W.W. Grainger Interview Questions & Reviews

Interview Details – I had a very simple phone interview with an HR screener. She asked me various resume questions, then she gave me a mini skills test by asking me two basic supply chain questions. I only remember one of them: "If you have 100 widgets, then you increase the number by 10%, then you decrease the number by 10%, do you have more, fewer, or the same number of widgets compared to the beginning?" You'd have fewer (100 + 10 - 11 = 99). Then I went in the office for a second round interview and had four one-on-one interviews with managers.

Negotiation Details – Grainger pays well. I had a salary range in mind and they met the high end of it on their initial offer, so I felt no need to counter. I wish I would've negotiated a better vacation allowance though.

Interview Details – they contacted me via email and we corresponded back and forth setting up a time to talk on the phone. the recruiter called me and we talked for about 10 minutes. General questions were asked and a couple of what if situational questions. she told me that she would be in touch after meeting with the department manager, took a couple of weeks and I was emailed that the position was put on hold and to keep my resume updated on their site.

Interview Details – Applied and was called an hour later to schedule a phone interview. Did the interview that afternoon, and it took about an hour. This was a very in-depth phone interview, consisting of questions that required a lot of specific details about my accomplishments in my career. Interviewer made it feel more like a casual conversation than a job interview. Felt very confident, especially since the interviewer told me that I was a "great candidate for this position."
Received an email with benefits information and more about the culture at Grainger. It really looks like a great place to work.
Received another email about a week later, which was a form email telling me that I didn't get the job.

Interview Details – Phone interview by HR-->1:1 Interview with Area Sales Manager--->Phone Interview with Director of Sales

Negotiation Details – Always Negotiate your base salary

Interview Details – I got a lead for this opportunity through a friend who knew someone leaving this position. She put me in touch with the guy and he liked my resume and said he felt like I had a good shot at the job. He then passed me on to one of his counterparts and this guys sent me a link to apply for the job. I filled out the online app and waited about 2 to 3 weeks for the phone interview. The lady who interviewed me asked me several situational based questions and passed me through to the 1:1 interview with the district sales manager. She told me to be prepared for the STAR method inteview questions i.e. "tell me about a time when you failed to get an order. What did you do to turn the situation around?". I had the 1:1 interview the following week with the District Sales Manager from New Orleans. He interviewed me for 1 hour and 15 minutes and it was pretty intense. I did the best I could and felt like I interviewed well, but at the end of the interview I could tell he was probably not going to hire me by some of the things he said and his body language. Then...it was crickets for the next 3 freaking weeks. I finally called the lady in Chicago who I'd phone interviewed with and she informed me they were moving forward with another candidate. It turns out they headhunted the position and hired a 24 year old with a masters degree away from UPS. I didn't appreciate being left twisting in the wind for that amount of time. I also have heard they are going after a younger demographic, so that would've been nice to know since I am 41. I was told that the DM felt like I was more of a manufacturers rep and didn't have the right kind of experience selling solutions, but they put you through a 14 week training program, so I think I would've had to learn how to do it their way anyway. Such BS...I wasted a lot of time and lost a lot of sleep waiting for some sort of feedback, and if I hadn't called myself I may never have formally learned I didn't get the job. I never received a formal letter or email telling me 'thanks, but no thanks'. This is a huge company, and since this is a down economy they can pick who they want. I've heard that people who've worked there for years have left because things are changing for the worst and they weren't happy.

Interview Details – I was contacted by an outside recruiter who asked me a few questions about my past employment experience. Then I was contacted again by the same recruiter after about a week later to set up an interview with the branch manager. I met with the branch manager for an interview and she asked basic questions regarding general warehouse work (I applied for a warehouse associate position). Her questions included how accurate I consider myself to be when receiving and picking items.

Negotiation Details – There was no negotiation phase. After the interview I got a phone call with the job offer and a starting hourly wage

Interview Details – The first interview was relatively simple, with about 60% of our university's students receiving second round interviews. The second round took place in Lake Forest, IL at the corporate headquarters. We had a tour of the office (great building and LEED certified), then four back to back 45 minute interviews. One interview included a case question where they want to see your thought process.

Interview Details – I applied online and a week later or so I received an email to set up a phone interview. The interview was pretty straight forward. Basic questions that all managers should be able to answer. After passing the initial phone interview, I was told that I needed to pass a an assessment test to see if I was the right fit and to ensure that I could handle the basic math needed to analyze the reports. I had to go to a special office and take the test in a private room where I was given 90 minutes to complete. Once I'd completed the assessment, I almost immediately received an email saying that I'd passed and that my resume would be passed on to to the hiring manager.
A week later I received an email asking if I could come in for an interview with the District manager the very next morning. Luckily I had the morning off so I came in. The DSM was very nice and very straight forward which I liked. He asked a lot of behavioral questions to get an idea of my management skills. After an hour or so I left not really getting a good read from him on whether he liked me or not. He must have because a week later I received another phone call to set up an interview with the other branch managers for the very next morning. The interview with the Branch Managers was much more relaxed. They were both very friendly and informative. The asked me a lot of questions about my life outside of work as well as many behavioral questions.
It's been 5 days and I haven't heard anything yet but I'm hoping that after all of the interviews and tests that I've gone through that I'll be awarded the position. I feel like the managers really liked me and my recruiter said that they just wanted to make sure that I'd fit in well with their culture and mentality.

Interview Details – straightforward, but lengthy

Negotiation Details – minimal discussion for negotiation. Advice: feel empowered to represent yourself without risk.