HHS Career DaySam DowdTechnology Consultant

Harvard Business School

Background- HHS Grew up in Holliston

Very involved at St. Mary’s and with Communications at HHS

Video yearbook

Graduated from HHS in 2007

My High School experience in a nutshell:

Find what you do best, and find ways to do it

constantly.

Background- Sacred Heart University Started college right after High School

Worked for the IT Help Desk (2007-2009)

Worked for the Instructional Design Department (2009-2011)

Very involved in Campus Ministry, Media Studies Department, and Student Government

Graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and Communications

My College experience in a nutshell:

It’s all about who you know.

Background- Post-Graduate Education Framingham State University Masters of Education in Educational Technology Anticipated Completion: December 2013

Harvard University Extension School Masters of Liberal Arts in Information Technology Concentration in Information Systems Management Anticipated Completion: August 2014

My Post-Graduate Experience in a Nutshell: Just Do It

Background- Professional Bigelow Tea Company Intern (May 2011-September 2011)

Hopkinton High School Technology Integration Specialist

(September 2011-March 2012)

Harvard Business School Technology Consultant (March

2012-June 2013)

McGraw-Hill Education (June 2013-…)

Technical Product Manager, Digital Platforms Group

My Professional Life in a nutshell:

Find your passion!

3 Keys to My Success 1. Find what you do best, and find ways to do it constantly.

2. It’s all about who you know.

3. Just do it

4. Find your passion!

Finding what you do best Do a lot of different things.

Don’t be afraid to be TOO busy.

If you’re doing it just to get into college, stop doing it.

It’s all about who you know Get to know your professors, they are usually well connected

If you have a work study, or a job on campus, do it exceptionally well

Get involved in clubs, the community, sports, your major, campus ministry, etc.

The more people you know, the more people you have to help guide you

And write you a recommendation/be a reference for you

Make a name for yourself, don’t just be a name at Graduation

Just do it If your employer pays for you to get your masters: GET IT!

It will set you apart from the crowd

Do it while you’re still in “school mode”

Don’t expect it to be just like undergrad

Find your passion It’s all in the eyes

You know when you’re passionate about something

It may not be clear right away, but work hard to find it

Don’t feel like your passion MUST be in your major/desired career path

Bring it into your major/desired career path

IT Careers There are THOUSANDS of careers Operations- Help Desk, support, training, consulting,

network/telecom services Development- Software Developers, Software Architects Project/Product Management- Project/Product Managers, Program

Managers Database- Database Engineer, Database Admin Quality Assurance- Quality Engineer, Quality Assurance Specialist Management- CIO, Director of (Insert Category Above Here)

Each one has a different path, skill set, salary range, outlook, etc.

Skills for Success At least basic knowledge of a programming language

Understanding of how technology impacts a business

Good communication and interpersonal skills Be able to talk about technology in plain English

Passion and enthusiasm for using technology

Vision and foresight, always staying ahead of bleeding edge of technology

Good Certifications for IT A+- CompTIA certification for computer repair

CAPM/PMP- Project Management Institute certifications for Project Management

Most valuable IT certificationMCSE- Microsoft Certified Solutions ExpertCCNA- Cisco Certified Network AssociateACSP- Apple Certified Support ProfessionalVCP- Vmware Certified ProfessionalCISSP- Certified Information Systems Security Professional

More Advice

Get on LinkedIn now.

Network, Network, Network.

Work backwards- Figure out your passion, and find a way to get there.

Think Positive. Don’t let someone tell you that you HAVE to start at the bottom and work

up.

Shoot for the stars.

Don’t plan too far ahead. Things change.

Take your time! Don’t rush, the “real world” will be here for you whenever you’re ready.