Glassdoor is your free inside look at Fastenal interview questions and advice. All 92 interview reviews posted anonymously by Fastenal employees and interview candidates.
Fastenal Interview Questions & Reviews
Getting the Interview 92 Interviews
Interview Experience 80 Ratings
General Manager at Fastenal
Accepted Offer – Reviewed Mar 6, 2013
Interview Details – 1 interview with DM and regional vp to get the outside sales position. Asked about my experience with sales and customer service. What I knew about Fastenal....promoted to GM a year later.
Interview Question – What are your fears when it comes to running your own store? View Answer
Negotiation Details – No negotiations.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Part-Time Sales Support at Fastenal
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Parsippany, NJ May 2011 – Reviewed Mar 2, 2013
Interview Details – The interview was as basic as possible; the behavioral questions such as "tell me about yourself, why do you want to work here?, why should we hire you?" - those questions were ones people seeking employment should prepare for. A simple preparation for addressing these types of questions would make any interviewee a stand out candidate.
Interview Question – "Can you think of a time where you had an issue with a colleague and how the matter was resolved?" Answer Question
Negotiation Details – There wasn't much to negotiate; the pay was good and the hours were balanced to meet my school schedule.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Manager at Fastenal
Declined Offer – Reviewed Feb 19, 2013
Interview Details – Standard phone interview which consisted of generic questions and location preferences. Followed up with actual interview at preferred location that lasted 2 hours.
Interview Question – Where do you see yourself in Fastenal in 5 years? Answer Question
Reason for Declining – poor pay
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
General Manager at Fastenal
Accepted Offer – Reviewed Feb 18, 2013
Interview Details – Multiple interviews with managers and district managers. They are taught to look for type A personalities, want people who actively want to move up the ladder. Tons of trainings available. Always bring that up in interviews because the company is rightly proud of all the effort they've put into them.
Interview Question – None Answer Question
Negotiation Details – No negotiation, tried but they wouldn't budge. Wouldn't recommend trying to play hardball, as most district managers will actually rescind the job offer.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Sales Associate at Fastenal
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Arkansas, KY Nov 2012 – Reviewed Feb 17, 2013
Interview Details –
Learned of the job from a Fastenal employee. Applied online and recieved a phone call from the area's DM about a week to 10 days later to set up a face-to-face interview. Interview was straight forward and very laid back (I'm guessing it probably depends on the DM's personality). Basically he walked me through the Fastenal wesite's career section and then asked a few basic questions. Very easy interview. About a week after that I was offered the position with the contingency of completeing there on the job training process.
My advice would be to dress nice, smile, know a little about the company/product, and be professional. It's an easy interview/job so if you do those things, you should get an offer.
Interview Question –
1. Whats your knowledge of fasteners? Why Fastenal?
2. Are you comfortable making cold-calls?
3. Do you have any questions?
View Answer
Negotiation Details –
Hourly rate while in "training" that becomes salary based upon completion. The process is mostly self-paced webinars about their wide variety of products.
Starting base salary varies from region to region. It was my first job out of college so I didn't ask for more money, but if you have alot to offer it may help to ask for more compensation because it's a CAKE job. If your talented you shouldn't be there long. Just a stepping-stone to greatness!
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Sales Support at Fastenal
Accepted Offer – Reviewed Feb 10, 2013
Interview Details – Online Application with aptitude test (probably didn't matter). Online Apps are corporate policy, and are only done to be processed and kept on file. Phone interview was next with District Manager. Personal Interview was somewhat casual. Took place in one of the store offices with the same DM. Questions were simple, ranging from behavioral to things like "what do you like to do for fun?"
Interview Question – Explain a time when you disagreed with a boss and how did you handle it? Did you confront him/her? Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Sales Assistant at Fastenal
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Williamsport, PA Nov 2012 – Reviewed Jan 9, 2013
Interview Details – very informal and easy. they look for nice people capable people
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Tax Support at Fastenal
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Winona, MN Nov 2011 – Reviewed Oct 31, 2012
Interview Details – Just had one interview with two interviewers. The manager and a co-worker. It is just basic resume review questions.
Interview Question – no Answer Question
Negotiation Details – no negotiation, it was just a part time position
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Sales Trainee/Outside Sales at Fastenal
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Savannah, GA Apr 2011 – Reviewed Oct 17, 2012
Interview Details – Took 2-4 Months by Sad DM. Managers have no real skills!
Interview Question – Never asked if looking for long term, expected a short term Job! View Answer
Negotiation Details – None! Didn't know till day I started?
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Warehouse Laborer at Fastenal
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Akron, OH Nov 2011 – Reviewed Oct 4, 2012
Interview Details – There were 3 separate interviews. The first will be with your department lead, the second with the department manager, the third will be with the GM (just to basically meet you, it's a waste of time). The first 2 are easy. Just be able to pass the math test they give you, know what Fastenal does as a company and tell them that you're really excited to move boxes for them.
Interview Question – There really weren't any difficult questions. Just know what the company does when you go in. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – No negotiation phase. Understandable for a low level position like this.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
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