At some smaller companies, an employee can earn a promotion only when a position comes open. At Walmart, however, openings and advancement are always possible.
“ At Walmart, I’ ve been able to grow my career,” said Tina Stouder, Market Human Resources Field Manager.“ People here have helped me. They have taught me and given me opportunities for promotion. I feel like I’ m on the fast track.”
Walmart, which opened its first store in Rogers in 1962, is now the largest company in the world by revenue. With 2.3 million employees, it is also the largest private employer in the world.
Walmart has 1.4 million workers in the United States at more than 5,000 locations.
Candi Jo Narro, Bakery Manager at the Springdale Pleasant Street store, said she is ready to move up in the company. Soon, she hopes to start in Walmart’ s assistant manager program which could lead to a position as store manager or higher.
Narro’ s record as a department manager created opportunities for her, said Scott Swenson, Springdale StoreManager.
“ The bakery went from losing money to making money,” Swenson said. with procedures that improved the efficiency of the bakery, Swenson said.
Narro started as a cashier in Springdale when she was 18. She left the company twice to have children but returned each time.
She also worked on the service desk, as a cake decorator and as a customer service manager, before becoming the bakery manager.
Promotions are not unusual for those returning to Walmart, or those who have experience and talents that would help them perform their jobs, Stouder said.
“ We want to take advantage of the skills a person brings to the company,” Stouder said.
Narro’ s previous experience helped her earn promotions, Stouder said. She didn’ t have to stay at square one very long.
“ Candi is on the career path to manager now,” Stouder said.“ We recognized her for doing the job that needed to be done.”
34
Narro made a training video used by the entire company, Swenson said. She was able to think outside of the box and come up