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Farhana Akhter
Sales Executive
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If you think that being a student one cannot manage to work and maintain a good grade, then Farhana Akhter will prove you absolutely wrong. 20-year-old Farhana Akhter has been working as a sales executive at the renowned boutique Aarong for the last two years. Currently she is studying Management in her second year at Eden College and earned the first position in first class in her first year final examination. She was a GPA 5 holder in the HSC examinations from Commerce College.
During college (Classes 11 and 12), she used to visit Aarong and would think of working there but as she was under 18 at the time, she couldn't apply. But after finishing her HSC examinations with remarkable results, she joined the Dhanmondi outlet of Aarong. Foresighted Farhana is doing this part-time job in order to accomplish her dreams.
She says, “As a student I work here five hours a day, so my 24 hours of a day are utilised to the utmost. After class, my time would have been wasted in other unnecessary activities. Now there is a perfect balance between work and classes. Most girls of my age choose to be private tutors but I don't find that safe. And that isn't counted as a professional experience either. Working for a fixed number of hours has made me way more disciplined.”
Farhana wants to do her Masters in Human Resource Management (HRM). When asked how her job is connected to her field of study she exclaims, “Marketing is all about branding and promotion. Aarong is a great brand that falls under another worldwide renowned brand which is BRAC. I might be a Sales Executive at present but growth is very rapid here if I perform well. Not only is it safe and an enjoyable environment, it also carries the honour of working for a great brand. If I get promoted to a supervisor, eventually I would become a part of the bigger picture which is, BRAC's Management section and that is actually a great agreement.”
Farhana's parents live in Jessore. She came to Dhaka after her SSC exams and since then has been living with her grandmother. Now she not only earns her own living and saves up for the future, but also meets her younger siblings' expenses who reside in Jessore. She feels delighted to see the changes in herself. “I am already getting a taste of the future corporate life. The central message of the trainings provided here is 'think positive' which has brought several positive changes within me. Though my father was reluctant at the beginning, he is now proud to see me as an independent woman.”
By Promiti Prova Chowdhury
Fatema Tuj Johora
Customer Service Representative
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Photo: courtesy |
Students working part-time at popular eateries are on the rise, not only in the capital but also in other districts. 24 year old Fatema Tuj Johora is a Customer Service Representative (CSR) at the Chittagong outlet of Pizza Hut. Right after her HSC exams, she joined Pizza Hut out of sheer curiosity and has been working there for the last five years. Working for 9 hours a day along with attending classes, she earns for herself and also contributes to her family.
Explaining her reasons to choose a profession in the service section, she says after completing her HSC exams, the job best suited her in terms of her educational qualifications. Earning pocket money and lessening the pressure on the family were her main reasons to get into a job. Also, her workplace had flexible timing that gave her the liberty to choose her working hours according to her class schedule.
Being a girl she still has some impediments that are creations of society itself. For example, her male colleagues can take shifts in the evening but she is unwilling to for safety concerns while returning home at night. When asked about her experiences so far, buoyantly she replies, “Even before joining Pizza Hut, I always knew that it would be a fun place and one could learn a lot from working here. My friends who had already been working here would tell me all about it and encouraged me to join as I was looking for paid work. Their words have proven to be so true! Earlier, I used to have problems with my social skills. Now I can carry myself a lot better in public. I know how to deal with different kinds of people. My work has also taught me time management.” She claims that working from a younger age can groom one to be a disciplined and confident person.
When guests arrive at the restaurant as a CSR, she greets them and tries to deliver food in the way they desire. All these have improved her people skills a lot. In university her main subjects are Economics and International Relations. She loves to read. In the long run, she plans to work at a place where she can make use of her skills.
By Promiti Prova Chowdhury
Fuad Hossain
Driver
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Photo: Salman Rob |
Fuad Hossain, a 26-year-old driver of a private car in Dhaka, shares his stories about growing up. “I first came to Dhaka from Firojpur about 11 years ago. I finished my high school in my hometown and came to Dhaka looking for a job. Luckily my uncle had a few contacts in the garments area and that helped me to get work. But at the age of 16, working almost 14 hours a day left me so frustrated that I left my work for a couple of months thinking life in Dhaka was too hard for me,” says Hossain. However, a sense of adventure kept Hossain going, as he went from one place to another -- learning new things. After coming back to Dhaka, he found a different job, “I gave my bio data and all my school certificates to a sister concern of Madina Group of Industries. I was expecting a mediocre level job but I never knew they would pick me as a gardener. Nonetheless I took up the offer and within a year, things started to change. I was promoted to Security. I took another part time job, that of a late night labourer. Carrying cement stocks from one place to another and even breaking bricks was something I had to do to have a fair amount of money at the end of the month,” mentions Hossain.
After another year of hard work, Hossain was promoted again; his job was to look after all the cement-carrying belts inside the factory. “After 2 years, I was given the job of an assistant driver to bring in construction materials." Just when Hossain thought his life was taking a turn for the better, it all went wrong. He got into a disagreement with the manager and had to leave. He adds, “That was one of my most difficult times; I was unemployed for over a month and my wife was pregnant. I had no source of income and my shelter was a store that was owned by a friend.”
Fuad Hossain is now a hard working, happy man. From living in a small store, he has gone on to become a good father who makes sure his daughter gets the best out of life.
By Salman Rob