Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Hello

My name is Agha Ali

https://www.linkedin.com/in/agha-ali-a8 ... bdomain=pk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17icKqN ... sp=sharing

I am a 31 year old Pakistani national who moved here six months ago after getting married. I never imagined that my MBA degree in Marketing and six years of marketing and branding experience, will be to no avail here.

Its only natural for me to try and want to look for job opportunities that are in line with my area of interest, namely marketing and branding. When I go and speak with potential employers here, they cite my lack of Turkish language skills and do not consider me for any marketing, administrative or management positions.

My overall 8 band score in IELTS and experience in digital and general marketing after an MBA from a reputed university does not counts in their eyes. People suggest that I consider applying for waiting jobs in restaurants. To me that sounds like a career suicide.

I coach IDEO University courses remotely and help learners with their design thinking and creative confidence through online courses however when I try exploring teaching positions in TRNC, I am told that they are looking for PhDs.

My question is, are experienced executives doomed to unload trucks and work tables when they come here? Are most of the expats facing the same challenge? I can not seem to find a vacancy here.

My credentials
https://www.linkedin.com/in/agha-ali-a8 ... bdomain=pk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17icKqN ... sp=sharing
https://www.credential.net/profile/aghaali/wallet

Regards

Agha Ali
Phone: +90 533 861 41 07
Whatsapp: +92 343 304 72 05

Look this is a small island and the local lamguage is turkish . The biggest industries here are tourism and education . Why not go back to oakistan there will be more opportunities there . There are many turkish cypriots who speak the lingo with the same credentials as you . And yes to be a university lecturer they want phds thats not a bad thing

aghooster wrote:Hello
When I go and speak with potential employers here, they cite my lack of Turkish language skills ...

As Reyntj points out, "the local lamguage is turkish" - while english is (fairly) widely spoken, the majority of the population are primarily turkish-speakers - and they are the primary targets of marketing... Therefore turkish speakers will have the advantage in employment.
In consequence, your best chances of gaining employment (in english-speaking areas) would probably be (in no order of preference), the UK, the USA/Canada, Australia or New Zealand...

I find it odd that you did no research before moving here , When I first arrived my Solicitor told me that the only viable employment opportunities available to foreigners were Tourism and property sales , fortunately my background is in tourism , but it still took me a few years to find a decent, progressive employer, with whom I've been for close to ten years now , I would tend to side with Jofras advice

Or learn to read, write and speak fluent Turkish.

Maybe you should have used your skills to do some market research before coming here!

I have a Pakistani colleague who came here quite some time ago and yes, he's probably as qualified as you back in Pakistan. He wanted to go into tourism and over the years has worked his way up to what I consider his ceiling (although I'm sure he could go higher) He has worked in virtually all the 5 star hotels here, table, reception etc etc, and now speaks absolutely perfect English and absolutely perfect Turkish (not Turkish Cypriot). I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't learning Russian in his spare time. I'm sure it is his quiet ability to cope in hotel emergencies in the language necessary at the time which has got him where he is now. What I have to stress though, is no matter how much he would like it, he could NOT get a visa to apply for better jobs in UK, until this year on the third time of trying (and for only three weeks) His chances of obtaining a US Visa is even less. I have to add, no matter how good his Pakastani degrees, the TRNC Education authority demanded that he took a two year course at a TRNC university in hotel management, despite the fact they were not of a particularly high standard. Sadly as others have said your grasp of the English and Turkish language is paramount and I feel sure someone else typed your questions in this thread. I also suspect because of their "numbers" system you would find working in Australia fairly difficult as well. Good luck.

Following on from Sophie's post I just thought I would add that it is the same for Turkish Cypriots with regard to qualifications being accepted. I know a TC lady that qualified as an architect in the United States and when she returned she had to take a course at a TRNC university to be able to work here.

Same all over. Have just recalled the Iranian lady I know who has impeccable credentials and qualifications in Iran - her subject being research into IVF treatment and possible causes of infertility. However she is here in the TRNC "in training" for 18 months or more. She is finding it very frustrating as her English language is far better than her tutor and she knows far more on the subject than he does.

Thankyou for taking out the time to share feedback and insights.

I have an MBA in Marketing, scored an overall 8 band in IELTS English Language and have sixteen years of education using English as a medium of learning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOeXE4RDC48&t=208s

As per feedback, I will continue to learn the Turkish language.

Thankyou