Andrew Moritko '24 MHRIR: Leveling up HR career

Meet Minnesota Carlson's community and learn about the experiences and career connections we offer.

What was your initial reason or motivation for pursuing the Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations program?

The Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations (MHRIR) program fit perfectly with my experience as an HR Generalist and within Store Management at Lululemon. I viewed the MHRIR program as an opportunity to level up in my career and explore real-world applications of HR and Labor Relations. The inviting environment curated by the administration and faculty, as well as current students at the time, excited me to pursue the MHRIR program.
 

Why did you choose the Minnesota Carlson?

I have held Minnesota Carlson in high regard as a native of the Twin Cities. The school has a strong reputation for preparing students for high-performing careers and making an impact in the industries in which they work. I wanted to not only learn more about HR but also subjects such as Finance. I wanted to have a strong background in understanding business to retain a seat at the table and make an impact across my future organization beyond just HR.
 

What has been your most valuable Minnesota Carlson experience or lesson so far?

It would be difficult to choose only one. The Carlson School of Management has allowed me to explore consulting via Graduate Volunteer Consultants and Fixed-Income Investing via David S. Kidwell Funds Enterprise. The Zinnia simulation within my HR program was a meaningful, realistic Collective Bargaining experience created by Dr. John Budd.

My internship experience with UnitedHealth Group has been transformative in my career. I had the opportunity to work with the Compensation—Strategy & Process team over the summer and have continued that work into the year. I gained valuable insight into the world of HR and Compensation at one of the largest organizations in the world.
 

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the Minnesota Carlson’s MHRIR program?

“Focus more on being interested than being interesting”—Liz Ann Sonders (Chief Investment Strategist at Charles Schwab). This advice has been invaluable to me as I have navigated a career switch and graduate school. Focus on getting deep in your work and staying curious about the world around you. Remain a lifelong learner.

Along those lines, you should be able to speak not only about your experience but also in depth about your work within it. You are your own greatest advocate, and being able to articulate the impact you personally had within your experiences clearly will set you up for success within Carlson and beyond.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Moritko