Editor’s Note: With
this post, we follow up with two associates who previously shared their stories on video.
Proximity brought Nicholas Qualman to Walmart, but his
personal drive has since taken him far.
In 1998, the then 16-year-old was working for a fast-food
chain located in the parking lot of the Walmart store in his hometown of
Marinette, Wisconsin. He was tired of making burgers and wanted to work the
counter, but with no positions open, he had to look elsewhere for a new
challenge.
He applied at Walmart and was hired as a cashier, and he
hasn’t stopped moving since.
By the time he was featured in this 2011 video, he’d earned 10 promotions. After that, he lost count.
“I’ve had many careers within the same company,” he said, reciting
every title he has held, which comes to about 16.
His ambition has taken him from cashier to department manager to a role leading education for other associates and many – many – points in between. In the summer of 2015, he began helping to support the rollout and day-to-day operations of online grocery, which includes store pickup and home delivery – a job that he says is his favorite thus far.
“It’s a completely new way of us serving the customer,” he
said. “I equate it with being the supercenter of this generation. It’s a game
changer for stores and for our customers.”
As Nick moved up in the company, he also moved around. “One
of the great things is you get to experience different people and the company
in different geographies,” he said.
He transferred from Northeast Wisconsin to Minneapolis for
college, then worked in Sacramento; San Diego; Los Angeles; Princeton, New
Jersey; Boston; and Scottsdale, Arizona. He now calls San Bruno, California,
home.
Like Brother, Like
Sister
Nick’s drive can only be matched by that of his sister,
Jessica Crow. It took her only five years to do what he did in 17 years, Nick
said with pride and a bit of brotherly frustration.
“We’re kind of in competition,” he said, “and I’ve got to
tell you, I’m struggling to keep ahead. She’s told me several times she wants
my job.”
Jessica joined the military after college and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. When she returned to the States, she toured the country with the Pentagon to share her experiences.
Despite what she’d gained in the military, finding a satisfying job in the private sector was difficult, Nick said. She worked in logistics but didn’t feel happy or challenged. That’s when Nick offered to share her resume within Walmart. But, he told her he wouldn’t push it: Getting hired was up to her.
It wasn’t long before Jessica was offered the position of developmental store manager. She made it to store manager in three months and moved to a new store after a year and half. A few promotions later, she is now a divisional manager – also surpassing the story she shared in this 2013 video.
After talking about his sister, Nick was quick to point out,
“My story isn’t unique – it’s one of many, many stories of Walmart associates.
Not everyone has had a chance to tell their story.”
Nick doesn’t want his story to end here. He achieved his
last goal of joining the e-commerce team, and now he’s setting his sights on Walmart
International, the one area he says he hasn’t yet touched. For now, Nick
sees himself sticking with online
grocery for the next five years or more – if he can keep his sister at bay.
“I’m just worried about my job,” he joked.