Walmart’s Chief People Officer Donna Morris oversees a workforce of millions — one of the largest in the world. Her work provides her with a clear picture of what it takes to grow within an organization and to set yourself up for success.
She joined LinkedIn News Editor Andrew Seaman to dig into her own career and to give advice on growing within an organization.
Take Advantage of Existing Programs
Many large companies have learning and development programs set up for employees of all levels – even part-timers. For example, Walmart has both “academies,” where employees can learn a new skill on the job or online, and a program to help associates get a college degree and pivot to other departments within the company.
Larger Companies Provide Diverse Opportunities
Not every Walmart employee is a retail associate! Large companies tend to need specialists in all kinds of fields: HR, marketing, logistics, meteorology, software engineering and more. Sometimes, working within a larger company can provide many opportunities to change fields, all within the same organization.
Seasonal Work Can Lead to More
If you take on a seasonal or temporary role within an organization, but you think you might want to stay longer-term, make that known. As Donna says, “each day actually work and operate as if it's your interview. Bring your best self forward.”
Don’t Let Perfect Be The Enemy of Good Enough
As Donna said, we’re entering into a tighter job market, so be extra cautious about new opportunities. If “you're in a viable situation today, you should be cautious and really make sure that you understand the role that you could be moving into and the financials behind that company.”
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