Can you be 15 to work at walmart

Boasting over 10,000 stores and clubs, Walmart is currently the largest retailer in the world. With a wide variety of locations, departments, and positions to apply for, it’s no wonder it employs over 2.3 million individuals. But how old do you have to be to work at Walmart? 

You have to be at least 16-years-old to work at Walmart, although some positions require you to be 18-years-old. If you want to work at Sam’s Club, Walmart’s subsidiary chain, you’ll have to be 18-years-old. Walmart’s minimum wage is $12 an hour, and its average hourly wage is $16.40 an hour. 

In this article, I’ll explore more about how old you have to be to work in certain positions at Walmart, how to apply, what you’ll need for your application, Walmart’s employment benefits, culture, and more. 

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Can a 16-Year-Old Work at Walmart?

A 16-year-old can work at every Walmart store in any of its entry-level positions. Some of these positions include cashiers, stockers, and sales associates. 

However, some of the departments require you to be at least 18 years old before you can work there. If there’s a higher age requirement, the job posting will list it in their qualifications section.

Often, departments that require a greater level of responsibility or skill will require you to be at least 18, such as positions in the Deli, Gas, Automotive, and Vision Center Departments. At Sam’s Club stores, every position requires you to be at least 18 before applying. 

Can a 15-Year-Old Work at Walmart?

A 15-year-old cannot work at Walmart. Due to federal law requirements, you must be at least 16 years old to work at any Walmart store and most other stores in the country.

If you’re 15 years old and wish to work, you can find regulated, approved jobs that limit the number of hours you’re allowed to work and what you’re allowed to do. 

What Are the Requirements To Work at Walmart?

The requirements to work at Walmart for any level include having great people skills and knowing how to deal with all kinds of customers and other employees. You also have to be responsible and reliable enough to show up at work on time.

To apply for a position at Walmart, you just need an hour of your time and access to a computer that’s connected to the internet. Walmart doesn’t accept paper applications. It’s all done online and is a relatively straightforward and easy process. 

Also, it’s an excellent option for 16-year-olds as, for most hourly roles, you don’t need a formal resume, a cover letter, or even prior experience to apply. Of course, all of these things will help you get hired, so be sure to include them along with any relevant job experience if you can. 

How Much Experience Do You Need?

You don’t need any job experience to apply at a Walmart entry-level position. While prior experience in stocking, cashiering, or retail will help, it’s more important that you can show that you’re willing to learn.

If you want to work in a specialized department, they’ll each have experience requirements listed on their open job postings. For example, the Bakery Department may prefer an applicant with baking experience as opposed to someone with no experience. 

How Much Can You Expect To Make at Walmart?

You can expect to make minimum wage at Walmart for most entry-level, hourly positions at $12. Other positions will typically follow the average hourly wage of the United States, so it’s variable. But as of this writing, Walmart’s average hourly wage in 2021 is $16.40. 

Salaried employees will make more than the average hourly wage. Store managers typically earn around $210,000 annually, and the majority of these store managers started out as hourly employees. 

What Are the Benefits of Working at Walmart?

Walmart prides itself on providing opportunities for career advancement. It encourages its workers to further their education through paid-training programs such as Walmart Academy. 

The benefits of working at Walmart include: 

• Affordable health insurance 
• 401(k) retirement contributions 
• Paid time off 
• Discounts on in-store products, including food and electronics 

Also, Walmart offers six weeks of maternal and parental leave for their associates. It also includes similar benefits for those who choose to adopt children. 

Does Walmart Offer Paid Tuition for Their Employees?

Walmart offers paid tuition programs for their employees desiring to go back to school. Its Live Better U program is available to associates on their first day. 

The Live Better U program was designed to help Walmart and Sam’s Club associates receive their high school diploma, a college degree, or a professional certificate for free. Walmart pays 100% of the cost of tuition. 

Also offered to Walmart associates are: 

• Language programs 
• G.E.D. completion 
• College credits 
• Paid training 
• other professional development courses 

What Makes Someone a Good Potential Walmart Associate?

What makes you a good potential Walmart associate is if your values are aligned with Walmart’s culture. They follow four core values that their employees closely follow to ensure that they’re following the company’s mission. 

If you’re selected for a job interview, having these core values memorized along with relevant experiences that show they align with your own values will undoubtedly help convince the recruiter that you’d be a great addition to Walmart’s team. 

Walmart’s four core values are listed on their website, but I’ve listed them in more detail below. 

• Service to the customer. Making sure that the customer is prioritized and listened to is Walmart’s top value. Knowing how to be adaptable in expecting and fulfilling customer needs is vital to being a great Walmart associate. 
• Respect for the individual. Walmart prides itself on inclusivity and diversity. It partners with several organizations to help promote a welcoming work environment. It’s essential to be a respectful person towards your fellow employees and to customers. 
• Strive for excellence. Walmart encourages its employees to seek innovative, efficient solutions to complex problems. Being able to think on your feet, take responsibility, and contribute to future planning are crucial traits for a potential associate. 
• Act with integrity. Honesty is highly-valued at Walmart. If you can be genuine towards yourself, other workers, and customers, you’ll succeed as a Walmart associate. 

How To Apply for a Job at Walmart

You can complete the application process on Walmart’s website. You can save your progress and come back to it at any time. 

Keep in mind that for a first-time application, you’ll need about an hour to complete the whole thing. 

Be sure to complete all of the required fields before submitting your application. Once you’ve submitted it, you cannot go back and change anything on the form. 

1. Find Open Positions in Your Area

On Walmart’s website, you can search for open job postings near your location. 

After you input your location, you can search by department for any open positions. Once you find the specific job posting, you can see what their preferred and minimum qualifications are. Here, you’ll know if you need to be at least 18 for a particular position. 

If they don’t specify an age requirement, then you can go ahead and assume that the job is open to 16-year-olds. 

If you see more than one store you’re interested in working at, don’t worry. Walmart allows you to apply for several stores and clubs at the same time during the application process. 

2. Fill in the Required Fields

After finding the store you want to work at, the application will prompt you to list your job history and any other relevant qualifications, including volunteer work or certifications. 

While a resume and cover letter aren’t required for most hourly positions, there’s a section where you can add these things. 

Kim Ngyuen, Walmart’s Senior Manager in Corporate Recruiting, recommends that you write a brief cover letter highlighting your strengths and detailing how you’re qualified for the position you’re applying for. 

Some positions that involve more training or responsibility may require you to complete an assessment before submitting your application. 

3. Wait for a Response

After submitting your application, you’ll need to wait at least 60 days for a response. 

Walmart will notify you if you haven’t been selected for the job you applied for or if the position has already been filled. 

However, even if your application is rejected, it’ll remain in their system just in case there are other open, relevant positions in your area. You can also reapply to specific jobs you’re also interested in during those 60 days. 

4. Ace Your Job Interview If You’re Selected 

Once you’re selected, Walmart will notify you, and a job interview will be set up. 

Be sure to follow standard job interview etiquette by being on time and dressing appropriately. You don’t need to dress too formally; you can wear business casual clothing. 

Your interviewer will likely ask you questions involving your strengths and weaknesses. It’s crucial to have these prepared ahead of time so that you can display your self-awareness, a quality that Jimmy Prencipe, Walmart’s Director of Talent Acquisition, says is “highly desired.” 

5. Start Your Job at Walmart

Upon completing your job interview, Walmart will either hire you or reject you if they determine you’re not a good fit at this time. If they do hire you, their associates will then give you further instructions on what you’ll need to start your first day at Walmart, what training you can expect, and more. 

If you leave your job at Walmart and wish to reapply, you simply need to go through the same process again. Filling out a section explaining that you’re a former employee is the only thing you have to do differently. 

Conclusion

If you’re at least 16-years-old, you can work at Walmart in most hourly, entry-level positions and can expect to make the minimum wage of $12 an hour. However, other departments and every position at any Sam’s Club requires you to be at least 18-years-old. The average hourly wage at Walmart is $16.40. 

Applying to Walmart is done online and doesn’t require a resume, CV, or job history, although it’s recommended that you include all of those things in your application. Apply at Walmart’s website here today.

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Sources

• Walmart: About Us
• Walmart: Working at Walmart
• Walmart Careers: Frequently Asked Questions
• WalmartCareers: Workplace Diversity and Inclusion
• Walmart: C.E.O. Dough McMillon’s Note to Associates on Tax Savings
• CNBC: Walmart hikes hourly pay by $1 for more than 550,000 workers ahead of the holidays
• Walmart: What is a Walmart Academy? How They’re Building Confidence and Careers
• Walmart Careers: Submit a Walmart Job Application Online