I’m not sure if this is the right place, but I’m hoping to get a good reply
For girls in Pakistan, is it easy to get a job there? What is the process? I have heard that having connections is much more important than having a resume etc?
What is the work environment like for women there?
And for those of you who work in an office setting, what is the general dress code?
Re: Question for Girls in Pakistan
Nowadays job market is not good whether be it for boys or girls. Economical Crunch!
Yes, connections can help you but not everyone with connections can get a good position. I am sure u need the talent too but its just that if its two people with about same talent but one has connections then he wl be prefered.
You just have to be careful in picking yourself a job where you wl feel comfortable and the environment is safe. Like for myself, i have done 1 job so far and i selected that very cautiously and now that i am looking for work again its tough cuz i know i cant work everywhere and anywhere. For me its very important that the set-up is comfortable.
Re: Question for Girls in Pakistan
What do you do? or what industry are you in?
Re: Question for Girls in Pakistan
Textiles.
Re: Question for Girls in Pakistan
I would speak for both girls & guys.
Well, if you have some foreign work experience, you wont need any connections to find a suitable job. The only thing in Pakistan.... the pay is hardly sufficient for yourself alone. To have a job with a better pay, your connections might work. But to land a job, your education & talent must be sufficient.
There are many places with decent environment for the females but you would have to be smart enough to see where. International banks are the most desireable places of work for the females in Pakistan.
Even in a good global economy, pay scale in Pakistan is very small. People who have families have to rely on that meagerly compensation to take care of the whole family's needs. So, money in Pakistan is not easy & working class lives on a tight budget as a rule. But look at the beauty, they still are content. That's the beauty of Pakistani people. Makes your heart say abundant prayers for them.
If you're one girl who has to support herself alone. I think you should be able to do that with a normal (not so hi-fi job) without saving anything.
Apart from that, dress code may vary depending on your office environment. If you're coming from abroad, you better try to get into an international environment for work because you might not like to stay in a local firm because you might not fit there.
Re: Question for Girls in Pakistan
Thanks Ambassador...that really helps....
On average how much would you say a person would make per month (in Rs)?
and by dress code, what I meant was....do they wear shalwar kameez or western wear? I know its really easy for guys (pant shirt - universal). None of my female relatives in Pakistan work so I couldn't ask them...Here in US, there's usually a very strict dress code in most places (business, business-casual, casual etc).
Re: Question for Girls in Pakistan
depends on the sector u r looking a job in. I worked in Pakistan for around 7 yrs never had any issue other then I hv to struggle a lot as compared to my male counter parts but then it may b because I was in male dominated field.
Pakistan still has a long way to go for the gender equality in the work force. I use 2 get pi$$ed off when in interviews I was asked whether I am married or not or wat are my plans to get married 
but I hv heard now things hv been changed in the cities espacially like now it’s not only the doctors who are suppose 2 stay late for work
Thanks Ambassador...that really helps....
On average how much would you say a person would make per month (in Rs)?
and by dress code, what I meant was....do they wear shalwar kameez or western wear? I know its really easy for guys (pant shirt - universal). None of my female relatives in Pakistan work so I couldn't ask them...Here in US, there's usually a very strict dress code in most places (business, business-casual, casual etc).
again depend on the place and nature of job, my first job started from 2500/- PK Rs per month and last job was for 250K per month
similarly in some sectors you have to dress conservatively in shalwar kameez while in industries like media, MNC's, banking you can do the whole formal suit attire. I must say Pakistanis are getting more and more liberal in terms of dressing in cities
If you are confused about the dress code, then shalwar kamiz is the all rounder for women accepted in both liberal and conservative environments.
Without any experience, don't expect to work for a salary! It will be as low as having nothing at all.
But you can't be sure of anything unless the candidate goes for interviews and finds out the situation herself.
BTW, you can get an idea of job market by looking for available jobs in rozee.pk
Nowadays job market is not good whether be it for boys or girls. Economical Crunch!
I would say because of 'democracy' :)
Re: Question for Girls in Pakistan
Sara, there is no strict business dress code in offices in Pakistan which I know of. There are some parts of Pakistan where there is no problem with girls wearing any kind of clothing western or eastern (I mean as long as it is modest). If you're wearing Pakistani, semi formals would be good enough & if western, strictly formal / business clothing for girls is not very common in offices. If you're wearing Pakistani, you have so much variety & it's a bit colorful. Many girls also create fusion of Pakistani & western. Looks lovely. Then again, depends on your office environment. I think office dress code in Pakistan is very relaxed for both girls & guys.
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Re: Question for Girls in Pakistan
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Hey sara!..we seem to be on the same boat 
I have also been looking for the right answers to these questions for quite some time and have asked many people including my teachers and my senior female graduates who recently started their careers…but I have come to the conclusion that I can never actually know till I start working myself 
. Because everyone develops their opinions according to their own perceptions and experiences.
The work environment greatly varies from company to company, but this is a generally accepted fact that MNCs have a better work environment than local firms. Dress codes also vary but most of my friends wear long shirts and trousers to work (looks very trendy and is acceptable in all environments 
)…and yes, connections do make a difference..but not for long, in the end it’s your talent and personal skills that define your long term success
I haven’t worked anywhere yet and am about to graduate, but have researched a lot on this issue. Hope it helped
International banks are the most desireable places of work for the females in Pakistan.
I am not sure about this. It might be a lucrative profession but as far as the environment is concerned, none of my friends have had good experiences at banks, be it national or international. In the long run, when you achieve a certain position through promotions and all it's different, but in the beginning I don't think banks are in general a good place to be in for females. Just an opinion.
Re: Question for Girls in Pakistan
ria, I was talking solely in terms of better environment for females not pay scale.
Not sure which banks your friends had experience. But as per my info, environment in multinational banks & good national banks (allied) have very decent working environment for girls even at the entry level kind of jobs.
Re: Question for Girls in Pakistan
It depends on the nature of the job as well...i mean if its front desk, their is direct contact with the customer and you have to deal with all sorts of people and you can never guarantee what kind of customers you will get. Is liye I'd prefer non-banking sector jobs.
Re: Question for Girls in Pakistan
***I don't think its true what they say about having connections......your resume matters !
I'm sure connections play a role but from recent personal experience , I can defintely say I got the job purely on my resume .........in fact they even allowed me to negotiate my salary and benefits .
I think if you've got the right qualifications and the right attitude , employers nowadays recognize and welcome raw talent and gender doesn't play that huge a role as girls are now accepted in most job categories and the concept of being a male dominated field in any job is slowly fading .......***
Oh yes, ria. I did not mean in retail or customer services outlets of these banks but entry level positions in the corporate / management offices.
It depends on the nature of the job as well...i mean if its front desk, their is direct contact with the customer and you have to deal with all sorts of people and you can never guarantee what kind of customers you will get. Is liye I'd prefer non-banking sector jobs.
For girls in Pakistan, is it easy to get a job there? What is the process? I have heard that having connections is much more important than having a resume etc?
I did internship in the company I am currently working. So no connections involved ! Have been working here for 5 years now. I was the only 1 from the group of 25 internees to be hired.
What is the work environment like for women there?
So far I have not faced any major issues with anyone (except for my previous boss but he gave problems to men & women both). My field is very very male dominated. In my organisation men get better perks than woman. The retirement age of women is also 5 years less than that of men. My bosses has kept some work as out of my reach zone mainly because it involves interaction with local govt bodies and they didn't want me to interact with them. Similarly I sometime feel that ideas & suggestions of men in my department are given more weight-age than mine & I am sure if I was a man I wouldn't have faced this issue.
And for those of you who work in an office setting, what is the general dress code?
I wear shalwar kameez with hijaab.
Re: Question for Girls in Pakistan
A girl who can communicate well can easily get the job in Pakistan.