McMaster-Carr Interview Questions & Reviews
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Updated May 23, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
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Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 98 ratings 
“Easy” Interview
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Interview Experience [?] Based on 98 ratings
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| 41–50 of 98 McMaster-Carr Interviews | Sort by |
Management Development at McMaster-Carr
Posted Jun 20, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Jun 2011 in Aurora, OH (took 2 weeks)
Got a phone call and went over my resume and learned about the firm. Got invited to fly out to ohio and meet the people and place. Had 5 1-1 one hour interviews with a 2 hour lunch. The interviews went pretty well, except they kept wondering why I cam, almost rude i thought. One guy looked at my resume, saw I was from Washington D.C. and asked me "why are you even here"
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
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Helpful Interview?
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No
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Business Operations Speciaist at McMaster-Carr
Posted Jun 1, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed May 2011 in Santa Fe Springs, CA (took a day)
Somewhat lengthy. Interviewed by two different people, assessed for writing skills and listened in on actual calls.
Can be thorough but found that both people who interviewed me asked very similar questions. Since the interviews happened separately, needless to say it took even more time...
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview and a Skills Test.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Research Analyst at McMaster-Carr
Posted May 5, 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 Apr 2011 in Elmhurst, IL (took 3 weeks)
One day after applying, a recruiter called for a phone interview. The interview was more intense than expected. I thought it would be a basic screening phone call but it turned into a legit interview. Lots of situation and logic questions. Be prepared to answer (or not answer) what your expected salary is! Few details were given about the position which seemed sketchy.
A week later I got called for an in-person interview. No details were given about the interview schedule. I met with a girl who was currently doing the job I would be doing. Despite the job title, "research and analysis" were not duties I'd be performing. It was more of a recruiting position. Then I had an interview with a manager. She was rather cold and had no interest in my answers. In fact, she didn't even shake my hand when she got up. Needless to say, I knew I wasn't getting the job after this. Which was ok, it wasn't a good fit anyway. However, I do expect respect and I didn't get it which was a big turn off.
The mailed rejection letter felt very impersonal; Almost like being broken up by a girlfriend in 6th grade.
In conclusion: The company seems to bait and switch to recruit. They also are much more interested in what you look like on paper (Ivy League/Fortune 500 companies- I actually saw the recruiter filter their collection of resumes by these criteria) than your personal fit. You should know as much as you can about the private company before any interview with them because they ask a lot of questions regarding their processes. They seem to be a good company but if I worked there I would have trust issues. So ask a lot of questions during the interview.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Manager at McMaster-Carr
Posted Apr 19, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Feb 2011 (took 2 months)
Recruited came on campus for an initial screening. Interview was very friendly, and easy going. Interviewer asked me to walk through the resume and asked some 'case type' questions such as what inventory costs are etc.
I was asked to come on-site to interview. The on-site interview was pretty rigorous, consisting of a tour of the facility, and four interviews with four different people in the department. Most of the interviews consisted of questions about my background and experiences.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
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Generalist at McMaster-Carr
Posted Apr 18, 2011
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1.0
Very Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Declined Offer
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Interviewed Apr 2011 (took 2 weeks)
An HR representative contacted me, stating that she found my resume online and would like to speak with me about some type of marketing opportunity. The information seemed kind of vague, but I scheduled a time for a phone interview with her. When I asked about next steps, she told me she would like to bring me in to interview in-person.
When I was there, the job was explained to me more thoroughly; it's inside sales (people call in and you fill out sales orders, trying to up-sell and answer questions). I had three one-on-one interviews with various managers, nothing too crazy. About a week later, I was called and McMaster-Carr wanted to extend me an offer. The caveat was that it wasn't the job I originally applied for, but a similar entry-level role that didn't seem particularly challenging or exciting.
Interview Questions
Reason for Declining
Declining the offer wasn't a very easy decision. I saw some positives: the pay is pretty good, the benefits are great, the company culture doesn't seem too bad, and the tuition reimbursement looks absolutely amazing. However, I think the job itself seemed incredibly mundane and boring. I really don't think I could have done it day in, day out without going a little bit insane. Additionally, I didn't see much room for growth, so it's not like I could do an entry-level gofer job for a year or so and then do my dream job once I've paid my dues.
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
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Market Researcher at McMaster-Carr
Posted Apr 1, 2011
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2011 in Atlanta, GA (took a day)
After the phone interview a one on one was scheduled. The questions consisted of my letting them know of my work experience and very customary questions. Be prepared to respond to a question about what you think the role is about and how you would do it.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
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Helpful Interview?
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Business Generalist Or Management Trainee at McMaster-Carr
Posted Mar 24, 2011 — 2 of 2 people found this helpful
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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 Jan 2011 (took a day)
Business Generalist: Not as advertised.
I was contacted directly by McMaster-Carr's local HR department first to gauge interest and then for a 30 minute telephone interview. During the telephone interview, which went very smoothly, I was asked to explain my background in marketing and what I loved about it. Telling stories, in this case, was a perfect fit and highlighted all that was relevant to move onto the next step: physical interviews. When I asked more about the position I was being considered for, I received a general, uplifting yet vague description of what was described as a management training program to familiarize all new hires to the business, and once excellence was proven in a particular field, opportunities for advancement would be available. I was intrigued enough as this company has been successful for 115+ years, there would be something to learn even though this technically would be a 'temporary' demotion. I had already successfully hired and managed a small international marketing and creative department in my last job. Regardless, I happily agreed to the physical interview.
On the day of the interview, I met and spent about an hour with three different managers: one from HR, one from operations and another from marketing. Three times around with pleasant conversation, poignant questions and daft responses from both sides of the table, I was told the same reality three times when I asked for more detail on the position for which I was being interviewed. The triplicate response summary was this: you answer the phones, learn the customer's needs, take customer orders, input their orders without error and deal with any incoming customer problems/complaints. Yes, that's a customer service, tele-sales agent (albeit well paid for the position, but over qualified). So, what about management training and potential for advancement with proven excellence? The answer: Oh, you're not being considered for that program. We only recruit directly out of specific schools, but sometimes people make it in through internal promotion. I asked, "Well, then how often are people promoted from within?" The answer, "In my last 7 years, I think one person made it into management." (That's out of well over 100 office workers). Huh? Why didn't this come out on the telephone?
The other side is that people do get promoted out of that entry position, but not into a management track. I found the company was hypocritical in their "flat hierarchy" explanation. It's three castes: elite Management, professional worker-bees and then the well educated warehouse folk. After discussing this with 2 of the 3 hiring managers, it was pretty clear that people don't generally move between these three strata. One hiring manager admitted they have a lot of turn-over as people are hired, attend school for free and leave for better jobs. Hmm. I'm impressed it works for them with their amazing track record for 115 years, but it wasn't for me. Apparently, do offer some of the best benefits packages and pay around. If you can harness your voice and creativity, as well as mind the archaic hierarchy, then this is could be a good fit for you!
I left that day thinking the actual interviews went well, but feeling so deceived as it was like a bait and switch.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
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No
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Inappropriate?
Management Trainee at McMaster-Carr
Posted Mar 24, 2011 — 1 of 1 people found this helpful
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Negative Experience
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Received and Declined Offer
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Interviewed Feb 2011 in Cleveland, OH (took 3 weeks)
I handed my resume in at my school's career fair and got an email the next day for a phone interview. After my phone interview they paid for me to drive down to Cleveland for an on-site interview. It consisted of a tour of the facility, 2 1 on 1 interviews, and a lunch interview. What really turned me off from the company was the condescending and elitist attitude the management people had in the company. One interviewer actually questioned my choice of the major trying to reason with me about nothing he knew about. Another interviewer actually told me in my interview, "I forgot what I was going to ask you." This just made me seem nothing was organized in their interview process which really turned me off.
Interview Questions
Reason for Declining
While the compensation and tuition reimbursement was top notch, the people over there were not at all friendly and had their heads in the clouds. In addition, the work they do is VERY monotonous, even though they try and convince you otherwise.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
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Helpful Interview?
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Management Trainee at McMaster-Carr
Posted Mar 21, 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 Feb 2011 (took a day)
Went through resume, given scenarios and asked how one would approach them
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview.
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Helpful Interview?
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No
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Internal Auditor at McMaster-Carr
Posted Mar 14, 2011
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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 Mar 2011 (took a day)
Interviewer goes line by line on your resume and asks you to comment about it. Pretty easy interview but just felt the questions were very bland. How do you make a decision on general questions?
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
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