Walmart is launching an innovative Walmart College To Career Program designed to propel young professionals into management roles within their stores. This initiative provides recent college graduates and students within 12 months of graduating a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience running a large-scale retail operation. Participants will undergo a comprehensive training program combining classroom learning, practical experience, and mentorship from Walmart leaders, preparing them for salaried management positions.
This Walmart College to Career program aims to equip participants with a thorough understanding of Walmart’s operations and cultivate future leaders. The program culminates in the newly created role of “emerging coach.” This management position offers a starting annual salary of at least $65,000. College students can seamlessly transition into this role upon graduation, while recent graduates can begin immediately, marking a significant step in their retail careers.
The “emerging coach” role is strategically positioned as a development pipeline, nurturing high-potential individuals for future advancement to store manager positions. Notably, store managers at Walmart earned an average wage of approximately $210,000 in 2021, highlighting the significant earning potential within Walmart’s management structure. The Walmart College to Career program is designed to accelerate this progression, with the goal of promoting emerging coaches to store manager roles within two years, demonstrating a clear and rapid career trajectory.
This initiative arrives at a crucial time as Walmart, like many retailers, navigates a challenging labor market. With record numbers of Americans leaving their jobs and job openings remaining high, the Walmart College to Career program underscores Walmart’s proactive approach to strengthening its management talent pool. By investing in young talent and providing robust training and career advancement opportunities, Walmart aims to attract and retain skilled individuals in a competitive employment landscape. This program not only benefits aspiring retail managers but also ensures Walmart’s continued operational excellence and leadership in the retail sector.
