Walmart · GenAI · 2024

Transforming Hiring
with GenAI

Designed end-to-end in 24 hours. A conversational AI experience that replaced Walmart's fragmented, multi-system hiring flow for hourly store associates.

⚠ Covered by NDA. Details generalized to honor confidentiality.

24h

To deliver the complete end-to-end concept

80+

Screens in the legacy assessment candidates had to complete

Conversation to apply, schedule, and accept an offer

Overview

From exploratory ask to Creative Director

This didn't start as a project. After a meeting with Paradox — a leader in Chat-to-Apply — leadership asked what a Walmart-specific version could look like. Instead of recreating what we'd seen, I proposed something differentiated.

Within 24 hours I delivered an end-to-end concept: apply, schedule, accept, and learn about Walmart through one AI-driven conversation. The concept reshaped internal thinking about AI-enabled hiring and earned early leadership support — positioning me as Creative Director for the initiative.

The Problem

Millions of candidates. A process designed to lose them.

Before redesigning anything, I mapped the full candidate journey — from initial job search through third-party systems, assessments, and offer acceptance. What I found was a fragmented experience that actively drove people away.

Candidate drop-off by stage

Estimated from the candidate journey I mapped at the time — directionally accurate, not exact measured analytics.

Job discovery100%

Account creation68%

↓ 32% lost before ever starting

Application submitted41%

↓ 27% dropped during application

Assessment started28%

↓ 13% lost before 80+ screen assessment

Assessment completed14%

↓ 14% abandoned mid-assessment

Offer accepted8%

↓ 92% of candidates never reached this point

Design Thinking

Old flow vs. new conversation

I personally applied to McDonald's to experience its Chat-to-Apply flow firsthand — far enough to go into the store for the interview. That in-person step surfaced a second insight beyond the candidate side: it flagged what in-store associates would actually need to do to receive someone who applied this way, which shaped how we worked out the interview hand-off format. The candidate-side insight was just as clear: friction isn't just inconvenient — for first-time job seekers, it signals you're not welcome.

Before

After

Find a job on careers.walmart.com

Must create an account before applying.

Account wall before any commitment

Redirected to StoreJobs (third party)

Dropped into an external system with no continuity.

Breaks trust — "Is this still Walmart?"

80+ screen assessment

No progress indicator. No context. Most first-time applicants abandon here.

No end in sight

Interview scheduling (separate system)

Fourth platform. Candidate must re-enter information.

Still no confirmation of progress

Meet Sam — one conversation starts it all

A friendly AI guide surfaces on the careers page. No account required.

Zero friction entry point

Role match in 3 questions

Sam asks about availability, location, and role preference — in plain language.

Feels like a conversation, not a form

Apply, schedule, and accept — in one flow

The entire journey happens within one experience. No redirects, no re-entry.

One system. Clear progress. Human tone.

Learn about Walmart while you wait

Sam shares culture content between steps — building confidence and connection.

Turns dead time into brand-building

01 · Recognition

02 · Availability

03 · Selection

Sam — "Sparky And Me" — was named to align with Walmart's Me@ product family. A distinct visual language was built from scratch: custom illustrated icons, Walmart's brand color system, and a conversational tone designed to make a first-time applicant feel capable and seen. Not a reskinned off-the-shelf tool.

Design Decisions

Four principles that shaped every screen

Zero account wall

Candidates can start before creating an account. Commitment follows value, not the other way around.

Human tone, always

Every Sam message was written to sound like a helpful person — no jargon, no passive voice, no corporate hedging.

One system, full journey

Apply, schedule, and accept — all within Sam. No redirects, no re-entering information.

Distinct visual language

Custom icons and Walmart's brand palette, built from scratch — not a reskinned off-the-shelf tool.

Outcome

A concept that became a platform

The 24-hour concept earned leadership buy-in and repositioned the project from exploratory to Walmart's new candidate application experience. Deloitte is currently integrating the direction into the broader hiring platform.

As Creative Director, I held the vision through delivery — ensuring the final experience stayed true to the human, conversational principles established in the original concept.