Pros
I started my journey at Core & Main with high hopes and was genuinely excited to be part of the team. The office culture was upbeat and collaborative in many ways, and I initially had a fantastic manager who supported my growth and made the work environment enjoyable and productive.
However, things took a turn when leadership changed. After my manager transitioned out, the support and sense of belonging I once felt quickly faded. I experienced a noticeable shift in how I was treated—not just professionally, but personally. Senior leadership became less approachable and harder to trust, and unfortunately, the administrative environment—particularly among those supporting top executives—became toxic and at times, mean-spirited.
What was most disheartening was experiencing discrimination during my time there. As a person of color, I began to feel the weight of being treated differently by certain individuals in the office, and it absolutely affected my experience and morale. While the office culture on the surface appears friendly, it’s important to stay alert—there’s a strong sense of being constantly watched, and the environment can be performative rather than genuinely inclusive.
There were definitely bright moments, and I learned a lot during my time there, but in the end, the culture shift and the lack of equitable treatment ultimately pushed me to move on.
Cons
Management in some areas wasn’t the best. Pay could’ve been better and too many office politics.
