An interview at Wal-Mart ACK

[MystyGlyttyr]

So, I got a call to interview at a local Wal-Mart this coming Monday. I'd been scrounging around for a few extra hours of work in the evenings and thus far, they were the main people I could find who might need someone to work in the evenings.

Anyway, I don't NEED this job. It'll be nice to have the extra money, not to mention a 10% discount at the place where I shop about 9000% of the time. But I don't NEED it. All I want is to work somewhere in the realm of 6-midnight a few evenings a week. Hell, I wouldn't mind doing that five times a week or so, to be honest. I have a hell of a lot of free time and very little need for sleep.

So, they're asking me to interview as a cashier...which was WAY down the list of stuff I wanted to apply for. I had stocking, cleaning, cart pushing, layaway, garden, etc., all above that. But eh, I still have girl parts so I don't know what I was thinking, honestly.

I guess my main wonder is, how likely is it that they're gonna try and screw me over on my hours? I put down my availabilty as something like 5:30 to midnight, and since this store is actually a lot closer to my house, I'd be willing to bump it over to 6-1 or something like that. Like I said, no need to sleep. But the thing of it is, I want to keep my job at the paper, at least for now. And let's face it, working at a regular 28-36 hour a week job where I get to sit on my can and tell people off as I see fit definitely outweighs standing up on my bad knees and bad back and having to bite my lip bloody to keep from reaming out whatever mouth-breathing retard comes staggering his way through my line.

So, in summation:

1. How likely is it they'll try to make me work hours that there's no way in hell I'm gonna work?

2. How willing are they gonna let me be to have a chair at my register? (If I'm walking or sitting, the knee is fine, but just standing in one place for hours aggravates it to no end.)

3. Is there a decent chance I'll get to move from cashiering to, well, ANYTHING else fairly soon?

4. Supposing the answers to 1, 2 and 3 are "100% absolutely", "Probably not" and "No freaking way", what's a graceful way to say "Thanks for nothing dillhole" to end the interview?

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Based on my experiences at my job:

1. Depends on who the manager is, what they need in terms of hours and whether he/she is an asshole. My store has always been very good about scheduling people only within their availabilities, but there are some who want you to work when they tell you they want you to work, regardless of what your availability is.

2. I wouldn't get my hopes up. I have seen only one cashier at my store ever be allowed to sit on a stool while cashiering, and that was because she had recently had surgery on her leg. Unless your knee and back injuries are absolutely debilitating, they will most likely balk at letting you sit on your shift. It doesn't hurt to ask though.

3. Depends on how you define "fairly soon". At my store they like people to be in their job at least a year before moving to another job, unless they are changing jobs because of the change in seasons (for example, a seasonal employee hired for Christmas getting a permanent position, or somebody hired for lawn and garden and wishing to stay on after lawn and garden closes for the year). Otherwise people generally don't get moved from one job to another very quickly unless they can't handle the job they were hired for, but management doesn't want to kick them to the curb just yet.

4. Just continue to be diplomatic and thank them for the interview. Then, if you are offered the job, just tell them you got hired someplace else.

[BookstoreEscapee]

On the availability thing, make it clear you have another job with hours you can't adjust. If they're not willing to work around that, then they're probably not someone you want to work for.

On the chair thing, if you can get a doctor to back you up, you might have a better chance (Americans with Disabilities Act and all that). You could also be honest and tell them you would do better in a position where you can move around a bit more than cashiering.

And if after the interview you decide you don't want it, wait and see if they call, then just politely say you're no longer interested, or say you found something else if it makes you feel less awkward about it. Interviews are as much for you to decide if you want them as for them to decide if they want you.

Good luck :)

[powerboy]

they're probably not someone you want to work for.




They are no one, they would want to work for. Go to http://www.walmart-blows.com and read all the horror stories.

[Kiwi]

They are no one, they would want to work for. Go to http://www.walmart-blows.com and read all the horror stories.

I know there are some members on the site who work/have worked for (and are fairly happy with their walmart store)

it is, as all things are in life, a case by case basis....blanket generalisations are never a good thing... we all have horror stories about customers but they arnt all bad.

Im not defending walmart (I dont shop there) but im just saying... take life with a pinch of salt. Not every walmart manager is a villian with a black cloak and twirly mustache

[powerboy]

I know not all of them are bad, but the ones I have gone too, they are bad. You know it is bad, when the cart pushers get in trouble for not doing their job, because they were doing their job in the first place.

Example:

When I was pushing carts for Walmart, we would have to do carry-outs. No big deal. Unless you were by yourself, working at night. There is no way, you can do a carry-out, and keep carts in the cart corral. Unless you had help, but no one would go out and help.

Also, when I would mention that I am going to lunch, I would get in trouble, if there was no carts inside. Since they didn't want to send anyone out. Yes I did let BBB know about it. And no, they didn't attempt to do anything about it. I called the labor board about me not getting to take lunches, and they just said they would look into it. Still haven't heard nothing about it. So yeah, to me Walmart is evil. I try not to shop there