Pros
The idea behind working at Fastenal is a good one; do whatever it takes to serve and maintain the satisfaction of the industries in your area. This seems very genuine and respectable and this is one aspect I can honestly support. Also, the working environment is likely to be very close-knit due to the low number of employees allotted to each branch. This makes for a friendly atmosphere but does not compensate for the severe shortcomings this Company possesses as a whole.
Cons
The main cons of working at Fastenal are not unique in that you would most likely see these issues working for any large, national company. Of course, the pay is sub par and we are currently being held down to a meager twenty hours a week but this is to be expected. The unfortunate issue is really how there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Nothing is being done to retain good talent. The vast majority of people working in our corporate offices started out on the ground level. Currently, Fastenal is running away all talent on this ground level and will have few advantages when the economy does turn around. This will not only leave them behind but also missing the competitive edge that they have held and relied upon for over forty years.