Heaven and Hell can exist in one building... - Business Operations Specialist McMaster-Carr Employee Review

2.0
May 10, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great benefits compared to the typical offers Cash profit sharing is one of a kind You can literally retire a millionaire (if you make it that long) Salary isn't difficult to negotiate (overpaid for the work you do)

Cons

No opportunity for advancement Very little transparency - expect to be lost about everything Plenty of lateral moves available, you just have no say so over where that move will be or when The work you do yields little to no transferable skills Don't get sick more than 3 times per year, it may cost you your job Don't expect flexibility for work/life balance Supervisors half your age run the place with no experience other than a few textbooks and 4 years of final exams You are not allowed to think on your own, just roll with the robotic, manufactured, day-to-day duties Shift work! - need I say more - a real career does not have scheduled 15 min breaks and lunches Forget time off for activities at your child's school, any holidays, or any flexibility...seniority sucks up all of that opportunity You can be a superstar one day but the minute your shine fades, you can easily be shot out the sky i.e. out the door - permanently

Explore other reviews about McMaster-Carr

5.0
Jun 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

At least in the Systems department, it’s a helpful and collaborative environment.

Cons

3 days in office and potentially long commute from the city

4.0
Jun 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Pay/benefits are incredibly generous - People are generally easy/nice to work with - Note that the Systems department seems to be fairly isolated from the negative issues discussed in other reviews (e.g. tension between warehouse workers and management) - I haven't experienced any of those issues within the systems department. In my opinion, Systems is a great place to work and develop as an engineer. - Hybrid work style (3 days in office). Personally, I like hybrid more than both fully in-office and fully remote styles. - Great cafeteria with good food and cheap prices. - Good work/life balance (outside of being on call, I can leave work at work).

Cons

- Work is not super interesting to me. I come from a highly technical, but very different (not ecommerce/industrial supplies), background where I was doing work I was much more interested in. No doubt there are folks in Systems who love the domain though. - While I'm not on call a ton (1-2 weeks every few months), I really hate being on call. I like to leave work at work. Note that joining at least one reliability team is expected within your first year or so.

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