Fair Company, Good Benefits, No Room for Advancement if not Hired into Management Program
Pros
Great work/life balance (40-hour work weeks; two 15-minute breaks, one 45-minute lunch; 19 days of PTO for the first 5 years). College courses are fully paid for, but be aware your check is taxed. INCREDIBLE benefit if you are looking for a simple job with work/life balance to get you onto the next thing if grad school is on the books! In that case, take a generalist job (not the management one) and RUN with it until you're done. Hybrid work environment: Most departments require generalists to only come into office once a month for a 3-day period (Tuesday-Thursday), which is nice in case of Monday/Friday plans Coworkers (generalists) are FANTASTIC! A genuinely kind environment with incredibly capable talent. Of course you might have some rotton apples here and there, but toss those out in the trash and just avoid them like you were taught in school. The most capable part of this company is the culture of the employees. Recruiting does a brilliant job about bringing in kind and capable talent. End of the year profit sharing; this is a percentage of your total income earned for the year based on profits earned by the company. In 2021, I believe it was around 48% of everyone's salary (but of course it is taxed)
Cons
1. McMaster-Carr is big on stressing capability. To a degree, it is wonderful that they believe you can perform in almost any role, which may lead to quick and random department shifts (you are made aware and this isn't anything to be scared about), but it is important to note these jobs are the same thing over and over and over in a generalist role. For example, if you're in pricing, you will be making the same calls and keystrokes all day. If you're in Tech Contact Center or the Phone Center, you will be answering emails and/or calls ALL day; the role does not shift. You will do the same thing day in and day out. 2. In a generalist role (anyone not in management or being trained), there is little opportunity for collaborative work. You will sit at your desk day in, and day out by yourself. Not a great environment if you are someone who feels stimulated by peers. 3. Those who are promoted from a generalist role are wonder kids. You never see them, but know there are a few (I've heard of 2 in my 2 years with the company) out in the shuffle. These are the ones who know how to manage because they understand the ins and outs of the company. 4. Because of the management program, you will have fresh graduates, typically from top-tier schools, be in positions of management very quickly (managers, supervisors, etc.). There is nothing wrong with a young boss or fresh. However, there is a general consensus amongst the normal pool of generalists that they shouldn't be there. They do not have the experience to really help dive into tricky questions or, in many of the more technical departments, standard day-t0-day questions of operations. Communication tends to be a major point of contention for these younger operatives as they're still developing themselves. This is when things become frustrating for veteran employers. You quickly learn when you're new that it is best to rely on veteran coworkers than your own management. If you are fine with the benefits in lieu of promotions or leadership growth, you will be fine as a generalist. Please do not take my comments to heart; review boards are hard because you will see the most amazing or the most terrible comments. End of the year profit sharing: Great, but I would prefer a higher/more consistent paycheck. If I'm trying to step back some, McMaster-Carr provides a stable and comfortable living with great benefits. However, if you are hired in as a generalist, you have to be aware that there is genuinely a very small chance for upward mobility. This company does not promote from within in that sense. Use it as a springboard to earn that degree but careful not to stay too long. The skills learned and used are not transferrable. It makes it hard after several years to find other jobs if this was your first move after college. BUT, this also might be the company for you. So just remember, my opinion is just that: my own. I've experienced but the woos and the woes.
