When the dot-com bubble burst in 2001, many predicted a permanent downturn in career opportunities for information technology and computer information systems professionals. They couldn’t be more wrong. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts steady, sharp growth in the job market for skilled computer specialists for at least the next decade.
Those studying computer information systems find that such a degree opens the door to a variety of exciting career choices. As organizations continue to integrate increasingly sophisticated computer technologies into their frameworks, the need for individuals skilled in computer science continues to grow. The need for those individuals to also possess communication, management, and interpersonal skills is growing at an even faster rate as CIS job responsibilities expand exponentially.
Computer Information Systems (CIS) alum, Aida Calvo ’05, is enthusiastic about the field of information systems and how her Bryant education has contributed to her success. Calvo is project coordinator in the IT Professional Development Program for financial services giant, ING U.S.
Not surprisingly, Calvo has always taken a systematic approach to everything she does. While at Bryant she accomplished a lot both academically and in her co-curricular activities because of her strong analytical skills and her ability to see the big picture, create a plan, and put it into action. Those same skills have proven essential at ING.
“It’s crucial to understand a business’s overall needs and objectives when delivering IT solutions,” she said. “In my work at ING I have the opportunity take a broad view of a client’s situation and clearly understand the different business areas that influence each situation. Then I can apply the technical skills developed at Bryant and communicate effective, comprehensive solutions with our clients.”
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As the founding member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) chapter at Bryant, she led the conversion from the CIS Association to ACM, authored the by-laws, and served as the first president. “The ACM is a professional organization well-known in the industry, and having one on campus added to our prestige,” she said.
Calvo learned about the importance of communication and working together to accomplish goals as a student. Aida strongly supported diversity on campus. She was a member of the Diversity Council of Champions, the Multicultural Student Union, and the International Student Organization. She chaired events for Latino Heritage Month and Black History Month and sat on the Student Programming Board, the organization responsible for programming a variety of social, cultural, educational, and recreational activities for the entire Bryant community.
“Being active on campus enabled me to interact with other students who exemplified the type of leaders that Bryant is known for cultivating, and this has contributed directly to my professional life after Bryant,” said Calvo.
She hadn’t always wanted to study computer information systems. “I kind of fell into the field. I’ve always loved troubleshooting and trying to figure out how to fix something. I get such a feeling of accomplishment when I can deliver a good solution,” she said. “My CIS concentration gave me a strong foundation to advance in my career. I know theories and best practices for developing, implementing, using, and managing the technology.”
The most important ability Aida believes she developed at Bryant is the ability to work on a team. “The overwhelmingly popular use of group assignments at Bryant taught me how to effectively work in a team environment – regardless of the quality of individual contributions to the team. This is an invaluable skill that I use dail
