Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan, Penn State, Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page.
Interviews for Top Jobs at Walmart
- How have you developed others
- It was multiple choice questionnaire.
- How do you handle conflict between team members?
- Why this company? Because it is the best.
- How would you manage a project with other functional managers?
- How would you manage a situation where you team member is not performing very well?
- What do you think the biggest challenge for this role would be?
- Have you ever laid out a plan for improvement for an associate in your team?
- How would you ensure that you r subordinates (called “direct reports” by the manager) had adequate resources to do their job?
- Tell us about a time when you managed an area that was not achieving results and what you did to correct it?
- What are the most significant aspects of developing a team environment and what would you do to improve morale.
What people are saying about Walmart
- I applied on-line for an operations manger job at a distribution center and was called for an interview 3 days later (on a Saturday). The interview was 7 days after I applied on-line. My overall experience was very positive with the process. After I filled out the on-line application, I was directed to take and on-line DSM4 style management assessment. The total time to apply and take the assessment was about 40 minutes. The interview was with the two assistant managers of the distribution center and the HR manager. It was a three part interview, first I was asked to go over my relevant experience, next I was was asked 4 behavioral questions (2 each by the assistant mangers) with follow-up/clarifying questions by the HR manager. The four questions were read straight from sheets of paper. The third part of the interview was for me to ask questions of them. The third part was an open conversation between all of us and was very enjoyable. I felt they valued my leadership experience (retired military) but were concerned because I would have to “catch-up” with the Walmart systems and corporate lexicon. Total interview time was about 45 minutes. I was notified 5 days after the interview that they were going to hire from within but was asked to interview for an area manager job the next day.
- The interview was an screening round which allowed the organization and myself to understand more about each other. Also the questions assisted me to understand the job profile in a broader perspective.
- Phone interview with Talent Acquisitions followed by panel interview with top leadership. Very courteous and professional through the entire process. I recommend preparing thoroughly because they are highly selective for management positions.
- HR video interview call followed by panel GM managers of the area. The job description did not mention that it was a contract position with work day from Wednesday to Sunday afternoon to night shift.
- Managers asked questions based on past experiences. Use experiences with Walmart or other opportunities to best suit your answer. Be specific as possible. Panel and one on one used to decide options.
- The interviews was mainly behavioral questions with a few technical questions. I had 2 people interviewing me. They were interested in specific situations from my previous experience as an operations manager and how I handle stress and interact with people from different backgrounds, cultures and races.
- Walmart focuses on Behavioral Interviews and goes through a set of questions that aligns with the specific position you have applied for. A phone interview/screening with a talent requisition member, then an in-person interview with hiring manager, and next a in-person 3rd round interview with higher level leadership is the typical process.
Popular Careers with Walmart Job Seekers
Top Operations Manager Interview Questions & How to Answer
Question #1: What skills do you consider essential for success in this role?
How to answer: A few obvious examples include leadership, communication, quick thinking, and problem-solving. Describe your background in these and how you’ve employed them to manage changes and interact with all levels of an organization. It’s important to place emphasis on how you’ve been successful in the position.
Question #2: What are some of the tasks you’ve handled as an Operations Manager?
How to answer: An operation manager’s tasks are plentiful, so choose a handful from your experience that stands out to you. Examples include hiring, training, and managing employees; overseeing quality assurance applications; strategizing process improvements; overseeing accounts payable and receivable, etc. Make sure to prioritize tasks that align with the job description.
Question #3: How do you handle budget planning, step-by-step?
How to answer: Although this requires a detailed response, keep it concise. Describe the budgeting model(s) you use (static, zero-base, flexible, etc.), and how you use it/them to estimate expenses, sales, cash flows, and asset replacement.
Tips for Survival: The Big Interview
Cassidy, Campus Recruitment
There are so many steps in the job search process. Believe me, I know. You prepare the perfect resume, speak with the company recruiter, ace a phone interview and are finally invited onsite to meet with your potential employer. All eyes are on you, seemingly picking you apart from the second you walk into the room. How will you survive the dreaded final interview? Well, for starters, interviewers arent picking you apart. So take a deep breath and read on for a few tips from this recruiter’s perspective.
Know why you’re there. When a company invests in an onsite interview, this means they think you have high potential, and they want to see you in the work environment and culture. While you’re onsite, be more than a sponge – be thoughtful and insightful. We often ask candidates “Why Walmart?” and the most common response is a list of Walmart facts and excerpts of our mission statement. Not bad, but a better response is to tell how the company resonates with you personally, what you think you could bring to the team, or even an appreciation of specific work Walmart has done. Create a natural connection between you and the company.
Maximize your relationship with the recruiter. Speaking as a recruiter, we’re the ones who pushed to get you this far, and it’s our job to make sure you’d be a good fit for the role before putting you in front of a panel. So you’re in essence a representation of our own recruiting skills, and we want to make sure you’re as prepared as possible. Here are a few favorite pre-interview questions I don’t mind answering:
- What does the day-to-day look like in this role?
- What’s the team dynamic like?
- What does the career path look like?
- Who will be conducting my interview?
- Here’s another great list of questions to help you prepare.
Before the interview, research is king. While on-site, it’s not unusual to complete several interviews in one day or experience a panel. Avoid being intimidated by knowing your stuff! If your interest is finance, don’t just know our stock price and filings reports, but understand any potential causes, value and impact of this information. Don’t skim the surface. Review the job description and go the extra mile by researching similar roles at other companies and understanding what makes the role you are looking at unique. Look to your LinkedIn network for people currently or formerly in the role. Check out industry news and press releases. And always look up unfamiliar words and phrases you come across in your quest. If you’ve done your research, you’re probably more prepared than most.
On interview day, don’t panic. In full transparency, there’s not much you can do to prepare on interview day. Of course, arrive on time having completed the morning rituals that make you the best you. First impressions are crucial, so dress the part (and don’t forget the details like shoes and well-groomed fingernails). Use the insights your recruiter shared: park there, enter here, team attire, etc. Introduce yourself to every person in the room, even if it seems a little awkward. Make a connection with each of them. Bring copies of your resume and something to write with – and use it! I suggest you write “S.T.A.R.” on the top of your notepad and use the STAR method to minimize rambling and communicate your experience in an impactful way. Don’t get lost in the details – keep answers short and only highlight things that will matter to the group. Finally, take a deep breath and relax as much as possible. Your perceived comfort with the team is probably just as important as how you answer the interview questions.
There are a lot of other tips out there to make the big interview a little less terrifying, and it really all comes down to knowing yourself and leveraging tools like the one I’ve mentioned. Take some time to prepare and check out the video with this post to learn more about the STAR method. You’ll not only survive, but thrive the next time you find yourself in the wild of the panel interview.
How to Answer Walmart Interview Questions
While Walmart brings on new associates essentially every day, that doesn’t mean the competition for the jobs isn’t fierce. As Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said, “Our people make the difference,” so it shouldn’t be a surprise that the retail giant strives to find the best candidate for every role.
What does that mean for you?
To put it simply, it means you shouldn’t assume you can just walk in and snag a Walmart job. If you don’t shine when you answer their interview questions, you’re going to wash out.
Now, that doesn’t mean you should panic. How can you make sure you keep your cool? With a little interview basic training, that’s how.
You need to gobble up information like newly-minted soldiers scarf down their favorite meals after living off chow hall food for months. Devour details from the job description and consume information from Walmart’s website and social media pages with a ravenous passion.
To put it simply, research lets you anticipate what you’ll face. Walmart interview questions vary depending on the exact job, so you need to review the job description to find out what’s important for the precise role. For example, if you keep seeing the same skills and qualities listed over and over again, you can bet that the hiring manager thinks those are important. Knowing what you bring to the table in those areas is critical because you’re going to be asked about them.
But you don’t want to stop there. Walmart’s mission and values statements, social media posts, and recent innovations all give you hints about the company’s priorities. Customer service is something Walmart prides itself on, so you need to be able to highlight your abilities to make customers happy. Being able to deal with demanding customers is also a must, so work in details that demonstrate your ability to stay calm under pressure, think critically, and maintain the utmost patience in the face of a nightmare shopper.
So, now you know how to figure out what you should talk about, and that’s a great start. But what about how to create a great answer? Don’t worry; we’ve got your back.
Traditional interview questions are fairly straightforward. For example, if you are trying to land a Walmart cashier job, there’s a good chance the hiring manager will ask if you’ve used a cash register or point-of-sale system before or to describe your cashiering and money-handling experience. All you need to do is specify the systems you’ve used and when you’ve used them. Simple, right?
Usually, interviews only get tricky when behavioral interview questions enter the mix. Here, you have to dig deeper to craft a compelling response. Typically, you want to combine the STAR method and the Tailoring Method.
The first lets you structure your response in the most engaging way possible. With the second, you focus on details that are highly relevant to Walmart and the hiring manager, allowing you to draw down on your target and nail the bullseye.
We also wanted to let you know that we created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview. After all, like we mentioned hiring managers will often ask you more generalized interview questions along with their Walmart specific questions!
