Walmart Timeline from LOI to Beginning Employment

[cdhoward]

I'm growing quite impatient waiting on Walmart to decide to let me join their team.

On May 4th, after conversations I had with the District Manager, I received an email from their recruiter asking for some basic information such as SSN, graduation date and intern licenses, etc. In this email, it also stated that I would receive a letter of intent to begin employment with them emailed back to me within 2 weeks.

Fast forward to May 23rd. I finally receive my letter of intent and all is seemingly good. I sign it, scan it, and email it to the District Manager so I may join on as a grad intern at a specified rate (more on that rate later). This letter states, that I need to do a few things, mainly graduate so that I can receive a formal employment offer, blah blah blah

I graduated on June 14th and let my District Manager know that I have completed everything asked of me.

On July 1st, I received my formal offer I suppose. It is the one that tells you to get a drug screen, etc.

As of this posting, late on July 24th, I have still yet to begin my employment with Walmart, and I am more than just a little put off. See, this letter I received on July 1st also states a different pay rate than what "we" had previously agreed upon. Ok, I didn't negotiate, I just signed the offer, hereby accepting said rate. The new rate, as one may guess, is not an increase in pay, but yes, a decrease. I haven't even started with them and I've already received a pay cut?!?!?! Surely this must be some sort of mistake. I call my District Manager and alert her to this discrepancy. She just blows me off and basically says sorry they did that to you. "They" is because even district managers aren't really in control of salary. I didn't get a, I'll check into that and get you what was offered, or anything, just sorry. This pay cut amounts to all of $1.48/hr, or 3k/yr. No big deal, I thought. I'll just look past it and look forward to working. Well, enough is enough already. I'm well past ready to work. I'm going stir crazy just sitting at home.

It's been a total of 81 days since I first received a request for info to begin my tenure with Walmart, and I'm ready to look elsewhere now.

Anyone else going through or went through a similar situation with them? I just wish I knew if this was the typical hiring process for a new grad with them. My district manager doesn't really know because she is new to this role and I am her first hire, so I'd appreciate any help from you guys with your experiences.

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[Lnsean]

I'm growing quite impatient waiting on Walmart to decide to let me join their team.

On May 4th, after conversations I had with the District Manager, I received an email from their recruiter asking for some basic information such as SSN, graduation date and intern licenses, etc. In this email, it also stated that I would receive a letter of intent to begin employment with them emailed back to me within 2 weeks.

Fast forward to May 23rd. I finally receive my letter of intent and all is seemingly good. I sign it, scan it, and email it to the District Manager so I may join on as a grad intern at a specified rate (more on that rate later). This letter states, that I need to do a few things, mainly graduate so that I can receive a formal employment offer, blah blah blah

I graduated on June 14th and let my District Manager know that I have completed everything asked of me.

On July 1st, I received my formal offer I suppose. It is the one that tells you to get a drug screen, etc.

As of this posting, late on July 24th, I have still yet to begin my employment with Walmart, and I am more than just a little put off. See, this letter I received on July 1st also states a different pay rate than what "we" had previously agreed upon. Ok, I didn't negotiate, I just signed the offer, hereby accepting said rate. The new rate, as one may guess, is not an increase in pay, but yes, a decrease. I haven't even started with them and I've already received a pay cut?!?!?! Surely this must be some sort of mistake. I call my District Manager and alert her to this discrepancy. She just blows me off and basically says sorry they did that to you. "They" is because even district managers aren't really in control of salary. I didn't get a, I'll check into that and get you what was offered, or anything, just sorry. This pay cut amounts to all of $1.48/hr, or 3k/yr. No big deal, I thought. I'll just look past it and look forward to working. Well, enough is enough already. I'm well past ready to work. I'm going stir crazy just sitting at home.

It's been a total of 81 days since I first received a request for info to begin my tenure with Walmart, and I'm ready to look elsewhere now.

Anyone else going through or went through a similar situation with them? I just wish I knew if this was the typical hiring process for a new grad with them. My district manager doesn't really know because she is new to this role and I am her first hire, so I'd appreciate any help from you guys with your experiences.

81 days? If they wanted to hire you...it would have already been done.

 

[Travex]

Have you called the DM and asked "hey when do I start working"?

 

[cdhoward]

Yes, I've been in constant contact with my DM. I know her personally.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

Are you licensed yet? Sometimes they delay you so they don't have to pay grad intern rates.

 

[cdhoward]

I will be licensed come tomorrow. Passed NAPLEX and MPJE last week.

 

[dariasea]

I'm sort of in the same boat, I turned in my LOI for wallyworld in Nov and I notified my DM that I graduated in May. However he just ignores my emails and keeps stalling, it is already Aug and i have yet to see a pay-raise and I am still classified as a pregrad. What was the purpose of making me sign the LOI in a hurry if they don't abide by it? I'm going to apply elsewhere.

 

[boriqua]

my experience with big chains is that if they don't contact you and are stalling, they most likely aren't gonna hire you. in 4th year, I applied to cvs as an intern. They called me in for an interview. went ok. 2 weeks later, they called me in for another interview(which is supposed to be a good sign) on the second interview, it was mostly just informational stuff(SSN, phone, address, emergency contact, etc. etc.) After the 2nd interview, they said they will call me back to let me know when I could start. 1 week later, nothing. 2 weeks, nothing. on the 3rd week, I sent the district manager an email. He responded saying that he'll look into it. 4 weeks, nothing. 5th week, I decided to call(I had the district managers business card from a career fair in school). The guy ignored 3 straight phone calls(on separate days of course). The message was pretty clear after that.

quite frankly, I don't understand what's so hard about just sending a quick email saying "sorry, we found someone else" or "sorry, you didn't make it". even ghetto independent pharmacies have that courtesy. bunch of *****holes if you ask me.

 

[Dysic]

Cdhoward, can you update us on your story with Walmart? I'm pretty much going through the exact same situation.

 

[cdhoward]

What is the purpose of the LOI prior to graduation and the post graduation offer outlining requirements for moving to full fledged staff if they don't want to hire you? I get that the letter states that it is not a legally binding contract that gives you employment, but that it outlines what is required of the candidate.

Anyway, I've had enough and am moving on to bigger and better things!

 

[Dysic]

I am getting a little nervous about my employment with Walmart. I was also hired as a grad intern and have yet to start. They have delayed me in a process similar to cdhoward.

I was hired in a hard to hire area....and will soon sign a long term lease with an apartment (not sure if that is wise at this point).

Can anyone else give feedback on this situation? Walmart hiring process or other chain hiring process?

 

[boriqua]

I am getting a little nervous about my employment with Walmart. I was also hired as a grad intern and have yet to start. They have delayed me in a process similar to cdhoward.

I was hired in a hard to hire area....and will soon sign a long term lease with an apartment (not sure if that is wise at this point).

Can anyone else give feedback on this situation? Walmart hiring process or other chain hiring process?

locking yourself into a long term financial commitment before you have a definitive job is always a silly idea. If it's possible, I would renig on signing the lease until you get the job. if anything, you chill out at a motel for the first few days while you look for another apartment

 

[jawnly211]

all this sounds strange

seems like they are stockpiling on pharm grads and not having a store to put u guys in yet


but trust me......as soon as you tell your DM that your license # is posted, they will find work for you

 

[Dysic]

I'm pretty sure they do genuinely need me (another pharmacist) @ my location since it's a hard to hire area. It just seems that the hiring process is really slow. Headquarters takes a long time to process paperwork....a pharm tech said it took him 1 month to start working.

 

[BMBiology]

I'm pretty sure they do genuinely need me (another pharmacist) @ my location since it's a hard to hire area. It just seems that the hiring process is really slow. Headquarters takes a long time to process paperwork....a pharm tech said it took him 1 month to start working.

Just curious, did you get a sign on bonus?

 

[Dysic]

Just curious, did you get a sign on bonus?

Nope, but the hourly rate is a bit higher than my classmates that work at other areas

 

[BMBiology]

Nope, but the hourly rate is a bit higher than my classmates that work at other areas

That is actually may be a good thing since the purpose of a sign on bonus is to make you stay longer than you want.

 

[SoylentGreen]

I was hired as a grad intern at Walmart when I graduated two years ago. I started on the July 5th, which I thought was abysmally slow, but it looks good compared to what you guys are going through.

 

[Dysic]

I was hired as a grad intern at Walmart when I graduated two years ago. I started on the July 5th, which I thought was abysmally slow, but it looks good compared to what you guys are going through.

You started on July 5th...how long did background check, drug test, and license check take for you?

My DM contacted me yesterday and said everything has been processed and submitted, I should start working today or tomorrow. The whole process took almost 3 weeks.

 

[winnguyen]

I am in the middle of the hiring process with Walmart right now, I have the drug test and background check this week. My question is, what is the next step in the process and how much more time am I looking at?

 

[pharmacy7424]

x

 

[winnguyen]

Sounds odd that they are giving you a week's heads up that your urine test is coming up...?

I was too vague, they told me to go into the store and take care of it when it was Friday afternoon. At that point it was too late to get done until after the weekend. Therefore, Monday. I have been in discussions with the Market Director for over 2 months thus far. So in a sense, I have had 2+ months heads up. Do you work at Walmart?

 

[bigpharmagirl]

I was too vague, they told me to go into the store and take care of it when it was Friday afternoon. At that point it was too late to get done until after the weekend. Therefore, Monday. I have been in discussions with the Market Director for over 2 months thus far. So in a sense, I have had 2+ months heads up. Do you work at Walmart?

I'm also wondering when I get started. Did you get any more info on the timeline after you went for your urine screen?

 

[winnguyen]

I was told that it would take up to a week to get the results.

 

[asian pharm]

I m really getting nervous after reading this.....I have signed a LOI and tried to call the DM 2 days back and left a msg as to twhat to do next...48 hours later, still no response...Will call him today again

 

[winnguyen]

I m really getting nervous after reading this.....I have signed a LOI and tried to call the DM 2 days back and left a msg as to twhat to do next...48 hours later, still no response...Will call him today again

I have a good relationship with my Market health & wellness Director, I think.. But he still sometimes does not respond to my emails, or does so very slowly!? Other WM people describe these Market Directors as being very busy, or having a lot to do.

 

[winnguyen]

I'm also wondering when I get started. Did you get any more info on the timeline after you went for your urine screen?

It has been 10 days since my urine screen and I have not heard back, any predictions on when I will get contacted.

 

[Dysic]

After the 1st day of orientation...it took me about 1 month to actually start working. Walmart hiring process is very slow.

 

[pharmacy7424]

It has been 10 days since my urine screen and I have not heard back, any predictions on when I will get contacted.

Any updates?

 

[aznjeff07]

I was hired at Walmart in May 2012. I started either in late May or June as a gran intern. They tried to push everything through and get me in store asap even though they had a full staff. Sorry for what you're putting up with, but something's fishy.

 

[winnguyen]

Any updates?

Hired!

 

[Dysic]

congrats! If you don't mind me asking, what's your hourly rate and what location?

 

[pharmacy7424]

Hired!

Did they indicate how many hours you would get after transition to staff RPh?

How about when are part-time staff RPh eligible for healthcare benefits?

Vacation time?

 

[winnguyen]

Did they indicate how many hours you would get after transition to staff RPh?

How about when are part-time staff RPh eligible for healthcare benefits?

Vacation time?

Hours- Nothing on paper about how many hours. No guaranteed hours, neither as a grad intern or pharmacist. No guarantee of full time.
Benefits-Medical coverage after 90 days.
Vacation time- Start to accrue vacation time immediately, cannot use it until after one year. But this does not start to accrue until I am "eligible full time associate."

 

[Matrix187]

Hired. Grad intern in AK-Full time or part time, transitions to full time pharmacist.

 

[pharmacy7424]

Hours- Nothing on paper about how many hours. No guaranteed hours, neither as a grad intern or pharmacist. No guarantee of full time.
Benefits-Medical coverage after 90 days.
Vacation time- Start to accrue vacation time immediately, cannot use it until after one year. But this does not start to accrue until I am "eligible full time associate."

Does the medical coverage start after 90 days when you are part-time, or is that only after you become full-time?
Is there a maximum amount of hours you can work as a part-time staff RPh, assuming it may be a while until you transition to a fulltime role?

 

[winnguyen]

Does the medical coverage start after 90 days when you are part-time, or is that only after you become full-time?
Is there a maximum amount of hours you can work as a part-time staff RPh, assuming it may be a while until you transition to a fulltime role?

I would like to know the answer to both of your questions! Only someone who has been hired in the past as a new grad at Walmart can answer these questions. I think that Dysic went through all of this last year, hopefully he can help us out.

 

[pharm1324]

I would like to know the answer to both of your questions! Only someone who has been hired in the past as a new grad at Walmart can answer these questions. I think that Dysic went through all of this last year, hopefully he can help us out.

I would also be ineterested to know these answers. Anybody?