Pros
I joined McMaster-Carr's management team in 2008, and spent the past 13 years in roles of progressive responsibility in nearly every area of the business. McMaster-Carr and the range of leaders I worked for and with developed me from an undergraduate into an experienced industry professional now serving in an executive leadership role in another area of the distribution industry. Without equivocation, McMaster-Carr is the premier place to learn how to manage projects, people, and operations in an environment that is appropriately demanding and where excellence is rewarded. Throughout my career, I had the opportunity to work with and for talented people who constantly challenged me to think on my feet and examine problems and opportunities from a variety of perspectives. The diversity of talent and thought leadership within McMaster-Carr's workforce is the company's core strength; I always felt that I was working for a smart, capable, and dedicated leaders who came to work every day with an intolerance for the status quo and a desire to drive progress. After a few years with the company, I began investing more energy into personal growth outside of McMaster-Carr, and the company could not have been more supportive. McMaster-Carr and my branch leadership team encouraged my graduate education twice during my career, gave me the skill set and confidence to become a non-profit and elected leader in my community, and provided the work-life balance that allowed me to succeed at work while pursuing my passion for service outside of work. I am incredibly grateful for the constant support and encouragement McMaster-Carr provided me during every stage of my personal and professional growth. If you are considering McMaster-Carr as the next stage of your professional journey, I'd encourage you to give this company a shot. You will work hard, and there will be periods of fatigue and frustration; but over time you will develop a foundation of industry knowledge and a set of skills that will make you a valuable contributor to any organization you choose to join. You will also have team of people who have your back during and after your employment. The best choice I've made in my professional career was picking up that recruiting call in the Summer of 2008.
Cons
McMaster-Carr is a company that requires hard work, demands excellence, measures performance objectively, and has an intolerance for resting on laurels and settling for the status quo. The employees who work at McMaster-Carr are driven, detail-oriented professionals, focused on exceeding expectations. This is not the environment for everyone; if these elements appeal to you, then you will thrive at McMaster-Carr.