Xu Han (MSIT ’15) quickly realized understanding data in the business world would provide him with job security for his future. After completing two business internships as an Economics and Business undergraduate student at the Capital University of Economics and Business in Beijing, he still craved a more direct focus on data analysis.
He decided to pursue a master’s in information technology (IT), and began researching universities for potential graduate schools.
Through his research, Han came across multiple accounts from Bentley University alumni in the online forums he was perusing. “The people I spoke to who graduated from Bentley were just so warm-hearted,” he says. And just as important to Han: “I realized that Bentley gives you good opportunities to find jobs.”
Switching to Information Technology
Han applied to Bentley and was initially accepted into another program. Though he enjoyed his classes, he still craved more knowledge about the technology world, recognizing that it would be vital to his career.
Motivated to make the most of his time at Bentley, Han approached Professor Wendy Lucas and asked about the Masters of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) program. He wanted to take Java to start, but with no experience in the subject, he was worried he wouldn’t grasp the concepts quickly enough.
Professor Lucas encouraged him to take the course anyway. Now, Han says, understanding Java makes him a better employee, as he is able to quickly learn new programming languages that share common traits with Java.
“At Bentley, if people want to achieve more they just need to start reaching out to people and networking,” Han says. He had plenty of resources on campus when he first started taking IT classes, including the Computer Information Systems (CIS) Sandbox, his professors at weekly office hours, and his classmates.
Han transferred into the MSIT program and excelled, eventually becoming a tutor himself at the CIS Sandbox. A professor even hired him as a Teacher’s Assistant. And, with his education and work experience, he landed an IT internship at Dunkin’ Brands after his first year at Bentley.
Using IT in the Business World
Upon graduation, Han accepted a position at EY as a Staff Consultant on the National Advisory Board. In this two-year program, he works under the IT advisory branch, but the position allows him the flexibility to explore other branches, such as health care, as well.
In completing his degree and securing this job Han did, of course, face challenges. He says he struggled with speaking English initially, as it isn’t his native language. However, the MSIT program gave him plenty of chances to practice his English through class discussions and presentations. EY is also a very diverse and encouraging environment, which he feels is the perfect fit.
Today, Han uses the business experience his first internships provided him as well as the technical skills of IT. For him, switching to IT wasn’t that far of a leap.
“A lot of people think IT is just about computers, but that’s not really true. IT at a business school is still about business, still about communicating with other people.”