How to Get a Job at Walmart: Job Application, Interview & More

Having over 2.3 million employees makes Walmart — an American multinational retail corporation — the largest private employer in the world.

So, it's only natural that at least some people must be wondering how to get a job at Walmart.

Working for a retail giant comes with many perks, indeed. The biggest one is the possibility of steady career growth and professional advancement.

But having a major company listed on your resume is not bad either, right?

In this article, you'll find everything about Walmart careers. We'll also show you a resume and cover letter sample written by a real person who got hired as a Store Manager at Walmart.

Why get a job at Walmart?

While it probably isn't anybody's childhood dream to work at Walmart, there are actually many benefits that come with working for the retail giant.

While we've already mentioned a few, here are 5 more reasons why getting a job at Walmart might be worth it:

• Managers are willing to work with your schedule. With Walmart being the largest private employer in the world, they can afford to accommodate your schedule and create flexible working hours.
• You're not required to have a degree to get a job. Nowadays, it may sometime seem like you need a degree to get a job everywhere. But for a lot of people this is simply not the reality. Walmart offers many entry-level positions even if you don't have a college degree.
• Opportunities for career growth. You can actually build a decent career for yourself at Walmart. Big retail stores, such as Walmart, prioritize hiring and promoting within the company. This means that you can start as a cashier and work your way up the management chain in a matter of a few years.
• Stable job during turbulent times, such as the pandemic. Big retail stores are generally the most stable employment. While during the pandemic many people were laid off, Walmart hired over 500,000 displaced workers.
• Early access to your wage in cases of emergencies. By using the Even App, Walmart allows its employees to pull their funds out before their payday in a case of emergency. Therefore, if an unexpected expense comes up, you don't need to borrow money, you can simply access the money that you’ve already earned.

How to apply for a job at Walmart

While the process may be nothing out of the ordinary, there are some Walmart-specific steps you should be aware of.

Walmart job positions

Walmart offers countless job positions. On their website, you can choose from 5 categories and up to 21 sub-categories to find a position that you’d be perfect for.

So, if you’re wondering if it’s hard to get a job at Walmart — most likely not. There are plenty of job vacancies for everyone, no matter your education level or age.

Walmart offers job openings in 5 main categories:

• Stores & Clubs. In this category, Walmart offers in-store jobs, such as cashier and fuel station workers. You can also find management and support services jobs. Finally, this category also offers jobs in its subsidiary — Sam’s Club.
• Corporate. In the broadest category, you can find all sorts of different departments, such as marketing, legal, ethics, supply chain, or HR.
• Healthcare. Apart from healthcare positions tied to Walmart’s in-store health departments, such as a pharmacist or an optician, you can also find corporate healthcare roles in this category.
• Technology. A retail giant such as Walmart needs a team of professionals looking after the technological side of their operations. For instance, they are normally looking for cybersecurity experts, IT technicians, data analysts, or software engineers.
• Distribution, Fulfillment & Drivers. This is one of their biggest departments. It handles the distribution and manages the supply chain. The department offers an endless array of job positions operating the warehouses and logistics. These include (but aren’t limited to) health & safety officers, drivers, area managers, or quality assurance workers.

How to prepare for a job interview at Walmart

The following tips on how to prepare for a job interview at Walmart were compiled based on the original list of tips created by Walmart’s recruiters:

1. Understand the role. Make sure you do your research regarding the position you’re applying for. Read the description carefully, ensure you meet all the requirements, and be prepared to mention a few examples showing that you’re a good fit.
2. Research the company. Similarly, you should also make sure to research Walmart as a whole. First, scroll through their LinkedIn to see what they’re up to. Second, visit their website and get to know their values (or Foundational Beliefs as they call them) and objectives. Lastly, check their Twitter for any current affairs.
3. Prepare for a behavioral-based interview. Walmart focuses on behavioral style interviews, which aims to help the hiring team understand your thought process. So be prepared to describe your past behavior in different work situations. You'll find a few question examples at the end of this list.
4. Ask questions too. Being silent after being asked "Is there anything you would like to ask us?" is never a good idea. For example, a question like “What's the one most important thing about your team, and why?” can do no harm, plus it shows your interest in the company dynamics.
5. Bring your resume. This is important and often forgotten about. You want to have your resume on hand when the hiring managers ask you questions about your past employment, education, or skills.
6. Don’t underestimate the outfit. Walmart recruiters themselves state that you should opt for a suit. Ladies should also choose something professional and classy. After all, surely you can sacrifice wearing sneakers for one afternoon.

Walmart interview questions

And finally, have a look at the most common Walmart interview questions:

• Why do you want to work for Walmart?
• Can you describe a time you went above and beyond in the name of customer service?
• What would you do if you saw a co-worker steal a quarter from the cash register?
• If a customer accused you of not addressing their needs, what would you do?
• If a customer approaches you while you are in the middle of a high-priority task, what do you do?

As you can probably tell, these questions are all situation-based, which aligns with their behavioral style of interviews.

Now, you shouldn’t overthink the answers but also bear in mind Walmart’s core values (a.k.a. foundational beliefs).

Walmart resume and cover letter tips (+ examples)

A Walmart resume and cover letter are nothing out of the ordinary. However, there are certain tips which ensure your resume gets near the top of the pile.

Do the following to make sure you have a first-class Walmart resume:

Walmart resume tips

• A neat structure. Even though some jobs may not require extensive past experience, it’s always good to write something in all of the necessary resume sections: resume summary, education, work experience, and skills.
• Reversed chronological order if experienced. If you’ve worked in retail before (no matter what position) and have years of experience, start with that! Your past experience is of way more interest to the hiring managers than your education. Find out more about which resume format suits you best.
• Tailor your resume for Walmart. Have a look at Walmart’s "Foundational Beliefs" and objectives and include these throughout your resume. A good way to include them is to list the desired skills in the skills section or as an accomplishment in the work experience section. Ideally, use keywords and action verbs that are easily recognized by ATS.
• Skills, skills, skills. The skills section will be your best friend. A large retail corporation like Walmart wants to see a specific skillset that fits its needs. These especially include soft skills such as organization skills, multi-tasking, problem-solving, team player, and effective communication.

Walmart resume example

The following resume sample is from a real person who got hired at Walmart as a Store Manager. And it contains several tips from the above.

First, it uses reverse chronological order, which places work experience first.

Second, it provides an extensive description of past roles using action verbs.

And lastly, the skills and strengths section is generously filled with keywords.

Do you want a professional resume too? Have a look at the endless options of Kickresume’s resume templates.

Walmart cover letter tips

Cover letters describe your background and explain why the offered position would be a good fit for you.

In addition, a good cover letter can also make up for the lack of previous experience. 

Follow these 3 steps to craft your Walmart cover letter:

1. First paragraph. Introduce yourself and explain why you’re interested in the position. Perhaps you have previous experience and skills that make you a perfect candidate.
2. Second paragraph. Highlight the skills relevant for the given position and include examples of how you’ve demonstrated those skills in the past.
3. Third paragraph. Reiterate your positive qualities and relevant skills for the position. Make a strong closing argument, such as "I am excited to be applying for this position, and I believe that I have the skills and qualifications necessary to be successful."

Finally, don’t forget to provide your contact information.

Walmart cover letter example

In this cover letter belonging to the same person who got hired by Walmart from before, we point out:

• The first paragraph of the cover letter opens with a concise introduction containing all the necessary information.
• The next paragraph expands on the past experience and transferrable skills gained in these roles.
• And finally, the last paragraph offers a strong closing argument with a call to action.

How much does Walmart pay? (Walmart salaries)

The salaries at Walmart hugely depend on your role, the different departments, and the location of the store.

Walmart pays a national average salary of $31,396 per year, or $15.09 an hour. 

However, there's a significant gap between what Walmart pays the bottom 10 percent of employees and the top 10 percent. 

Highest paying jobs at Walmart are:

• Software engineer. A software engineer has an average yearly salary of $121,950 at Walmart.
• Inventory management specialist. In this position, you can make an average yearly salary of $49,673.
• Customer service manager. Such a position offers an average yearly salary of $48,622.

Some popular roles at Walmart (and their average hourly pay) are:

• Cashier $13.10/hour
• Warehouse worker $21.99/hour
• Retail sales associate $15.60/hour
• Stocker $15.29/hour
• Loader/Unloader $15.20/hour

Apart from your regular salary, Walmart also offers plenty of employee benefits.

These include, but aren’t limited to Walmart’s medical plan options, a $9 gym membership, store discount, or tuition reimbursement.

What is it like to work at Walmart? Is it hard?

Finally, you're probably curious about what is it like to work for Walmart.

According to past Walmart employee reviews, there’s no simple answer.

Currently, Walmart has a 3.2 out of 5 employer rating on Glassdoor.

Generally, past employees advise you to really think about whether the type of job you apply for will suit you.

If you’re not a people person, you’ll probably hate being a cashier or a customer service associate.

Past employees also agree that a store manager makes all the difference. They can make your time at Walmart really pleasant, but also a nightmare.

On a positive note, the reviews repeatedly state that Walmart’s entry-level positions are really great as a stable income for students thanks to the flexible hours and learning many transferrable skills.

Finally, if working at Walmart isn’t for you, have a look at alternative employers, such as: Tesla, Costco, or Amazon.