# We are not smart/savvy enough to work at a Walmart **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 21, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189 "2010-03-21T01:40:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/21 "2010-03-21T15:21:08Z")
Good god, that is absurd. Loaded questions all down the line with no real good answer. To put anyone in such a situation that there is NO good answer is being nothing more than being a bully. ---
**Author:** ![Gustav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Gustav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gustav)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/22 "2010-03-21T15:35:52Z")
1: Ignore the situation. It has nothing to do with me. 2: Call my supervisor and tell him I won’t be able to attend the meeting, and that he should stop scheduling 30-minute meetings in the middle of the day with no warning. _Also_ contact the customer, since apparently I’m already running late for some reason. 3: Talk to the customer and find out what the problem is, _then_ decide on a course of action. Depending on the nature of the problem and answer could be valid. 4: This situation should have been dealt with long ago. Explain the issue to Terry, if he doesn’t improve alert a supervisor immediately. Immediately as in 6 months ago. 5: Depends entirely on the nature and urgency of the tasks, and why they haven’t been done. Impossible to answer. 6: I would do nothing, this matter is entirely in supervisor territory. I would, however, stop picking up the slack for him. That’s just dumb, and counterproductive in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/23 "2010-03-21T20:24:56Z")
Don’t worry about it. She dodged a bullet. Trust me. Been there, done that, would live under a bridge first before going back. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/24 "2010-03-21T20:52:14Z")
The key is to identify what the problem is and what choice addresses the problem: > [@](#): > > 1. You see Paul dealing with Susan, an upset employee from another department. Susan is complaining about something that your department was supposed to do but didn’t. You are in a back room and have not been seen by Susan. Paul is obviously frustrated and unable to deal with Susan effectively. You should: > A. Walk up to the pair and attempt to change the conversation. > B. Introduce yourself to Susan and offer your help. > C. Ask your supervisor to offer some interpersonal skills training to Paul. > D. Tell Paul that Susan is needed by the supervisor to end the situation. The problem is Susan has a problem with your department. Answer: B - talk to Susan to straighten out the problem. > [@](#): > > 1. A customer has come to your department with an urgent question. You promised her that you would collect information about her question and answer it by noon. It will take you at least 20 minutes to gather the information needed to provide an answer. It is now 11:50 a.m. Your supervisor just scheduled a 30-minute meeting to start at noon. This meeting is for all employees in your department. You decide to: > A. Ask your supervisor if you can be late for the meeting. > B. Find the customer after the meeting and apologize. > C. Contact the customer right away and hope that she can be found. > D. Arrange to have the customer call you back at a better time. The problem is a customer needs information. Answer: A - tell your supervisor and then help the customer. > [@](#): > > 1. It’s been a very busy day, and you have just gotten a customer complaint. This is the third time today that this same customer has complained to an employee about the same problem. However, it’s the first time that you have spoken with her. Your best course of action is to: > A. Apologize to the customer and ask how you can help fix the problem. > B. Apologize to the customer and ask if she would like to speak to a supervisor. > C. Ask the customer to wait and ask the employee who last dealt with the customer to speak to her. > D. Ask the customer to wait and ask the employee who last dealt with the customer why the problem was not fixed. The problem is a customer has complaints. Answer: A - Help the customer with her complaints. > [@](#): > > 1. Terry, who has been an employee in your department for about six months, can be careless about safety. He hasn’t been involved in any serious accidents, but he’s had many near misses. Your supervisor asked you to introduce a new employee, Susan, to the department and to help with her training. Terry overheard and offered to show Susan the safety procedures. Your supervisor thought that would be a great idea. What should you do? > A. Let Terry give Susan the safety training. > B. Volunteer to help Terry train Susan on the safety procedures. > C. Tell Terry that you think it would be better if he let you do the training. > D. Tell your supervisor that Terry has had many near misses and not much experience. The problem is a supervisor assigned Terry to do something he probably won’t do well. Answer: B - Help Terry get the job done right. (C is wrong because the supervisor did tell Terry and not you to do the training.) > [@](#): > > 1. Each shift, you have to complete several tasks before leaving for the day. It is near the end of your shift and you probably will not have enough time to finish all of your assigned work before leaving. The best thing you can do is: > A. Explain the situation to your supervisor and ask for help. > B. Leave for the day and complete the unfinished tasks tomorrow. > C. Think about changing your routine to help finish your work on time in the future. > D. Tell the employees on the next shift that the tasks are unfinished and ask them to finish them. The problem is work isn’t completed. Answer: A - ask for help in getting it done. > [@](#): > > 1. An employee in your department has been coming to work 20 minutes late for the past week. The rest of the employees have picked up the slack so far, but everyone is becoming angry. What should you do? > A. Bring up lateness in the next department meeting. > B. Tell the employee that it’s unfair to everyone when she comes in late. > C. Warn the employee that you will speak to the supervisor the next time she is late. > D. Explain to the employee how being late hurts the department’s ability to get things done and that she can help by getting to work sooner. The problem is an employee is hurting the department by coming to work late. Answer: D - educate the employee to fix the problem. (B is wrong because unfairness is subjective.) ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/25 "2010-03-21T21:23:56Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > My problem is that, quite often, the reasked question is sufficiently different to warrant a different answer. > > In particular on **cmyk** ’s example: I think stealing is wrong, but there are plenty of circumstances where I would not rat out an employee. Granted, I’d do something to make it right, like putting an extra $5 in the drawer, and then telling the coworker that if he’s having money trouble, he can ask me for help, but not to steal from the store, and that, if he ever does it again, I will rat his ass out. In fact, I think the company would be better off, as they wouldn’t have to waste money finding someone else if that was enough to get through to him. You’re putting too much thought into it. All they want to hear is that you’ll always rat out a thief. Always. They just want to hear you say it. They know that even the thieves will say they never steal, but they want to hear them say it anyway. Just do it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/26 "2010-03-22T00:54:22Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > The questions she failed probably aren’t the ones you listed here. Where they got her was probably in the “It’s always wrong to steal” section. In that section they want to see you say that you would never steal, you would rat out your coworkers for their infractions, that you are completely loyal to the company, etc. If she put Strongly Agree for “It’s always wrong to steal” but then put slightly disagree for, “I would inform my supervisor if I saw Lupe take $5 from the cash register” or whatever the next theft question was that would be enough to fail her. I’ve never worked retail, but if the register is balanced only once, at the end of the day, then wouldn’t it suck to be the closing cashier? They’d find a five-dollar discrepancy and probably be fired, because they were without question going to spend the five on a loose reefer somewhere. As for the marijuana questions, why would anyone who really wants to work there answer yes? ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/27 "2010-03-22T01:05:09Z")
That is the _exact_ test I took for Publix. I passed it with flying colors but it’s because I know what they were looking for. Ask the supervisor, ask the supervisor, ask the supervisor. Do nothing on your own. My answers were: 1-C 2-A 3-B 4-D 5-A 6-A ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/28 "2010-03-22T01:19:36Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > This may have had more to do with the number of other people applying to Walmart in the current job market than with your daughter’s score. No, it specifically said, “You have failed the evaluation.” Or something to that effect. What surprised me was I’d have expected them to say something generic like “We don’t have any openings for you but we’ll keep you in mind should something open up in the future” or something like that. > [@Marlitharn](#): > > Do they still have all the marijuana questions? I took it a few years ago and it seemed like every third question was a weed question: “Have you ever smoked marijuana? Have you ever been present while marijuana was being smoked? Have you ever purchased marijuana? Have you ever seen or smelled marijuana? If someone offered you marijuana would you accept? Do you know anyone who uses marijuana?” And on and on. > > I finally got irritated and started answering every question “yes”. Funny, they never called me to schedule an interview. No pot or alcohol or drug questions of any kind. > [@pbbth](#): > > The questions she failed probably aren’t the ones you listed here. Where they got her was probably in the “It’s always wrong to steal” section. In that section they want to see you say that you would never steal, you would rat out your coworkers for their infractions, that you are completely loyal to the company, etc. If she put Strongly Agree for “It’s always wrong to steal” but then put slightly disagree for, “I would inform my supervisor if I saw Lupe take $5 from the cash register” or whatever the next theft question was that would be enough to fail her. In each case, my daughter answered to the effect of “never, under any conditions.” I wondered if they found those answers too unrealistic to be true. > [@whiterabbit](#): > > Don’t worry about it. She dodged a bullet. Trust me. Been there, done that, would live under a bridge first before going back. This is what I kind of hoped she’d find out for herself. I had a factory job one summer that made me miserable enough to go to college the next semester. But I’m sure there are enough awful jobs to go around that she’ll find one sooner or later. I can’t believe that the people I’ve seen working at Walmart have been able to pass this test, unless they just picked answers randomly. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/29 "2010-03-22T02:10:42Z")
Either I’m better at bullshitting my way through these tests or Borders has a different way of handling applicants. I had filed an online application at Borders a few years ago and after providing the expected resume-type info I had to fill out a multiple-page tests that sounded a lot like the ones described here. When I was done I wasn’t told one way or another how well I had done, but was just told that my application would be kept on file for 90 days and I would be contacted if they had any openings. Never heard from them, but the next time I was in the store I asked and found out that they hadn’t had any openings. I’m thinking of trying again, although from the way the store has been down-sizing over the past few months I’m not very hopeful. ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/30 "2010-03-22T02:13:30Z")
When I took mine at W-M years ago, I was red-flagged for one of my answers and the supervisor came over and asked me to explain why I answered what I did. The question was something like “if someone was caught stealing, should they be publicly shamed for it?” I wrote no. My explanation was that while the thief should be held accountable and shouldn’t be hushed up, I’d stop short of a scarlet T and the test didn’t allow for subtlety. I was told that the test was also partially based on how consistent your answers were. Inconsistent answers indicated liars, and they didn’t want liars. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/31 "2010-03-22T02:32:36Z")
> [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](#): > > The other question that made me leave was about drugs. It was a true or false question and went something like this. > > I only use drugs recreationally (at parties, with friends, etc). > a. true > b. false > > There was no “I do not use drugs” answer. Many years ago I applied for a job with the Australian Customs Service and had to do a similar personality test, which involved a _lot_ of questions about marijuana use. I’ve never touched the stuff in my life, but most of the drug-related questions were of the “Have you stopped beating your wife?” variety, either with no “I do not use/have never used drugs” option or worded in such a way that it appeared to be taken as read that _everyone_ has used weed at some point (“When did you last take a prohibited drug?”; there was no “Never” answer) and anyone who hasn’t was lying. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/32 "2010-03-22T03:36:01Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > This is what I kind of hoped she’d find out for herself. I had a factory job one summer that made me miserable enough to go to college the next semester. But I’m sure there are enough awful jobs to go around that she’ll find one sooner or later. > > I can’t believe that the people I’ve seen working at Walmart have been able to pass this test, unless they just picked answers randomly. I understand that you want more for your daughter than a minimum-wage job. But working at Walmart is an honest living, and there are good people who work there. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/33 "2010-03-22T03:51:02Z")
> [@Sidney Evgeni Jordan](#): > > I understand that you want more for your daughter than a minimum-wage job. But working at Walmart is an honest living, and there are good people who work there. Apparently a bunch of fuckin’ geniuses, which is what passing this test requires. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/34 "2010-03-22T04:11:41Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Apparently a bunch of fuckin’ geniuses, which is what passing this test requires. Uh, I don’t know anything about the test - I wasn’t commenting on it. I guess you’re right if you’re suggesting my comment was off topic. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/35 "2010-03-22T04:19:14Z")
> [@Sidney Evgeni Jordan](#): > > Uh, I don’t know anything about the test - I wasn’t commenting on it. I guess you’re right if you’re suggesting my comment was off topic. He wasn’t suggesting anything at all about your comment. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/36 "2010-03-22T04:28:29Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > He wasn’t suggesting anything at all about your comment. Are you sure? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Wheeljack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@Wheeljack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheeljack)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/37 "2010-03-22T04:31:09Z")
If you thought the test was hard, you’d be _amazed_ at the interview. All three of them, actually. I, too, often wondered how some of my co-workers managed to get hired. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/38 "2010-03-22T04:40:37Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Apparently a bunch of fuckin’ geniuses, which is what passing this test requires. Why do you need to be a genius to pass this test? **luv2draw** is correct. The test is designed to weed out smart, ambitious, confident, self-starter types. Look, some jobs just need a replaceable carbon blob to perform them. Management doesn’t want people who will alter the processes and polices established by corporate. They don’t want delicate, frustrated geniuses who will constantly ask for more this and more that or quit for a better deal. They want people who will do exactly as they are told and grab a supervisor as soon as there is a deviation because that’s all the job requires. The fact that most of us aren’t those people is why we don’t work at Walmart. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/39 "2010-03-22T04:43:10Z")
> [@Sidney Evgeni Jordan](#): > > I understand that you want more for your daughter than a minimum-wage job. But working at Walmart is an honest living, and there are good people who work there. I didn’t mean it to sound like I think all Walmart employees are losers. Some of them are perfectly normal, friendly people. But none of them look like they are better qualified to not completely fail an initial psych evaluation test than my daughter with my (evidently inept) input. I remember that about 15 years ago, I refused to apply for a job at a company that required a personality test, on moral grounds. Things have sure changed. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189/40 "2010-03-22T14:36:07Z")
You should see the online application in general. I have to help patrons with it all the time - there’s a _bajillion_ security questions, for one thing. It’s very difficult - essentially impossible - for people without computer skills if there isn’t a friendly librarian with forty five minutes to kill hanging over your shoulder. On a busy day, forget it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-smart-savvy-enough-to-work-at-a-walmart/533189.md?page=3)