The interviewer would like to know how you rate your communication skills. First, on a scale of 1-10, discuss how skilled are you in communication. Try to avoid giving yourself a 10, and nobody is perfect, and you do not want to come across as overly confident or someone who has no room for feedback and improvement. Alternately, avoid giving yourself too little credit. You do not want to paint the picture that you are a communication dud! Try to remain in the 7.5-9.5 range while staying honest and accurate. Use an example of your excellent communication to back your answer.
"I rate my communication skills as a 9/10 as I will, on occasion, have times when I am not as clear as I would like to be. My supervisor and co-workers will attest to my clear and concise communication skills. Because I am an open leader, my team will let me know if I need to clarify anything."
Never answer with, 'I don't have any weaknesses.' Pick a weakness that you have, that you can demonstrate to the interviewer that you consistently work on that weakness, and you are trying to improve yourself upon that weakness. Pick weaknesses that are not a core skill for this position. You can be candid in your answer; recognizing that you aren't great at something and acknowledging your need to improve. Be sure to have an action plan in place for improving on this weakness.
"I would say the area I need to focus on improving would be my Retail POS proficiency. I am proficient, and it does not hinder my ability to do my job successfully, but it's certainly something that I need to work on improving, and am always asking for other managers to show me their tips and tricks."
This question is an excellent opportunity to show some enthusiasm! Demonstrate to the interviewer that you would make sure every customer was adequately taken care of and enjoyed their trip to Wal-Mart. You are willing to work your hardest and make sure Wal-Mart will always be a place where customer satisfaction is guaranteed, and friendly service can be expected.
"I will make a difference by being the smiling face that every customer wants to see when they enter into a Wal-Mart. I am very punctual and am very much a sponge when it comes to taking feedback and implementing it. I am a quick learner and easy to manage."
If you're having trouble thinking about a time when you had to be a leader, think back to any school or mini work project that you were asked to take charge in. Maybe at a past job you were responsible for reorganizing a section of the inventory. You may have asked for help in doing, so, and that made you a leader. Tell the interviewer how you asked an employee to help, and you knocked the job out in three hours less time than you were expected to. Also, a great leader takes charge and isn't afraid to get to work. Be sure to describe your experience as doing just that.
"I have always been a great leader, and I thoroughly enjoy being a team leader. I have been in an assistant manager role in my company for two years now and love to lead by example and train new employees."
For each reference that you provide, you should know the impact you made for that person. For instance, Bob Smith would describe me as a hard worker, because I worked hard for his roofing business last summer, in the dry heat, never missing a day of work.
"In my recent performance reviews and discussions, my manager describes me as a hard worker, motivated, and consistent employee. I always strive to exceed expectations when I can. My current manager is happy to speak on my behalf as a positive reference as well."
One thing to always remember about a job interview is that its a conversation. For most questions, the interviewer wants to see if you are capable of just holding a conversation with them. So do not stress out if you haven't contributed to any team efforts. Just recall any past work experience and describe how you worked with your coworkers throughout each shift, and how it was vital every coworker was on top of their game, so production was at its peak.
"In my current role there is a great deal of collaboration amongst the team. We work together when new inventory arrives, and often put our heads together when it comes to increasing sales or promoting a fun new product. When working in a team setting, I often take the lead as I am personable and very organized."
There are some things that your resume cannot do. Showing off your great personality is one of them, for instance! Talk to the interviewer about some of your unique qualities and be sure to tie these qualities into how they will benefit the company, should they hire you.
"I have a unique ability to strike up a conversation and build rapport with nearly anyone. This skill is a great help when it comes to customer service and sales. My up-selling percentages are always very high."
The interviewer wants to know that you understand quality should always come first. When answering this question, make sure you demonstrate to the interviewer you would never sacrifice quality to get any job done faster. That is all this question is really about. Picture yourself as a Wal-Mart customer. Would you prefer something be done fast, or right?
"I do not think that it is an option to sacrifice quality, especially when you are working with the public. The items that Wal-Mart sells must be safe, quality, and affordable. The customers need to feel that their best interest is always top of mind."
Bragging about yourself in an interview can be tough to do, but this is your time to shine! Which characteristics and career accomplishments have made you a stand-out candidate? Perhaps you have received some academic awards or have been given individual accolades in your most recent position. There is nobody like you, and now you need to express that to the interviewer. Describe your passion for Wal-Mart. How you would enjoy working there. Tell them how you are responsible, and how you are a hard worker. For bonus points, remind the interviewer that Wal-Mart is an excellent organization for advancing in your career, and you look forward to taking advantage of those opportunities.
"I believe I'm the best candidate for your company because of my decade of experience at your competitor. I have experience in the specific department in question, as a team leader, and I look forward to building on those leadership skills with your organization. I know I can make an immediate, and long-term, impact."
The interviewer would like to know how you would react if put in an awkward, or potentially harmful situation like being asked by a co-worker to steal with them. Theft can occur in many ways in the workplace and is not necessarily reserved to blatantly taking a product. Ensure that you are aware of the different ways a co-worker may try to pass stealing off as 'no big deal.' - Timecard fabrication, also known as "buddy punching" where you punch in for a coworker who is not present - 'Borrowing' money from the cash register - Falsifying vendor or expense accounts - Taking items from the lost and found - Stealing data or documents containing trade secrets - Taking expensive office supplies like ink, or adding personal items to supply orders - Billing hours to clients that they did not work Of course, you already know how to answer this question! Express that you would never engage in this type of behavior and discuss how you would go about reporting this type of situation. If this has happened to you in the past, you can talk about the case.
"buddy punching"
Wal-Mart is a great place to work with a lot of growth opportunities. Perhaps you want a chance to move up in your career, and you know Wal-Mart has plenty of opportunity for advancement. You know Wal-Mart treats their employees very well, and you are excited to be a part of their team. Don't forget to tell the interviewer that you want the job! Perhaps Wal-Mart offers an excellent continuing education program, excellent health benefits, or an irresistible growth plan. Highlight a couple of the reasons why you want to work for them and be sure to close your statement with an expression of pure enthusiasm.
"The primary reasons Wal-Mart stands out to me include your focus on employee development and continued education. You have a strong reputation for nurturing the human resources that you have. I would be so grateful to work here."
This interview question is similar to 'What are your weaknesses?'. This question can be tricky to answer because you do not want to be a hundred percent honest and lay out all the reasons the interviewer should not hire you. Start your answer by saying there is no reason not to hire you. This reply displays confidence to the interviewer. Then focus on one skill which you still need to improve. Tell the interviewer you are weak in this one area but are actively looking to improve yourself there.
"I think that if there were any reason to pass on hiring me, it would be because I am newer to my career. However, you will see that between my volunteer experience, my athletic background, and the fact that I speak three languages, I will make up very quickly for the years of experience you feel I may not bring."
Even though you may have a great relationship with your employer, there may be times where you don't see eye to eye. Think of a conflict or disagreement you had with your boss where you responded well, either by suggesting a compromise or taking a calm, relaxed stance when you could have answered in a heated tone. Agreement puts you in a high position with your boss, because it shows your desire to work together and highlights your creative problem-solving abilities.
"I had a boss that regularly forced overtime on employees at the last minute with no opportunity to make personal arrangements. I spoke with him at length about morale, and eventually, he started giving the notice sooner, making everyone's lives easier."
This question should be easy! Don't overthink it, and describe what you believe makes you shine. For instance, perhaps you love analyzing problems. Maybe you have a passion for making things better, and more efficient. Whatever your answer may be, be prepared to describe a scenario in which you have applied that trait in the workplace.
"I believe that my best personal trait is my attention to detail and my great memory. This trait especially compliments my career in retail since I can remember pricing, product features, customer names, and specials!"
The interviewer would like to see that you can adapt to working in a team environment, where difficulties may be present. Pick a recent team project that generated successful results but was an overall challenge. Give the interviewer a short overview of the project, including what the final goal of the project was. Next, share the challenges your group faced. Avoid criticizing any individuals in the group. Discuss how you rose to the occasion by coming up with alternate solutions whenever you met a roadblock.
"My job is one big exercise in collaboration and teamwork! I know that I have to rely on my coworkers to be the sales professional that I can be, and they need me to be on the top of my game for them to be their best. We cannot achieve anything alone: we have to work collaboratively and split tasks to have the department hit targets and exceed goals."
Wal-Mart employs a massive range of people, in all types of job titles. The interviewer wants to be assured that you can handle the variety of personalities you will be faced with including, the sometimes unpleasant ones. Keep your answer simple and avoid overdramatizing any event. Speaking negatively of others will always look unfavorable towards you. Telling the interviewer that you get along with everyone is not an appropriate or believable response either. Focus on a time when your work style was different than another person, but perhaps you still had to complete a project together. Discuss, in a positive tone, how you made it work!
"There will always be co-workers that are difficult. It's part of what keeps things interesting. Much of my job is finding common ground with people and positively relating to them. This requirement does not end with the customer, but rather is an important part of dealing with coworkers, whether in a management position or not. As far as obnoxious behavior, I ignore it as much as possible. There is a point where I will make it clear in a firm way that the topic at hand is bothersome or inappropriate and ask that it not be discussed in the workplace. The majority of the time, I focus on the good in people, even if they drive me nuts."
Pick weaknesses that are not a core skill for this position. You can be candid in your answer; recognizing that you aren't great at something and acknowledging your need to improve. Be sure to have an action plan in place for improving on this weakness. Perhaps you are watching TED talks to gain skills in a particular area, reading the latest-and-greatest book on the subject, or maybe you are taking a seminar at a nearby community center. We are all human with our weaknesses, so don't be afraid to share yours! You can apply this equation: 'I sometimes have troubles with ABC, and I am working to overcome this by doing XYZ.'
Everyone can give a simple answer, such as, "The bathrooms need to be cleaned more consistently."Or, "Wal-Mart needs more cashiers during busy times." Instead, show the interviewer you think a little deeper than that. How would you improve sales, or reduce employee retention?
"The bathrooms need to be cleaned more consistently."
The interviewer is checking to see how motivated you are to be working at Wal-Mart. Always tell them that you aim for growth and learning. Maybe you hope to be an assistant manager or a shift manager. Perhaps you are excited about this opportunity, and you are willing to work your hardest to reach those positions.
"I am very thankful for this position and if I am hired, and will put in my best effort throughout my entire tenure. I plan on being at Wal-Mart for the foreseeable future as long as your store will continue to employ me. If there is advancement into a management role, in the future, even better!"
The interviewer would like to know more about your work in retail as well as what is pushing your interest towards working in a retail environment. Be realistic and also mention that you understand its a demanding, and tough job. List the reasons why you are then qualified and are able to handle the work involved. Customer satisfaction is the key at any retailer, and you understand what it takes to provide excellent customer service.
"I am aware that retail is a demanding job, but I am not afraid of a little bit of hard work! I know that this role is very customer-focused and there are a lot of moving parts from the time you open your store, to when you close. I am familiar with handling transactions, and the importance of upselling."
The interviewer wants to be sure that they will be able to meet your needs and not become a repeat of this current desire to leave your job. It's okay, to be honest, but be careful not to overshare. It is best if you can focus primarily on your future wish list vs. dwelling on what is going wrong in your current position.
"Since my company went through a merger, I have been looking for a new role. The quality of production has declined, and I am no longer proud to represent the product that is being put out."
You don't have to be a manager or a team leader to motivate others. Offering a listening ear or providing words of encouragement can make a world of difference to your coworkers. Sometimes, just being a positive influence and showing up to help, can also make a difference. If you have worked in a leadership role, think of ways you helped set clear goals or helped individuals cultivate a new skill. Reflect on your experience and share how you have encouraged others to keep up the good work!
"I motivate my fellow team members by coming to work with an exceptional attitude every day. I won't allow anyone's bad mood to let me down. That influence alone has helped many of my coworkers get through their day on a more positive note."
Most people have had a job that they don't particularly love. Think about your least favorite situation and break down for the interviewer what made it so tiresome. Perhaps the responsibilities were mundane, or the co-workers were unfriendly. Discuss with the interviewer what made the job so complicated, and what you did to make it better for yourself. The interviewer wants to see that you are proactive in situations like this rather than just giving up and quitting.
"Many years ago, I worked as a waitress at a local sports bar. I liked the job because of the customers, but I didn't feel appreciated by my boss. He was negative, even during the busiest and most challenging shifts. I did my best and worked hard, but moved on when I had the opportunity. I learned that having a boss who is encouraging and motivating can make such a world of difference!"
This question is designed to see how much you know about Wal-Mart, and how much thought you put into their company before coming in for your interview. If you know little about retail and the current trends in retail, do not feel embarrassed. That is okay! Not many people understand all the complexities of the retail industry. Show that you understand a little bit by talking about a new advertising method you have seen as of late, for instance.
"I see Wal-Mart heavily focusing on their e-commerce business to better compete with Amazon."
The interviewer would like to know that you are comfortable handling customers at their best, and at their worst! Regardless of their level of happiness, every customer should generate your full interest. If your customer is unhappy, listen and carefully analyze the situation. Explain that you want every Wal-Mart customer to be happy!
"I am good at handling customers who are unhappy. I do have some training in customer relationships and dispute management, from my previous retail position. Do you have additional training that I could take? I look forward to learning more about your process and procedures here at Wal-Mart."
The interviewer would like to know about a time when you were creative with company resources. If you have an expense account or resource allowance, it is very respectful to the company to be as thoughtful with that allowance as possible. Talk to the interviewer about a time when you have been able to stretch company resources.
"I recommended to our head office that we swap from paper bags to cloth bags that we sell. Just like a grocery store, we now offer large canvas totes for $2. They have great designs and are reusable, multi-purpose bags. Some clients complain, but overall, most people love it! This action saved our company $50,000 this year, and we are doing our part for the planet."
Wal-Mart Stores, is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores and grocery stores. Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, United States, the company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962. Walmart is the world's largest company by revenue, according to the Fortune Global 500 list in 2014, as well as the biggest private employer in the world with 2.2 million employees.