any loose ends. Understanding what level of detail and complexity is appropriate for the intended audience, keeping their interests in mind, and ensuring to reflect a win-win situation is key to success.
For a technical person, such as myself, it is also key to remain up to date on the current technological trends in the industry. This is easier said than done. It requires focus, discipline and time.
Be team players. Even if you are the best in your organization, make sure you don’t step on any toes or egos around you, whether those of your organizational superiors or juniors. Humility and clean with is key to personal development and likability in the organization.
Speak the truth, as diplomatically as possible [of course], without shying away because of possible consequences. We are hired by organizations to use our professional skills to the betterment of the organization, not for the people around the table. As professionals, we must give our most considered opinion and not shy away from sounding naïve or unintelligent. I always air my opinion and stand by it with logic, until convinced through logic of it being wrong.
Whatever line of business you go into, be exceptionally well versed with Finance and Economic logic. Understand how and why money flows from one place to another and from one industry to another. The end result of all our efforts is the generation of profit for the organization. Only if you are helping in this end goal could you succeed in any organization.
Q. Do employers have a preference for certain individuals? (CGPA or a specialized Bachelors or masters requirement)
Employers are stuck with thousands of applications each time they advertize. Always research your near and dear ones for organizational contacts who could get you interviewed.
Good educational grades help, but another 1,000 student would have similar qualifications. So why choose you?
Above average grades, a good personality, your ability to communicate confidently and clearly are the key factors in getting hired.
Whichever industry you wish to take up as a career, research it thoroughly from an HR perspective. What skill set in this industry gets paid the highest amount, gets promoted the fastest, gets relocated abroad? For example, in Banking, Corporate Sales and Treasury Front Office people get paid the highest compensations.
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Q. Who are the industry leaders and trend setters in this field? (Companies that need to be looked out for)
For banking, the MNCs are the best options: Citi, and SCB. Next in line are HBL, MCB and ABL.
For hard core technology careers, choose one of the internationally linked consulting services like Ernst & Young, KPMG, etc.
Q. Any advise that you can offer to current students?
• Improve your communication skills, especially in English.
• Learn to write and speak like a professional.
• Before you open your mouth to say something, be very clear in what was asked. If you don’t understand, don’t be ashamed to ask for clarification.
• No one is born with the knowledge of the Universe. When you don’t know something, be candid about it. No one expects you to know everything, even about your own department / function.
• Boost your international relocation options by becoming conversant in a relevant 3rd language: French, German, Chinese, Arabic. The best time to do it is in your student days, when you have time.
• Specialize in the area that will be in boom 5 to 10 years from now, not the one in boom today.
• Make a career choice based on your own skill set or likings, not because your father does / wants it.
