Andrew Han
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
My first major was Philosophy, which I chose because I had taken some courses in high school and found the type of questions that the field explored very engaging. I chose my second major, Economics, because I felt the mathematics and logic within the field to be very intuitive.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
Taking part in the various clubs on campus was very meaningful to me. I also made some lifelong friends while living in residence.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
I found it useful to be curious and to explore different fields of study in order to identify my strengths and interests. For example, I found out quite early that I enjoyed tasks that involved logical reasoning. This became a core pillar for my career.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
After graduation, I started off as a commercial insurance underwriter. I worked in that field for a few years and then decided to go to law school.
During my time at law school I completed a few co-op and summer placements in various legal environments, but ultimately decided to pivot to the field of computer programming. I now work in the mobile gaming industry as a software developer.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
I strayed quite far from my original career aspirations. The biggest challenge I faced were some health setbacks, as well as disruptions to my law articles caused by COVID-19. Concurrently, the large tech boom that accompanied COVID made it relatively easier to switch into programming at the time.
What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?
As a game programmer, I appreciate the ability to work on problems involving logical systems in a highly collaborative environment. I’m also fortunate enough to share the same interests as many of my co-workers (video games!), which makes for a fun and collegial environment.
From your experience, what has been the value of having an Arts degree?
To me, an Arts degree means freedom and the ability to identify one’s passions in an environment filled with genuine and curious classmates.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Breaking into technology as a self-taught developer or bootcamper is possible, but requires a mixture of luck and hard work.
In many respects, it would be easier and wiser to get into this field by getting a traditional computer science degree. If that’s not an option, however, I would recommend that students start by building their own technology projects. It’s amazing how much you can learn through your own initiative, and there are a variety of tools and free courses out there that can help beginners learn the ropes.
What advice would you give your graduating self?
Life is unpredictable, and challenges often bring forward their own opportunities.
Andrew Han
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
My first major was Philosophy, which I chose because I had taken some courses in high school and found the type of questions that the field explored very engaging. I chose my second major, Economics, because I felt the mathematics and logic within the field to be very intuitive.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
Taking part in the various clubs on campus was very meaningful to me. I also made some lifelong friends while living in residence.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
I found it useful to be curious and to explore different fields of study in order to identify my strengths and interests. For example, I found out quite early that I enjoyed tasks that involved logical reasoning. This became a core pillar for my career.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
After graduation, I started off as a commercial insurance underwriter. I worked in that field for a few years and then decided to go to law school.
During my time at law school I completed a few co-op and summer placements in various legal environments, but ultimately decided to pivot to the field of computer programming. I now work in the mobile gaming industry as a software developer.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
I strayed quite far from my original career aspirations. The biggest challenge I faced were some health setbacks, as well as disruptions to my law articles caused by COVID-19. Concurrently, the large tech boom that accompanied COVID made it relatively easier to switch into programming at the time.
What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?
As a game programmer, I appreciate the ability to work on problems involving logical systems in a highly collaborative environment. I’m also fortunate enough to share the same interests as many of my co-workers (video games!), which makes for a fun and collegial environment.
From your experience, what has been the value of having an Arts degree?
To me, an Arts degree means freedom and the ability to identify one’s passions in an environment filled with genuine and curious classmates.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Breaking into technology as a self-taught developer or bootcamper is possible, but requires a mixture of luck and hard work.
In many respects, it would be easier and wiser to get into this field by getting a traditional computer science degree. If that’s not an option, however, I would recommend that students start by building their own technology projects. It’s amazing how much you can learn through your own initiative, and there are a variety of tools and free courses out there that can help beginners learn the ropes.
What advice would you give your graduating self?
Life is unpredictable, and challenges often bring forward their own opportunities.
