“Do the work. Out-work. Out-think. Out-sell your expectations. There are no shortcuts.” - Mark Cuban

 

There are many chapters in our lives and our careers can take us in many different directions. Knowledge, experience, teamwork, and preparation form the cornerstone characteristics we develop as we progress on our chosen career journeys.

 

Gaining knowledge in high school and college positions us for our future job opportunities. Internships are a common way for students to apply their knowledge and explore different career paths. Ben Franklin said “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” Internships also provide a tremendous opportunity for students to learn from others with an expertise in their respective fields. For instance, we have employed a different Loyola University student (Computer Science major) for the past five years who have collectively developed a Web-based database system that tracks in detail every key aspect of our projects throughout the entire life cycle. These students have been able to successfully obtain full-time software development jobs parlaying the real-world experience they gained with us as interns with their college degrees. In return, their software development work significantly improved our productivity and internal reporting.

 

The experience derived through summer jobs and internships also allows students to develop areas of interest that oftentimes parallel their college majors and inspire their areas of natural aptitude. Oliver Wendell Holmes said “a mind that is stretched by new experiences can never go back to its old dimensions.” When hiring staff, we seek out individuals with proven records adding value to their organizations –i.e., identifying candidates with a track record “creating verbs” in their previous jobs and activities rather than simply being “resume qualified”. For example, we want applicants who have “identified cost savings opportunities” or “created a more efficient process”, and other demonstrated real experiences they can clearly and concisely articulate in an interview.

 

Teamwork has always been a significant part of my career development, and it was solidified playing team sports at Calvert Hall. We learned how to work collectively to achieve our optimal potential as a team. These qualities have translated throughout my career in learning how to make a positive contribution to the organization. A characteristic of strong teams and organizations is that each contributor is valued for their role and contribution. One of my peers once wrote an evaluation of a new entry level employee at his first annual review that said “he works as if he has the most important job in the company”. Not surprisingly, that new employee rose quickly through the organization based on his work ethic and ability to add value to the organization.

 

Being willing to do the little things that are important to an organization (e.g., being willing to “mop the floor” before you become the manager) can oftentimes position you well for the next opportunity. In parallel, being patient and learning through cross-training in your career development provides a strong foundation for understanding the details of the entire operation. For instance, developing software for several different subsystems, being the system integration lead, and the system test lead positioned me well for the system architect assignment I had for large NASA computer systems earlier in my career.

                                                                                                                               

Preparation is a critical element in our careers, and a characteristic that was emphasized throughout our Calvert Hall experience. We all had many outstanding teachers and coaches that taught us the proper way to prepare and execute our assignments. These teachers served as terrific role models and mentors for us. Steven Spielberg said “the delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” Identifying strong, positive role models and mentors is important for each of us in our career development.

 

The Calvert Hall educational philosophy is based on Lasallian values with the objective of developing men of intellect, faith, and integrity. This educational foundation has provided all of us a pathway to our futures by preparing us for college, and has served us well in the disparate careers our fellow alumni have pursued. The Calvert Hall Alumni website provides an opportunity for graduates with an interest in becoming a mentor to current Calvert Hall students or provide internships and job opportunities to recent Calvert Hall graduates. If you have an interest in either of these areas, please sign-up through the website or contact the Advancement Department at Calvert Hall for more information.