I applied through college or university. The process took 5 days. I interviewed at McMaster-Carr (Santa Fe Springs, CA) in Oct 2014
Interview
I sent out an application through my University job board, and I was contacted two days later via text message to schedule a phone interview for later on that day. The talent acquisition representative was punctual in her phone call on the agreed time. She asked basic job experience questions and further explained information about the company and some of the duties the job position entails. We spoke for about 15-20 minutes during that phone interview.
Two days later I received a phone call asking me to come in for another interview at the job location. The next day I showed up at 7:00 a.m. and filled out their job application and shortly after I met with someone from their H.R. department. We had a one-on-one interview where we went over my resume, job experience, and detailed questions about how I've overcome problems in the workplace. (They are looking for you to show critical thinking in your responses). I interviewed with her for about 30 minutes. After the interview concluded I was taken by one of the office assistants to go shadow two of the employees that work the same job position as the one I was applying for. It shows that the company hires extremely smart people as both of the people in the call center were very knowledgeable in their work and very proficient in how they handled each phone call. The calls coming in were NON-STOP! The position keeps you on your toes constantly! After I was done shadowing each employee for about 20 minutes I was taken back to the lobby to complete a series of writing and critical thinking exercises (3 total). I was asked to respond in a professional and brief manner to a customer order request (you are required to navigate and use their website to find the information). Once all the exercises were completed I then met with another person from the Talent acquisition team for a final interview. During that interview she asked more job experience questions (nothing too difficult). However, you get put on the spot as she asks you to play out a scenario (you will be required to use the website again). The final interview lasted about 30 min.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
The make sure to let you know that this is not a management position, you are basically on your own. "Knowing that this is not a management position, where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
I applied through a recruiter. I interviewed at McMaster-Carr (Elmhurst, IL)
Interview
A local recruiter emailed me using the resume I posted on a job site. I was skeptical at first, but decided to schedule a phone interview. The phone interview was a basic screening and concluded with an invite to interview in person. The in person interview lasted a total 3 hours. It was very traditional in that I came in suited up and immediately presented with a paper application. After I turned in my application, the recruiter gave me a tour of the facility with stops in between for interview questions.
Following the tour, I was led into a small interview room with a catalog and computer. I was interviewed by the recruiter, HR Manager, then a Regional Manager. Then I was instructed to run through a customer service scenario, verbally discuss my response, and type a mock email to customer. The exercise requires you listen to an audio from a past customer call. If I remember correctly, the customer had purchased an industrial cart but the wheel was damaged. You have to discuss a solution with interviewer and email the customer. I was called 2 days later with an offer to join the company.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
This role is not a management role, knowing that, where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I applied through other source. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at McMaster-Carr (Chicago, IL) in Jan 2016
Interview
It's a bit of an extended process. First they'll phone screen you to make sure you're truly a potential fit with the company. Once you pass that you'll be invited into their offices for a "career day" of sorts where they show you what it is they actually do and the multiple offices that work together to get the job done.
By all means, it seems like a glorified call center.
They'll make you go through an initial interview off the bat, then you'll shadow different people throughout the office to see what they truly do. Afterwards they sit you down to give you a written communication test (my test was basically responding to customer inquiries about certain items and giving them the appropriate part number). That lasted me about 45 minutes. Afterwards you'll interview one last time and they'll check you to see what your thoughts are and if you still would be interested. In sum, it lasted about 3 hours total.
A few days after my interview, I was called back and told I was going to be offered a position... And here's why I didn't accept... Not in what I went in to interview in, but something else all together. The position they offered is something I'm wholly overqualified for.
Reason for the negative review? I'm positive I was not offered the Business Ops Specialist role because of my race. I'be never made. Claim like this before, but I'm positive it's only for these reasons. Take one look inside their offices and then their warehouse and you'll see that the only people of color to be found in the building will be in the warehouse.
I applied through other source. The process took 2 days. I interviewed at McMaster-Carr (Trenton, NJ) in Oct 2015
Interview
Contacted by HR person who set up a phone call. The HR person didn't confirm the call, so I wasn't sure it was going to happen, but it did. HR person was speaking about a kind of generalist role, and wouldn't answer which area of the company this would be for. This person kept saying things about how the company is good at what they do, but no examples or real info. Even though I have quite a bit of experience, HR person suggested a seriously low salary point and we concluded together that this wasn't for me.
