is characterized by consolidation and profit pressure. In the past decade, mergers and acquisitions have been common in the financial industry with the result that there are now many large institutions and a shrinking number of smaller institutions. Changes in the political environment, such as the easing of laws regarding interstate banking, have made this transition possible (Marshall 72).
Changes in technology are working in my favor in this industry, however. Because the industry is concerned with cutting costs while continuing to operate efficiently and effectively, there is an increase in the technology that is being used throughout the financial industry (Murray and Narisetti B1). Consumers see this at the point of sale for many products, and there is a proliferation of automated teller machines (ATMs) which eliminates the need for human tellers on a large scale. This focus on technology increases the demand for MIS professionals.
I have worked in the financial services industry at two major California institutions (Wells Fargo and Great Western) as a teller. This brought me in contact with many different types of customers, and gave me insight into customer needs. In addition, I worked with various types of technology at this level, and learned (through a rotation system) other technology used in the note department and throughout the institution. While this experience is not in the MIS department of the institutions directly, it provides a familiarity with the MIS environment which other candidates may not possess. This work experience also provides me with strong references which I can use to advantage in my job search.
In addition to work experience, I have a strong educational background in finance, accounting and MIS. This educational background provides me with knowledge about the state of the art in MIS, although I recognize that not all institutions will be using state of the art equipment and softwar...