Preparing for your interview

1. Review the job description and its list of required skills
   • What challenges or obstacles would you face in this position?
2. Write down various situations you’ve handled in your career that display the sorts of strengths you’ll need to succeed in the job.
   • Structure each example using the STAR method.
3. Practice talking through your answers out loud to make sure each story is as concise and coherent as possible.
   • This will help you be more confident and natural when delivering the answers in an interview.

Research the Job

Don't be intimidated for knowing your stuff!

• What challenges or obstacles would you face in this position?
• Don't just study the facts
• Understand any potential causes, value and impact.

Research similar Roles

• Look for similar roles at other companies
• What makes the role you are looking at unique.
• Find people currently or formerly in the role (check LinkedIn)

 Look up unfamiliar words and phrases.

Research the

Interviewers

Review Walmart’s LinkedIn page and corporate website

• Understand what the company has been talking about lately.

Who are you meeting with?

• Look up the profiles of your interviewers. If this information is not provided beforehand, ask your recruiter.

If you’ve done your research,

you’re probably more prepared than most.

Prepare Your

Own Questions

• "What would my first 60-90 days look like?"
• "What does the day-to-day look like in this role?"
• "What are some common attributes of your top performers?"
• "What are a few items that would drive results for your team?"
• "What’s the team dynamic like?"
• "How do you plan to deal with ... ?"

Here’s another great list of questions to help you prepare.

The types of questions you ask will say a lot about who you are as a candidate.  Here are some strong questions:

Interview Day

First impressions are crucial

• Dress the part, arrive on time
• Introduce yourself to every person in the room​
• Bring copies of your resume and notepad

Use the STAR Method

• Communicate your experience
• Don't get lost in the details
• Highlight only items that matter to the group

 Take a deep breath and relax as much as possible.

Dress for Success

Be prepared to meet anyone

•  Recruiters, executives, potential supervisors or mentors.

Business casual is a safe bet.

• (Men) Button-down shirt and slacks.
• (Women) Blouse with dress pants or a knee-length skirt.

Clothes should be clean, well-fitted, and free of wrinkles.

Avoid overly bright colors or busy patterns

The Bottom Line

These items can help prepare you for an interview, but from there, it’s up to you!  Just remember, above all else, everything we do relates to the customer.

"The customer is the boss."

- Sam Walton

STAR Model

Quick Links

The STAR Interview Model provides a simple framework to answer behavioral questions clearly and concisely.  This module will walk you through the steps and help avoid the most common mistakes.

Scroll down to start or ask the AI assistant a question.

Telling your story

A compelling story can: 

1. Demonstrate Real-world Skills
2. Show Problem-Solving.
3. Highlight Relevant Experience
4. Reveal Personality and Values
5. Make your response more Engaging and Memorable

The STAR model will help you turn your your real-world stories  into great interview answers.

Behavioral

Questions

The STAR model is particularly effective for answering behavioral interview questions.

These questions ask how you handled specific situations in the past.

"Can you give me an example of ..."

"Tell me about a time when ..."

The goal is to assess your skills, competencies, and behaviors relevant to the job you are applying for.

Situtation

Describe the Context:

Provide enough background information to set the scene. This includes the who, what, where, and when.

Keep It Relevant:

Ensure the situation is relevant to the competency or skill you want to highlight.

S

Example:

"While working as a sales manager, our team faced a sudden drop in sales during the last quarter of the year, which threatened our annual targets."

Task

Explain Your Responsibility:

Clearly state what your role was and what you were responsible for in that situation.

Highlight the Challenge:

Emphasize the specific challenge or task you needed to address.

T

Example:

"My task was to identify the reasons for the sales decline and develop a strategy to boost sales and meet our targets."

Action

Detail Your Actions:

Describe the specific steps you took to address the task. Focus on what you did personally, rather than what the team did as a whole.

Be Methodical:

Explain your thought process, the strategies you implemented, and any obstacles you overcame.

A

Example:

"I conducted a thorough market analysis to understand customer behavior and identify trends. I then organized a series of targeted promotional campaigns. Additionally, I provided training sessions for the sales team to improve their techniques."

Result

Share the Outcomes: 

Discuss the results of your actions, using specific numbers or metrics if possible.

Reflect on the Impact: 

Highlight the positive impact your actions had on the organization and any lessons learned.

R

Example:

"As a result of these efforts, our sales increased by 15% in the following quarter, allowing us to meet our annual targets. The promotional campaigns also resulted in a 20% increase in customer engagement on our social media platforms. This experience taught me the importance of data-driven decision-making and effective team collaboration."

Talking about

Failure

Only sharing positive stories can seem unrealistic so be prepared to discuss challenges and failures. When applying the STAR model to failure, the structure remains the same, but the focus shifts to demonstrating your ability to learn and grow from difficult situations.

• Situation: Set the context for the failure.
• Task: Explain your responsibilities and goals.
• Action: Describe what you did and what went wrong.
• Result: Detail the outcome and what you learned.

Hypothetical

Questions

While the STAR model is primarily designed for real-life experiences, you can adapt it for hypothetical or situational questions by drawing on similar past experiences.

Describe a relevant past situation (if applicable) and then outline what your task, actions, and expected results would be in the hypothetical scenario. This approach shows your thought process and problem-solving skills.

Common Mistakes

• Being too vague: Provide specific details to make your story clear and impactful.

• Overloading on details: Avoid getting bogged down in unnecessary details that detract from the main points.

• Ignoring the "Result": Make sure to clearly articulate the outcome of your actions, including any quantifiable achievements or lessons learned.

• Focusing too much on the team: While teamwork is important, ensure you highlight your individual contributions.

• Not practicing: Failing to practice your STAR responses can lead to disorganized and less confident answers. Rehearse your stories to ensure a smooth and confident delivery.

Practice

• Rehearse: Practice telling your STAR stories out loud. This helps you become more comfortable and ensures your responses are clear and concise.

• Get Feedback: Ask for feedback on your delivery and the clarity of your examples.  Use this AI Interviewer Tool or rehearse with a friend, mentor, or career coach.

• Refine Your Responses: Based on feedback, refine your stories to be as impactful and concise as possible.

Your STAR Notebook

Organize your stories

• Create a Portfolio: Keep a written record of your STAR stories. Outline several examples for different skills.

• Tailor to the Job: Before each interview, review your STAR stories and select the ones that best match the job you are applying for.

Tone & Language

Use Formal Language:

• Avoid slang, colloquialisms, and overly casual expressions.
• Instead of saying "I was really pumped," say "I was very enthusiastic."

Proper Grammar and Vocabulary:

• Use correct grammar and a varied vocabulary.
• Instead of "I did good on the project," say "I performed well on the project."

Avoid Filler Words:

• Minimize filler words such as "um," "like," "you know," etc.

Tone Examples

Casual Tone:

"Yeah, so, in my last job, I kind of led this team project where we had to come up with new marketing strategies. It was really challenging, but we all worked together and pulled it off. Our sales went up a lot, and the bosses were really happy with us."

Professional Tone:

"In my previous role, I led a team project focused on developing new marketing strategies. This was a challenging task that required effective collaboration and innovative thinking. As a result of our efforts, sales increased by 20%, and senior management recognized us for our efforts.

Clarity

Organize Your Thoughts:

• Structure your answers using STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to ensure your response is logical and easy to follow.

Be Specific:

• Provide concrete examples and details. Specificity adds credibility to your responses.

Be Concise and Clear:

• Avoid long-winded explanations. Get to the point clearly and directly.

• Be Relevant: Only include details that are directly relevant to the question and illustrate your skills and achievements.

• Be Specific: Use concrete examples and avoid vague statements. Specificity adds credibility and clarity.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, include numbers or measurable outcomes to demonstrate the impact of your actions.

• Practice: Practice your STAR responses to ensure you can deliver them smoothly and succinctly. Aim for about 1-2 minutes per response.

Clarity

Practice,

Don't memorize

Understand Concepts:

• Instead of memorizing word for word, focus on understanding the key concepts and experiences you want to discuss.

Use Bullet Points: 

• Create bullet points or key phrases to remind yourself of the main points you want to cover in each response.

Stay Flexible: 

• Allow yourself the flexibility to adapt your responses based on the specific question and flow of the conversation.

Getting Nervous?

Feeling nervous is normal.

• Practice relaxation techniques: Take a deep breath before or during the interview to calm your nerves.

• Focus on Your Strengths: Reflect on your past success and confidence will flow naturally.

• Acknowledge your nerves:  It is ok to say you are nervous. This job is important to you.

Confident

Language

Speak Assertively:

• Use a confident and steady tone.  Avoid sounding hesitant or uncertain. Instead of saying "I think I could," say "I am confident that I can."

Positive Framing:

• Frame your experiences and skills positively. Focus on what you achieved and learned rather than what went wrong.

Control Your Pace:

• Rushing can make you seem nervous, while speaking too slowly can make you seem unsure.

Body Langauge

Active Listening:

• ​Listen carefully to the interviewer’s questions and respond thoughtfully.​

Maintain Good Posture:

• Sit up straight and maintain a composed posture.

• Open body language, such as uncrossed arms and relaxed shoulders, can make you appear approachable.

Make Eye Contact ​​(if the interview is in person or via video)

Always Smile (even on the phone)

Positive energy is a good thing.

Using Walmart Values

Recruiters will evaluate how well your responses demonstrate Walmart values

• Service to the Customer: Choose examples where you went above and beyond to meet or exceed customer expectations.

• Respect for the Individual: Discuss situations where you valued teamwork, diversity, and inclusivity, showing respect and consideration for colleagues and customers.

• Strive for Excellence: Provide examples when you sought continuous improvement, demonstrated high standards, or implemented innovative solutions.

• Act with Integrity: Highlight instances where you made ethical decisions, demonstrated honesty, or built trust through transparent and accountable actions.

Customer

Service

Here are some sample experiences you could use:

1. Personalized Assistance: When you provided personalized assistance to a customer, showing that you went above and beyond to meet their needs.

2. Problem Solving: Share an instance where you resolved a customer's complex issue efficiently and with a positive attitude.

3. Creating a Positive Experience: Highlight a situation where you created a memorable and positive shopping experience for a customer.

4. Handling Difficult Situations: Talk about a time when you handled a difficult customer interaction with patience and professionalism. 

5. Team Support for Customer Service: Describe how you supported your team in delivering excellent customer service.

6. Proactive Engagement: Share an example where you proactively engaged with customers to enhance their shopping experience. 

Respect for

the Individual

Here are some sample experiences you could use:

1. Helping a Colleague: When you noticed a coworker struggling with a task and offered your assistance.

2. Customer Assistance: Going above and beyond to assist a customer, showing empathy and understanding.

3. Conflict Resolution: Mediating conflicts between coworkers or between a customer and a coworker.

4. Feedback and Encouragement: Providing constructive feedback or encouragement to a peer, fostering a positive and respectful work environment.

5. Inclusive Practices: When you advocated for or implemented inclusive practices at work, ensuring everyone felt valued and respected.

Strive for

Excellence

1. Achieving or Exceeding Sales Goals

2. Continuous Improvement: Share an instance where you identified an area for improvement and took steps to enhance it. 

3. Training and Development: Highlight a situation where you invested time in training yourself or your colleagues to improve performance. 

4. Leading a Project: Talk about a time when you led a project that required meticulous planning and execution.

5. Innovation and Creativity: Describe a time when you introduced a creative solution to a problem.

6. Handling High-Pressure Situations: Share an example where you excelled in a high-pressure situation.

7. Recognizing Opportunities for Growth: Discuss a time when you recognized an opportunity for growth and took action.

Act with

Integrity

1. Honesty in Inventory Management:  Did you discover a discrepancy in the inventory and report it immediately.

2. Adhering to Policies: Share an instance where you strictly followed company policies, even when it was challenging. 

3. Reporting Unethical Behavior: Highlight a situation where you observed unethical behavior and took the appropriate action.

4. Fair and Equal Treatment of Customers

5. Transparency in Communication with a Customer or Team Member.

6. Maintaining Confidentiality with Sensitive Information.

7. Conducting Fair & Honest Performance Reviews.

8. Ownership of Mistakes: Discuss a time when you made a mistake and took responsibility for it.