I want to work in my family business

By Natasha Pradeep 

Name: Obaya Rafiq

Age: 21

Nationality: Indian

University: University of Wollongong in Dubai

Course: BCOMM in accounting

AFTER university, most students want to venture out into the professional world of work on their own, rather than stay within their family business.

Some do this to satisfy their need to create their individual identity, some to challenge themselves and others to push themselves out of their comfort zone.

While it is common to hear about students who want to make their mark in the professional world on their own – and of others who buckle under pressure from family members to join their businesses – it is rare to find students who whole-heartedly want to work within their family-owned business.

Obaya Fariq is one such student whose decision to work for his family business is solely his choice. “I recently finished college and I can gladly say that I want to work in the textile business owned by my father,” he told Campus Cashy.

“People assume that I have decided to work for my father because I don’t have an aim in terms of my career, but I have decided to make my career out of my father’s business.”

Grades still matter

If your future job is all set, why bother studying so hard when it isn’t going to matter anyway? This is the most common question Obaya has had to face in social situations.

“A lot of people told me I was concentrating on my studies a lot, considering my decision to eventually work with my father.”

Even though he had decided to work with his father in their textile business after university, Obaya still believed that getting good grades was still necessary.

However, other student’s amazement soon rubbed off on him and Obaya wavered from his aim of studying hard. He ended up missing classes and concentrating more on his social life than his studies. As a result, his grades suffered.

Getting back on track

After realising the reason for his grades falling drastically, Obaya tried to study harder and get his grades back to being as high as they used to be. However, the low marks achieved during one semester in particular were still a disadvantage for him, as they affected his total grade.

“If I could go back in time and restart university again, I would stay more focused on studies no matter what people say, and would try to get more internships or part-time jobs for more exposure,” he says.

Focussing on the future

Obaya regrets not concentrating on his studies while at university, but he has moved on. Even though it has been less than a week since his graduation, Obaya is already working at his father’s office.

“I am curious about how the textile business works in the UAE to the point that I have almost given up on the idea of having a short break after university ends,” he says.

He wants to bring his father’s textile business to a whole new level using his newly-acquired skills, and implementing a marketing scheme that he has been planning during the course of university.

Obaya believes that he is lucky to have a safe and friendly work environment where he can conveniently discuss his ideas with his father and execute creative and fresh marketing schemes that will help their business in the long run.

“It is better to work here rather than some company where my creativity is limited. Hopefully, my ideas for our business will be approved by him and the company will grow.”