I applied through a recruiter. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at McMaster-Carr (Cleveland, OH) in Apr 2016
Interview
I had a brief phone screening where I walked the recruiter through my resume. This was all very easy and she asked clarifying questions as she needed them. Two weeks later, they flew me to their office for an in-person interview. The first part was a tour of the warehouse where I was asked to answer questions about their process and why I thought it worked the way it did. Then I had two traditional style interviews that consisted of a basic explanation of my resume followed by behavioral/STAR questions. Finally, I had an informal lunch interview with two employees. The process lasted about 4 hours total. Two weeks later, they let me know that they would not be extending me an offer, but that they were willing to schedule a followup call to give me feedback. They told me I should have been more detailed in my responses to STAR questions about my motivations for making certain decisions. (They said that they place a higher value on detail than most companies.) However, they were impressed at the number and type of questions I had for them, and emphasized this as a positive point during my interview.
I applied online. I interviewed at McMaster-Carr (Elmhurst, IL)
Interview
Incredibly drawn out and tedious interview process with 9 total “interviews” for the entire process, including 5 on the on-site final round. Open-ended questions about yourself and different processes/projects at the company.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Why do you think X is designed like this, what are things you’d think about when implementing something like X
I applied through university. I interviewed at McMaster-Carr
Interview
Made it past phone call screening and had a one-on-one chat with a current manager before final round of interviews. Each round was 45 minutes to an hour long and questions were difficult. Have lots of examples ready. Have different answers ready for similar questions.
I applied online. I interviewed at McMaster-Carr (Chicago, IL)
Interview
The interview process was absolutely phenomenal from start to finish. I really appreciated that the discussions were fully behavioral, allowing me to naturally draw on my past experiences. Furthermore, the company truly goes out of its way to treat you like a VIP throughout the entire visit, covering a remarkably nice hotel stay and providing a generous stipend to ensure you are completely comfortable.