Working in Qatar and the UK - Case Study Example

Working in Qatar and the UK

Introduction

Qatar is an Arabic country which is one of the Asian Middle East countries, and it is a peninsula that occupies an area of 11,437 sqKm (Orr, 2008). Qatar from the poorest country in the region is now one of the richest countries in the world. This transformation started in 1939 when oil was found in Qatar at the first-time which schools, universities, buildings and companies were built to achieve world class living (Fromherz, 2011). Now, Qatar provides scholarships for Qatari students from the Ministry of Education or many national companies such as Qatar Airways, BeIN Media Group of the Middle East, or Qatar Gas. BeIN Media Group is one of the biggest media group in the Middle East which it is the company that I am planning to work after graduation. The following discussion is a report on the BeIN Media group and its operations.

BeIN Media Group

BeIN Media Group is a transformation in 2014 of Al Jazeera Sports channels which Aljazeera Sports was established in 2003. BeIN has the right to broadcast essential events of several premium sports such as football, cycling, tennis and many other sports. Now, BeIN offers for its client's various new channels which it expanded its group to contain full HD channels that show movies, kids’ content, and general entertainment. Beside the different sports and numerous entertainment programs, BeIN provides for their clients 41 channels in full HD and in four languages which they are Arabic, English, French, and Spanish (BeIN Media Group, 2016).

BeIN Media Group offers various careers and positions for new graduates which it provides a scholarship for many studies including business studies, media, and law and computer science. Therefore, advertising and sponsorship are one of the positions that BeIN offers to new graduates which they will be responsible for the marketing and the management of the support which includes strategic, drawing plans and achieving sales targets. There is another position which is The Sales Executives which its missions are to focus on the advertising revenues and make sales presentations and packages. Also, Commercial Sales is a position which is responsible for the activities that related to the marketing, it leads the commercial strategy and manages the profitable business growth (BeIN Media Group, 2016).

Bachelor degree in Business management is the common qualification needed for most of the business positions but some of them such as the above areas need media or commercial Sales Bachelor Degree in addition to business management. Also, these posts need an experience period such as 2 to 7 years in any relevant role beside "media agency background and experience" (BeIN Media Group, 2016). Turning to the skills, there are various skills are required for these three positions which are "Computer and various research and traffic software, relationship building and negotiation skills, excellent communication and presentation skills, Fluent written and verbal Arabic and English language skills, and many other skills" ((BeIN Media Group, 2016).

Graduates Labour Market in the UK

The recent university graduates are facing difficulty to find a job in labour market which the number of unemployment has increased more than the last few decades. The high number of university graduates have made the graduates unable to have a job in their selected field which will lead to destroying their life in the future (Bai, 2006). In the UK, the trending in the graduate labor market is more in media and policy than other jobs which it appears the power of British media. Also, media and policy in the UK are variable nature of graduate labor market which they need youth graduates to success their future (Tholen, 2014). Public Relations Management is one of the business-labor markets which includes all studies of activity. Therefore, bachelor of public relation degree can be taken in communication and business schools with any other study which is connected to public relations such as marketing, corporate communication, or media and public relations (3).

According to (3) "Public relations, or PR, is the communication science that deals with delivering information from an organization or public figure to a specific audience. Public relations deal with media and contain business and industrial enterprises, or public figures to promote the services and goods. Also, public relations can use blogs and social media to contact with their clients to achieve their needs. Also. Learning how to build public relation and communication management can be given in the occupation which negotiation, public speaking, and diplomatic communication will have specified by public relation. Moreover, master graduates will take a high position in public relations which event organizers, media planners, and campaign managers are included in master position, and they can be employed in many organizations. This is because public relations are an important department in any firm which is needed to promote and encourage their goods cooperating with media such as PR consultancy, healthcare organizations, and government agencies (3).

Marketing is one of the business studies which its occupations can be selected in labor market by business graduates. (CFA, 2012) Made a study that shows the total number of marketing employments in the second quarter of 2011 was 703,630 which is divided by nine marketing occupations. These nine professions are an example of many different workforces for business graduates, and they are Marketing associate professionals, Graphic designers, Market research interviewers, Conference and exhibition managers and organizers, Public relations professionals, Advertising and public relations directors, Advertising accounts managers and creative directors, and Marketing Directors. Also, 73% of UK employees in the nine occupations work full time which shows that these careers are full-time employment more than part time work. Marketing occupations are appropriate for both genders which the statistics in (CFA, 2012) indicates that the number of male employees is 15,586,863 and female employees are 13,481,955 regarding that there are two missing categories which are Market research interviewers and Advertising accounts managers and creative directors. Turning to the age of the employers, it is normal as well as other jobs which marketing workforce has employers from 35 years of age to 39 in contrast with the sale workforce which the age of the employees is 25 and under. The same study in 2011 mentioned the salary of marketing jobs for both genders which the average salary of male workers was lower than female employees in some occupations of marketing, but in most of the professions, the average salary of male workers was higher than women workers (CFA, 2012).

As far as the skills are concerned, there are many skills required for marketing occupations that the graduates need such as creativity, technological change, relationship marketing and customer focus, metrics and accountability, and policy and legislation. Therefore, understanding the business law is needed in many companies that do not gain the knowledge of legal compliance. Because, technological and social changes are reasons for marketers' change of legal issues and the marketers must award the legislation of other countries because of the importance of international marketing. Also, marketing needs an improvement in technology with the revolution of information and communications technology (ICT) which this development will increase the ways for promoting and advertising. So, ICT skills are required for the new graduate marketers. About the social media, it is considered as a new media which is related to development of technology and its skills are required for having the knowledge of digital marketing and understanding the way to contact with clients and achieve their needs. Moreover, matric and accountability are related to how to control the money which economic outcomes must be increased to have a great responsibility and that will make marketers focus on finance. Alternatively, creativity is not a skill as much as it is thought and thinking about new ideas which are an important essential part of marketing (CFA, 2012).

Career Path Reflection

My plan for my future is to have a career path of Public Relations Management because of the different issues which are related to my future career which is a manager of Public Relations. I have chosen BeIN Media Group to be my future industry and that due to my business, media and IT experience. I found myself interested in Public Relations which include all of business, media, and IT because of the relationship between the organisation and its customers. Public Relations is the view of the organisation and a form of marketing, advertising and communication which all of them relevant to the development of technology which means that this career need IT and media experience.

Firstly, I got a certificate of International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) which is required in every job because of the impact of IT these days. It was an important step which assisted me to use Microsoft office professionally, and it was the first time that I use Microsoft Excel and Access. Therefore, I had improved myself in IT before I started my BA in Northumbria University which I had to use Microsoft Excel in my first year in solving business problems subject. I took much IT and business experience from this issue which I learned new things which make using Microsoft Excel easier and more efficiency.

Secondly, I had media courses in Al-Jazeera Training Centre during my secondary school study which I have got many experiences in communication, media planning and understand the relationship between public and media. I got the graduation certificate accredited by Al-Jazeera Media Training and Development Centre which this certificate is one of the qualifications needed for Public Relations Management. Thirdly, I got leadership experience from summer camp during my secondary school study, and I gained the knowledge of how the administrations work. I was given the mission of the firing and hiring which I had to register the new participants and divided them into different groups of teams. Also, I took the responsibility to organize the timetable of the camp's courses for four teams in specified time. Therefore, I got the leadership experience from that administration which some leaders took the leadership before me and had the professional experience and knowledge to lead the work actually in the administration. So, I took the gaudiness from them and learned many leadership knowledge which assisted me to get the skills. Also, I possess time management skills and experiences which I had to make the camp's timetable organized, and I tried to make it clear and easy for the teams.

Finally, I had a foundation program year at Northumbria University, and I took a diploma certificate in business management which was given me the knowledge of the introduction of business and the different studies which are included in business administration. Besides, IT knowledge and skills in Microsoft Office and English language experience which I got band score 5 in International English Language Test System (IELTS). Also, I finished my first year in business management with grade C, and I got many useful pieces of knowledge such as management, law, economic, solving business problems and some others subjects which will benefit me for my future career. Now, I studying my second year in business management which I need to do one more year which is the graduation year after passing this second year. Thus, I will get BA certificate in Business Management after three years studying this major which I will be ready to apply a public relations career in BeIN Media Group.

As BeIN Media Group is my chosen company for my future career, there are some missions required to achieve the position of Public Relations Management. For example, I must meet revenue budgets set by management which public relations is close to the marketing and advertising. Also, BeIN's customers are the target of the company so I should set a consultative and strategic method for clients and analyse viewing data to them. More important, I must establish a plan with the manager and director to gain advertisers and agencies by developing and maintain relationships with them (BeIN Media Group, 2016). In that case, I must understand my strengths to manage them and my weaknesses to develop and solve them to build myself to achieve my target. So, leadership skill is one of my strengths which I had the opportunity to lead the administration of a summer camp. Besides, communication and time management skills which I was given the mission to divide the participants into groups and arrange the timetable of the courses for them. Moreover, IT and media skills which I had training sessions and I got the certificates with grade A. Turning to the weaknesses; I lack presentations skills which I cannot do a presentation in front of an audience because I feel nervous and not confident of my presentation's contents. Therefore, I lack self- confidence which sometimes I feel not confident to share my ideas and thoughts with other people, I take most of my decisions by my mind more than asking people to give advice. Another weakness which is I am not good to be on time of an appointment and I fail to reach any appointment in the specified time which usually I am 25 minutes late.

Psychometric Testing

The organizations use Psychometric company to test the people who want to be employed which Psychometric company works on behalf of them (Healy, 2011). Before I took the decision, which is choosing a career in Public Relations I had tested my skills, aptitude and personality tests by Psychometric Testing. The tests are Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning and Type Dynamics Indicator tests. The results of these tests showed the expected skills and knowledge which will assist me to take up roles in Public Relations Management and were compared with a large number of people who took these tests which they are a group of university undergraduates. Firstly, The Verbal reasoning test measures the writing and oral skills of verbal and concentrate on how much the candidate can understand the issues and the information which need to gather them rapidly and professionally. I took the Verbal reasoning test, and I was given 44 questions, and I answered 18 of them correctly in 15 minutes. When my score was compared with university undergraduates group, it was at the 12th percentile which means that my score is better than 12 per cent of the group. Also, I have been advised by the feedback report to try to keep my focus as much as possible and do not let myself get distracted.

Secondly, Numerical reasoning test concentrates on the accuracy analysis of numerical capability which it is not about the mathematical ability. Therefore, I answered 21 questions correctly of 40 questions on the numerical skills, and my score was at the 1st percentile which shows that the score is better than 1 percent of the comparison group. Also, I have been advised by the feedback report to make sure I maintain my focus and concentration while taking the test.

Thirdly, the Abstract reasoning test measures the conceptual thinking skills and tests the potential candidates if they learn new information rapidly. I attempted to answer 70 questions correctly, but 33 of them was correct on the Abstract Reasoning skills and my score better than 40 percent of the comparison group. Also, I have been advised by the feedback report make sure I read the test instructions very carefully and do exactly what I am asked to.

Fourthly, I did the Type Dynamic indicator test, and it showed that my energy comes from my own ideas, thoughts and emotions more than from people and things in the world around me which mean that I have low extraversion and high introversion. In addition, the feedback report showed that I pay attention to my experience and my senses tell me equally with pay attention to patterns, connections & future possibilities, which means that I have medium sensing and intuition. Also, the report showed that I decide to do something by using thinking, logic, and the facts more than by using feelings, values and what seems fair, which means that I have high thinking and low feeling. Finally, the results illustrated that I like to live my life being organized and having a plan of action equally with letting things happen and seeing where it takes me, which means that I have average judging and perception.

Next Steps Plan

After graduation and taking a position in Public Relations Management in BeIN Media Group, I am planning to solve my problems and weaknesses which they need to be improved to success the challenges that I will face in the future. The most important thing that needs to be improved is presentation skills; I must develop myself and learn how to do the professional performance which it will be required in my career, and I will be not able to get higher positions if I do not have these skills. The development will start when I take courses of doing a presentation and when I challenge myself and do a presentation in front of a big audience more than one time to gain the experience.

The next step is having the master degree in management studies in the UK after getting three years' experience in Public Relations Management, and I will be sponsored by BeIN Media Group. Then, I will work again for BeIN which I will take a higher position because of my qualifications and experiences. During my master study, I am also planning to apply for a high media course which concentrated on dealing with customers by online and social media. Social media is the modern media these days which organizations can achieve the needs of their clients easier than the classic ways. It will be a useful course which will give me the experience of how the new media can affect organizations' customers, and it will give me the capability to benefit BeIN which is a media organisation.

After getting a manager position in Public Relations, I will start my own business which I am planning to build a commercial company of cloths and export and import goods with other international companies. In addition, my target is to create a new brand of clothes and make it trade mark which compete for domestic and foreign brands. Also, my father has his own company which I can gain the experience of him and the basis of build a new business. Besides, I am planning to make an independent business and away from building companies and international trade, which is a small café in Qatar that provides different kind of snacks, coffees and teas with more than one branch in Qatar's cities.