Nabiha Zainab Khan

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Barik Telecom & Projects

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

Once I was back from Exeter, I started looking for a job that would help me practice the knowledge I learnt at Exeter. Fortunately, I got a job as a Project Coordinator for one of the telecommunication organisation and till date, I am into the same job which helps me use my telecommunication knowledge acquired in under graduation and management skills learnt at Exeter. Also, I love writing and therefore I have started writing as a freelancer and have my own blog.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I always had a flair for engineering and telecommunication fascinated me. Therefore, I opted for it. Also, it is one of the most growing industries. I like working in this industry as it is quite challenging especially for females and most of the activities or projects I lead are on a live network which makes them very crucial and time sensitive. I enjoy tackling those challenges. Moreover, as telecommunication is having a lot of new research and is coming up with novice solutions, working in this industry help me gain further knowledge.

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

Exeter is a peaceful little city and the university is very pretty. As I come from a country where it is mostly dry and we do not involve in much physical activity, I enjoyed walking around the city with greenery everywhere. Also, it is in close proximity to beautiful beaches at Cornwall and the lively city of Bristol. I could travel there quite easily. This little city of Exeter has a vibrant life and is very multicultural where I enjoyed being friends with people coming from different backgrounds.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

Exeter is one of the top-ranked universities in the UK which made it my obvious choice. Also, I enjoy serene places which are less crowded and so I opted for a city which wasn’t metropolitan. Exeter had a perfect course which I was looking for, a course which would maintain the right balance of engineering and management. I was awarded a very prestigious Commonwealth Shared Scholarship at Exeter which made me prefer University of Exeter over other universities in the UK.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

The project I work for requires the good expertise of MS Office especially Excel and very good project management skills. Telecommunication projects are very sensitive to time due to the work being conducted on a live network. Therefore, I need to have excellent project and time management skills. Being involved in managerial work, I require good spoken and written communication skills as well.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

For current students, I would say that they should get some expertise in management side also or into research otherwise. Fieldwork in telecommunication is quite difficult, has less and slow growth. Therefore, if some managerial knowledge or a degree is obtained, one can grow in a better way. Also, this industry requires good problem solving and pressure handling skills.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to grow more in the management of telecommunication projects and work directly with equipment providers especially Ericsson as I have a great interest in doing so. Also, I have plans to improve myself in writing and make it a profession. I aim to start my own magazine someday.