Top 28 Walmart Interview Questions & Answers

According to Fortune 500, Walmart is one of the 5 largest companies in the USA, along with Amazon, ExxonMobil, Apple, and CVS Health. It’s 2019 Annual report states that the company employs 2,200,000 people. If you compare this number to the other top 4 companies, you will see a huge gap:

The reason why people choose Walmart is the way the company cares about its employees. Increased wages, improved tools, technologies, and training attracts people to this retailer.

Given such a large number of employees, you might think it is easy to get hired by Walmart. But being irresponsible about preparing for an interview could be your downfall by turning your strengths into weaknesses.

In this article, we will help you prepare for Walmart interview questions to show your skills and experience in the best way possible.

What to Wear to a Walmart Job Interview

We start processing information about each other even before verbal communication has begun. If your resume and cover letter have already made a good first impression, the first opportunity to build on it is by selecting proper clothing for the interview.

In 2018, Walmart said goodbye to its strict dress code, allowing their employees to wear denim and shirts of any color and sneakers (even for managerial positions). We are not suggesting you choose jeans for an interview, but something casual will be fine for lower-level jobs. A button-down shirt and trousers will work for men, while a skirt or slacks combined with a sweater or a blouse is a good choice for women.

Higher-level positions require you to look more conservative and professional. A suit is the best choice for men, but the color should not be too loud. Gray, black or dark blue will be perfect. A tie will also help you look more serious. If you are worried about being too fancy, you can skip the tie and just go with dress pants, a dress shirt, and a jacket.

Women can wear trousers, a skirt, or a dress. But keep in mind that hemline, neckline, color, and design should be conservative. Avoid tops that are too casual and t-shirts.

Interview attire plays a significant role, but don’t go up against yourself. Clothing should give you confidence. If you feel uncomfortable in a perfect business suit, the interviewer will notice this. So the best advice here is to harmonize your outer-self with your inner-self.

How to Prepare for Walmart Interview: Life Hacks & Tips

Some people are afraid of interviews and talking to potential employers. The most common reason is the fear of the unknown. You don’t know what is waiting for you, and you don’t know the person you are going to talk to.

But don’t worry too much. In most cases, you will meet a polite and friendly person who just wants to know about your ability to perform a specific job. This person has no intention to reveal your incompetence. They only strive to determine whether you are the candidate the company needs. And for you, an interview is also the best way to demonstrate this. Interviewing is much more flexible than completing questionnaires or taking tests. So you should use this flexibility to your advantage.

One of the best ways to reduce anxiety and fear is to prepare for the interview. Our step-by-step instructions will help you through this process.

1. Analyze Your Future Position

Read all the duties and job information and ask yourself:
Do I really understand the requirements for this position?
What are the objectives of this job?
How can they be achieved?

If you find any aspects you don’t understand, we recommend making a list of questions to ask during the interview.

2. Research the Company

Check out Walmart’s LinkedIn page and official website to learn the company history, values, and recent activities. You can also learn about the main competitors in the market. This will show your interest and help link your answers to the company.

3. Visit a Walmart Store

Visits to Walmart shops will help you better understand the job. You can talk to associates and see how they work and interact with customers. Make notes of what you see to get ideas or suggestions to share during the interview, thus showing your initiative.

Additionally, we recommend you to do 3 more essential things:

1. Arrive 10-15 minutes before the interview, but not any earlier because this might make the interviewer have to hurry to finish other tasks. You should show that you are appreciative of the interviewer’s time. Don’t be late but if you are, try to call and inform the recruiters.
2. Take a notebook and pen to write down important information or questions that might come up during the conversation.
3. Remember the interviewer’s name and try to use it during the first five minutes of the conversation. This will show your attentiveness.

The Most Common Walmart Interview Questions and Best Answers

Interviews can be divided into several main types. Each has its characteristics, assessment methodology, and questions for candidates. Knowing these can help you get more prepared for a meeting with the employer.

Let’s review the interview types, possible interview questions for Walmart’s job, and the best samples of answers.

Structured Interview

This is the most popular type. The main goal is to find out basic information about applicants and determine the level of their qualifications. We recommend you get familiar with these questions and answers:

1. What can you tell us about yourself?

This traditional question is asked almost everywhere, including a Walmart interview. We recommend you talk about the skills, qualities, and experience you have that can be connected with your Walmart role.

“My career is mainly related to retail. I started with an internship at a local grocery store. Then I was promoted to assistant manager, and 3 years later, I got an executive position. I am a specialist in managing people and prices, and in achieving sales goals. For example, in my previous position, I took over a store that was underperforming, and in six months, we surpassed our sales goals. I am interested in this position because I know that I can solve similar challenging tasks at Walmart.”

2. Can you describe yourself in 1 word?

This is one of those Walmart job interview questions where if you say the wrong word, you may not get hired. The risk is that you may choose a word that has no benefit for the employer. We advise you to go back to Walmart’s values and say this:

“Integrity. I always do a great job. I’m loyal to my employer. I’m professional in my role.”

When answering this question, you can also use the following words, but don’t forget to explain why you think this word describes you.

3. What are your reasons for working for Walmart?

This is the time to show you did some research on the company.

“I have several reasons why I want to work for Walmart. First, I understand and support Walmart’s values. Service to the customer, respect for the individual, strive for excellence and act with Integrity resonate with my working style. Second, I want to work with a group of like-minded people. The Walmart community created around those values is where I can deliver perfect customer service.”

4. Why did you leave your previous job?

We advise avoiding negative feedback about your previous job because the potential employer may think that you might say the same negative things about them in the future. You can try this:

“I have been doing this job for the past five years, and I think I have fully fulfilled my functions. This work has taught me a lot, but I strive for professional development, and unfortunately, no such possibility remains within the company.”

or

“Frankly speaking, I did not plan to change my job, but when I found out about Walmart’s opportunities and the open position of a merchandiser, I was inspired by the tasks. Here I can apply the full range of my knowledge and skills.”

5. What are your expectations from a new position?

To answer this question, you can focus on your skills and motives. Connect your expectations with long-term goals.

“I have been honing my skills in quality customer service for a long time, and in every new job, I am looking for an opportunity to continue this development.”

“I am looking for a job that will help me grow. Professional development is very important for me because I plan to realize my future management potential.”

6. What do you consider as your strengths and weaknesses?

This question is asked to almost all potential employees, and the main difficulty arises regarding weaknesses. We recommend you avoid those matching the job description.

“I’m sure that my strengths will bring value to this Walmart position. I always put customers first and strive to satisfy their needs. My attention to detail, integrity, and honesty is what makes me a good worker. Regarding my weaknesses, I worry too much about how others perceive me. But I’m learning to analyze the feedback I get and draw conclusions from constructive criticism.”

7. What are your plans for the future?

Your answer should focus on professional development. Emphasize your interest in working for Walmart for a long time. Focus on the contribution you can make to the company.

“I have professional plans for the future. As a software engineer, I want to continue my development in the IT-sphere, and in 3 years, I would like to lead Walmart’s eCommerce department, creating products that satisfy customer needs.”

8. Where do you plan to start your activity after you get the position?

The recruiter is interested in how serious you are and whether you have a specific plan of action.

“Of course, I will start with learning internal documentation and processes. Additionally, I will make a list of all the people with whom I will need to collaborate in the new position. I will talk to each person from this list and inform them that now we will do this work together. I will find out what my colleagues expect from me in this position.”

9. What do you value most in the team?

Tell the employer what you want to learn from new colleagues, how you can help them. Make it clear that you can quickly integrate into the corporate culture.

“I really value the atmosphere of support and mutual assistance in the team. At my last job, my colleagues and I often helped each other, even if the task was not part of our direct duties.”

10. What salary do you expect?

Be sure to check in advance the average salary for this position in the relevant field. Do not say, “I don’t know,” this will show your lack of confidence, while a specific amount will limit both you and the employer. Instead, give the recruiter a salary range to show that you are open to discussion.

“I am looking for a job worthy of my experience, and I’m sure that Walmart can offer a decent salary that meets market conditions. Based on the level of my competence and experience, I am open to discuss salaries from … to ...”

11. What will you need to adapt to your new job successfully?

Do not answer with abstract phrases. The employer asks this question to find out how to help you during the adaptation period.

“Since I’ve applied for an entry-level job, I think I will need an experienced mentor to coordinate my work and get feedback so that I can analyze and improve my performance.”

12. How do you define success?

Try to understand what this question is meant to evaluate. The recruiter wants to know whether you are a company person or put your success above everything else.

“For me, success is doing a great job for Walmart to help achieve its brilliant customer service goals and increase sales. The company’s success defines my success.”

13. How would you explain the gaps in your employment?

Explain the positive aspects and results of those periods when you were unemployed.

“The time I was unemployed enabled me to improve my skills and stretch my mind. Now I believe I’m a better and more focused employee.”

Situational Interview

This type of interview includes some hypothetical situations, and the applicant should describe the actions needed in these circumstances. Using the answers, the employer can identify the applicant’s professional and personal qualities, compare the pros and cons, and decide whether the company needs this person.

Here are some examples of questions and possible answers:

1. Describe how you would handle multiple tasks.

“Multi-tasking and strict time limits are part of everyday working life in Walmart. Usually, I analyze tasks to prioritize them, make a list of the most important ones, and check the deadlines. If needed, I will put in extra hours to get the tasks done.”

2. What would you do if you saw a cashier or any other colleague stealing money from the cash register?

“I do not accept theft. I consider it appropriate to inform my supervisor about this situation. I understand that this person may have only stolen a little money, but if everyone does this, the company can lose a significant amount.”

3. Your coordinator suggested a specific solution for the assigned task. You have found a more effective way when completing the assignment. What will you do?

“I will inform the coordinator about my solution. But first, I will double-check my version and try to make sure that it really is more efficient, so as to not waste my coordinator’s time.”

4. Describe your actions to deal with an annoyed customer?

“First of all, I will follow my customer service training, which I will have after getting a job at Walmart. I will listen carefully to the complaint and ask clarifying questions to get to the bottom of the issue. I will try to solve the problem on the spot and make sure the customer is satisfied with the proposed solution. Moreover, I will look for ways to avoid such situations in the future.”

5. If you need to persuade someone to see your point of view, how would you do this?

“I will do some research to provide clear evidence of how my idea would work positively for the company. Then I will make a short presentation to my colleagues and supervisor explaining all the benefits and expected results.”

6. Describe your actions when your manager asks you to do a task you’ve never done before?

“As a highly motivated person, I like challenging tasks, so I will find out how to complete it to a high standard. I perceive this as an opportunity to learn something new. I will talk to my more experienced colleagues, read the manuals, and check online resources.”

7. What would you do if you’ve made a mistake, but no one noticed?

“I would inform my supervisor before taking steps to put the situation right. Honesty is the most important thing for me, so I will not lie. I will look for an opportunity to prevent the situation from happening again. Moreover, I will double-check the tasks when they are completed.”

8. Your manager is asking you to do something that is against company policy. How will you react?

“I would politely but firmly express my concern about the task. If possible, I would offer alternative options that are in line with company standards and procedures.”

9. What would you do if a customer asks you about something while you are completing a high priority task?

“High-quality customer service is one of Walmart’s core values, and we should always put customer needs first. So, I will inform my supervisor about the situation and will try to help the client.”

Behavioral Interview

This type of interview has something in common with the previous one. But here the primary attention is paid to real-life experience. The candidates should talk about what they did in a complicated situation.

When answering behavioral questions, we recommend using the STAR method. STAR stands for situation, task, action, and result. This is the best way to answer the question telling a story to confirm your past achievements.

Here are some examples.

1. Tell me about a time when you provided excellent customer service.

Situation: “When I was working at Company X, I had a customer who did not receive his order. He was angry and even wanted to end all business relations with us.”

Task: “Therefore, I needed to satisfy all his wishes and convince him that it was an accident, and there was no need to stop our cooperation.”

Action: “I listened to him carefully and delved into the situation. Then I proposed a solution that suited him. I organized a courier delivery of goods in the most convenient place and time for him and offered a discount for further purchases.”

Result: “As a result, this client was retained. Moreover, his purchases in our company increased by 50%. I’m sure that I can apply the same customer service skills while working for Walmart.”

2. Describe a situation when you did your utmost to achieve a goal.

Situation: “Our manager told my colleagues and me that another department needed one volunteer. They didn’t have enough staff, and they needed one additional person for 2 weeks. I didn’t know exactly what I would have to do, but I volunteered.”

Task: “We all work in the same organization, and we all work to achieve the same goals. Besides, it was a good opportunity to learn something new. I was assigned 2 tasks.”

Action: “Despite my lack of knowledge in the task areas, I talked to colleagues, studied relevant manuals, and worked extra hours to carry out each task to the necessary standard.”

Result: “I completed them in 2 weeks successfully. This opportunity helped me learn more about the company and its activities which helped me in my usual role.”

3. Tell me about a severe conflict in your team. How did you solve it?

Situation: “There was a situation when two employees were fighting over a customer. They both greeted him and wanted to get their commission.”

Task: “So I had to mediate this conflict.”

Action: “I decided to split the commission.”

Result: “No one was happy about this, but they started to pay more attention to the location of customers and associates in the store.”

4. Describe how you worked effectively under pressure.

Situation: “I was working on a project, and the deadline was in 30 days. But the situation changed.”

Task: “The new deadline was in 20 days, and my supervisor asked to speed it up.”

Action: “It was a real challenge, but I decided to add 1 hour to the department’s daily schedule.”

Result: “We managed to do the job in 15 days. I believe that this effective distribution of duties and tasks contributed to project success.”

5. Describe your mistake at your previous job and how you handled it.

Situation: “I provided one customer with the wrong information about the product price.”

Task: “I needed to decide how to act in this situation so that the client was satisfied.”

Action: “I explained my mistake to the manager, who appreciated my honesty. He advised me to offer a discount to the customer to satisfy his expectations.”

Result: “This situation taught me to pay closer attention to details to provide accurate information in the future.”

Situation & Task: “At my last work, I organized the project and tried to do everything on my own. Later, I realized that I needed the help of my colleagues because I couldn’t cope alone.

Action: “I organized collective problem-solving sessions that helped us to complete the project successfully.”

Result: “Besides this, the collaboration brought the team closer.”

6. Was there any situation when you had to collaborate with a colleague who was challenging to work with? How did you handle this?

Situation: “I was working in a team, and I had good working relations with everyone, except for one person.”

Task: “Once, our supervisor asked us to work together on the project lasting 2 weeks.”

Action: “I saw this as an opportunity to get to know this person better and improve our relations. Still, he was quite cold towards me, so I asked directly what the problem was and what I could do to make things work.”

Result: “His tone changed immediately. I found out that he had some problems at home, so I offered for him to talk with me if he needed some support or advice.”

Group and Phone Interviews

Group interviews can include several candidates at one time or several recruitment managers. This type is used to save time for both the employer and potential employees while evaluating the sociability of the applicants.

A phone interview is also a great tool to optimize the hiring process. It requires much less time from each side of the dialogue. Usually, phone interviews last no longer than 15 minutes.

Both group and phone interview questions can include our previous examples.

What Questions to Ask at the End of a Walmart Interview

The recruiting manager will likely ask if you have questions at the end of the interview. Make sure you’ve made a list of things you are interested in beforehand and don’t forget to make notes during the communication with the recruiter.

Here are some basic questions to ask at a Walmart interview to show your interest in working for the company and your desire to get started:

• What should I remember when working as a part of the Walmart team?
• What are Walmart’s plans?
• What training will I have after starting my employment at Walmart? How long will it last, and what things will I learn?
• What improvements should I make to my self-presentation?

Highly Important Don’ts

Now that you know what questions are asked in a Walmart interview, it seems like you are ready to communicate with the recruiter. But some mistakes can lead to negative results.

Here are some Don’ts that you should keep in mind:

Don’t underestimate the importance of your resume and cover letter.
Your resume and cover letter will help you to answer the recruiter’s questions. Don’t forget to review it carefully, because the recruiter may ask you about the examples of some cases to illustrate the statements you’ve made. It is also essential to take your resume and cover letter for the interview. This will show foresight and help if the recruiter doesn’t have a copy of your documents.

Don’t forget to turn off your phone.
A job interview is one of the most crucial stages in the applicant’s life, and every little thing matters. The sound of a ringing phone at the wrong time can interrupt the dialogue between you and the recruiter.

Don’t lie and embellish any facts.
Some candidates want to appear better than they really are, especially if it’s a dream job. But you should be aware that sooner or later the cat will come out of a bag. It’s easy to check your skills during your work.

Don’t ignore feedback.
Before leaving, the candidate should thank the interviewer for the meeting and clarify the procedure for feedback. It is also good to send an email to the interviewer to thank them again and express hope for future cooperation.

Conclusions

It is important to remember that interviews are conducted not just for the recruiter to choose you but also for your choice. Of course, in most cases, success will depend on your ability to communicate with people. You should be a good listener and learn to express your thoughts clearly and logically. But honestly answering questions and being yourself is a litmus test that helps to avoid mistakes on both sides.

And remember that failure during an interview is not a reason to give up. This is an excellent opportunity to analyze your mistakes, and hone and refresh your professional skills.