MSC Industrial Direct Interview Questions & Reviews
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Updated Dec 10, 2011 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
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Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 7 ratings 
“Average” Interview
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Interview Experience [?] Based on 7 ratings
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See who your friends know who've worked at MSC Industrial Direct and could give you an inside look.
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| 1–7 of 7 MSC Industrial Direct Interviews | Sort by |
Searchandiser at MSC Industrial Direct
Posted Dec 10, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Dec 2011 in Melville, NY (took 4 weeks)
7 interviews.Week 1 - Completed a phone interview with their recruiter. Week 2 - I came in and had 4 individual interviews, each was approx 45 min long. Week 3 - Passed a background check and completed 2 more individual interviews. Week 4 no offer.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Telesales Account Executive at MSC Industrial Direct
Posted Aug 13, 2011
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Negative Experience
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Received and Declined Offer
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Interviewed Jul 2011 in Wood Dale, IL (took 3 weeks)
Submitted my resume through their web site and received an initial contact from HR a week later. The lady was helpful and lead me in the right direction. It took about 2½ weeks to get another call from an outbound telesales supervisor for a 1:1 interview. My resume seemed impressive enough to cut to the chase and within 20 minutes I knew it was a metric oriented job (phone time and # of contacts is monitored). Went to another interview a week later this time with a younger manager who was late and seemed to be drinking too much company cool aid.
Both explained benefits and reasons to grow with the company (401k, medical & dental insurance, profit sharing, job advancement, etc..) yet the atmosphere seemed very cookie cutter and stale by the variety of wrinkled up shirts. Office environment is bright and looks very new.
Interview Questions
Reason for Declining
When applying for fix salaried sales jobs it's important to realize a full potential to be earned if an annual goal is met (base salary + bonus - taxes = net income). Both managers were not very open to to this but willing to give the regular mumbo jumbo such as uncapped, month-to-month, and performance based. The base salary was $10k less than my previous job. Felt it was very entry level and not a good fit.
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Branch Sales Manager at MSC Industrial Direct
Posted Jun 30, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Negative Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Apr 2009 in San Francisco, CA (took 3 months)
Cumbersome and after such a long process there are still many mis hires. Poor system
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
No negotiation
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Finance at MSC Industrial Direct
Posted May 3, 2010
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Negative Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2010 in Melville, NY (took 3 weeks)
General discussion of skills and experience; they thought I was overqualified. Company wasn't convinced that the position was challenging enough and seemed to feel it was a dead end job without even giving the benefit of the doubt to the candidate. Something isn't right with the employee philosophy of the company. Employees are apparently not valued. They have no concept of talent acquisition. Prior comments are 100% accurate. Surprised the company has survived but would'nt be if they don't make it in the tougher environment ahead. Could be a good short stock play.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Branch Manager at MSC Industrial Direct
Posted Feb 28, 2010 — 2 of 2 people found this helpful
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5.0
Very Difficult Interview
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Overall Negative Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Feb 2010 (took 8 weeks)
First interview was HR hiring manager by phone. Given the process procedures for hiring and that as you pass each one you will be moved on to the next step. The next week was 1:1 with hiring manager. Next week was IQ/Intelligence/Personality testing. Then next week flight to 1:1 with Regional Manager. 2 more phone interviews and flight to the corporate office for what was told final 4 interviews with National Managers and HR. Next week added another 1:1 interview with prior position holder. Another week to be told that an offer would not be given with little or no feedback from the hiring manager. I exceeded the experience and qualifications and had all positive feedback until the prior position holder interview. It was a very negative experience with personal attacks on my experience and qualifications and totally unprofessional. I contacted the HR hiring manager for further explanation and mostly given the company story line. I was finally told that I did not have the "strategic sales experience" needed for the position. I do not recall being asked any questions concerning my "strategic sales knowledge." It took 8 weeks and 10 total interviews for a "no offer." An experience I hope to never be put through again. I consider it a waste of mine and the company's time and money.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, an IQ/Intelligence Test, a Personality Test and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
GSA National Accounts Manager at MSC Industrial Direct
Posted Aug 31, 2009
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Negative Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Aug 2009 in Seattle, WA (took 2 weeks)
The company is very old school and is expanding into the west coast they sell MRO products. They have been in the Seattle area for about 5 years and have very little market share. They are a siloed company with the GSA sales reps reporting to the branch managers and not the GSA national account sales manager. The interview with the HR lady went well and she was very professional. Next I meet with the GSA National account manager for about an hour and 30 minutes. He was professional and asked some good questions. They interviewed 3 people for the position and did not move on with any of them. They are a company that needs to hire a lot of good sales people because their competition is eating their lunch. They did not give any reasons for not moving on with me and just sent me a letter in the mail.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Customer Segment Manager at MSC Industrial Direct
Posted May 10, 2009 — 1 of 1 people found this helpful
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Negative Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2009 in Melville, NY (took 2 weeks)
The MSC HR recruiter was very professional and outgoing -- she was the best part of the whole interview process. Before that, the 3rd party recruiter who had handed me off did not understand the original job spec very well, having thought the position was direct marketing related -- it was in reality, a business development position --- I adjusted early in the game --- which landed me in headquarters for a live 1:1 interviews.
The hiring team interview process was a significant let down in 2 out of 3 1:1's. There were even some pot shots taken at my professional qualifications ("well-educated people" was the word I heard a few times). I think they were enjoying seeing the out-of-work, well-educated people on the street looking for work at a company such as MSC. After a strong phone interview and invitation to come in for a 1:1, the hiring manager slouched in his seat during my live 1:1. I believe the prior interviewer gave me a "down check" as I sensed intense competition about my skills/experiences versus his.
After the interview, I received very ambiguous nonconstructive feedback from the 3rd party recruiter. After this, I actually followed up with the hiring manager (who declined to comment and referred me to HR). In fact, my post-interview follow-ups earned an amateurish HR rejection letter from the very charismatic HR recruiter. It was a shame, I sensed she wanted to say more and provide more definitive feedback but duly followed HR policy.
My advice, only apply for a management position if you don't have an MBA or significant experience -- these and other professional qualifications, savvy and confidence spooked the hiring team --- hey look, they've been there there for over 10 years, who needs "Maverick" from Top Gun to shake things up. In short, they were looking for Gumby.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
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