Pros
The people you work with and the customers that you deal with are the best part of the job. Let's face it selling plumbing items isn't fancy and not that fun, but it takes the people that you interact with that make the selling experience fun. The training, if followed out completely, is great. You learn more than you ever think you'd want to know about plumbing products through vendor presentations, online training and hands on training. At times you are able to see the process of how the products we sell are used, which helps in the overall understanding of what it is that you are really selling.
Cons
The number one downside to Ferguson is the long hours. Working 10 hour days is hard to get used to and really cuts into your personal time with your family and friends. Compensation is based on those hours and you are practically paid hourly which isn't something that is obvious from the beginning. This varies by branch, but don't be surprised to go into different positions and get a promotion or pay increase. I have worked in two different positions within a year have not been given a raise; kind of disappointing. I feel like the hiring process is a little over done. In a way they glorify Ferguson to be more than what it is. They need to read soon to be hires the fine print. In the fine print they will find that the days are long so the work life balance they preach isn't so balanced. They will find that career advancement and pay increases aren't easily achieved as they portray it to be and that just because you work hard and you may deserve a raise or a position, things aren't so fair (varies by branch/management).