Making His Own Mold: Dwayne Fischer Jr.’s Story
/By Annette Dawm, WorkStory Ambassador
Dwayne Fischer Jr. is an “Inventory Control Specialist” at a Walmart location in Toronto. On a nightly basis, Dwayne manages both the merchandise and the backroom associates. Part of his job includes organizing the stock, pulling it from the bins it came in, and “putting it away afterwards”. Dwayne also delegates duties to others.
What Dwayne loves most about his job is the actual opportunity to be working. After hitting a rough patch, Dwayne was able to create a better life for himself with the help of Walmart and is now thriving in his workplace: “I love my job because they gave me the opportunity when I didn't think I had any. I was unemployed for a year because I chose to step away from a previous career due to various reasons. I'm not going to say anything bad about my former employers but I made the choice to move on. I was getting fairly depressed and I couldn't find any work and finally Walmart gave me a shot. I am grateful for that.”
Dwayne began working at the Hanover store, not far from where he lived in Chesley, Ontario. Dwayne’s hard work and determination led to the position he has now as well as to a new home in Toronto: “I have worked my way through the company on nightshift. I started with stock, moved to fresh and frozen and maintenance then transferred to Toronto after one year.” Dwayne’s work ethic was noticed right away and after one month of being employed in the city, he was promoted to “Instock Supervisor”, which served as training for his Inventory Control Specialist position.
At an early age, Dwayne discovered that he was gifted and participated in the TRAIL (To Realize Advanced and Independent Learning) program in public school. This program helped him to realize that he is a very creative and intelligent individual. He describes himself as “a guy of all trades”.
“I can do a bit of everything, get along with everyone and learn anything almost instantly…” Dwayne explained. At times however, he has felt as though he is “too creative”. Since he is capable of so many things, it has been hard for him to choose a career and he has “never fully known” what he would like to do with his life. Because of this, Dwayne’s work path has been fairly diverse so far.
After high school, Dwayne enrolled in the Electrical Engineering – Accelerated program at Fanshawe College: “I liked the small computer electronics and was good at it, but it was accelerated and too quick.” (He now uses the electrical skills he learned as a hobby.) Dwayne then transferred into the General Arts and Science program. For three years, he worked in the television and film industries where he “got to experience a bunch of different areas on set, on lots of different projects”.
Although working at Walmart was not something he intended to do, Dwayne says that he plans to keep advancing himself within the company: “It was never my mainstay plan, but it seems to work out for me very well.”
Coming from Bruce County, Toronto is a big change for Dwayne Fischer Jr., but it’s worth it! He doesn’t want others to miss out on similar opportunities if they have the chance: “I would say don't be afraid to shake things up, even if it is a little intimidating. Wayne Gretzky said, ‘You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take’. My main advice is to work hard and show your loyalty. Don't try and fit anyone else's mold, make your own.”
