Wayne (Chang) Shi, ’15 MHRIR: Finding Opportunity in HR at Minnesota Carlson
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Meet the Minnesota Carlson community and learn about the experiences and career connections we offer.
What was your initial reason or motivation for pursuing a Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations?
I always wanted to help and empower people around me. As I was completing my undergraduate degree in Psychology, I didn't want to specialize in clinical psychology or research. I found a list of Industrial & Organizational Psychology graduate programs, and it also contained some HR ones. I applied to both the I&O Psychology and HR programs and was accepted into the HR program. Looking back, this was a blessing because there are more job opportunities in the HR field that still align with my passion.
Why did you choose Minnesota Carlson?
I was accepted into two Master of HR programs, including the Carlson Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations program at the University of Minnesota, both of which are ranked among the top in the nation. My undergraduate university has fewer than 10,000 students and is in a small town, so I wanted to switch scenes to a city. Minneapolis-St. Paul is a nice-sized city, not too crowded or hectic, yet still offering many great employers and lifestyle amenities.
What has been or was your most valuable Carlson experience?
The career services for sure! Right from the start of the program, we were being equipped with job searching and interviewing skills. It helped me land my summer internship during on-campus recruiting. What’s special is that the career services are open to alumni. I was able to receive support and resources when I was looking to change jobs years after graduation.
Program
’15 MHRIR
Fun Fact
From China, Undergraduate in the UK, Graduate in the US
Undergraduate School and Major
University of St Andrews, Psychology
Most Recent Employer & Job Title
HomeServices of America, Sr Compensation & Data Analyst
I was an international student and didn't have a lot of work experience when I started the program, yet I was still able to find part-time work with a local nonprofit (unpaid), with the local city government (paid), and acted as a volunteer consultant to local nonprofits.
How did being part of Minnesota Carlson’s broader business ecosystem—spanning the Twin Cities community, local industries, and global partners—shape your experience in the Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations program?
Despite their size, the Twin Cities offer lots of opportunities for you to build work experience. I was an international student and didn’t have a lot of work experience when I started the program. Yet, I was still able to find part-time work with a local nonprofit (unpaid), with the local city government (paid), and acted as a volunteer consultant to local nonprofits through Carlson’s Graduate Volunteer Consultants program.
How has your Carlson experience helped you change your career path and get to where you are?
I didn’t realize the actual value of my master’s education six years after I started working. I applied to a compensation analyst position without any compensation-specific experience. However, the company still hired me because I am a graduate of Minnesota Carlson’s Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations program, and they knew that I’d have the foundational knowledge related to compensation and HR in general.