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Grainger

 
Approx. 70 active jobs   |  Website
Overview
Named one of America's 100 Most Trustworthy Companies - Forbes (March 2007)


We help keep thousands of businesses in business.

Grainger is the leading North American provider of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supplies and related information to businesses and institutions. Combining products, services, and information, Grainger offers an unmatched set of MRO solutions.

It all starts with our values.

Values have always been a part of doing business at Grainger. We've carried them into the 21st century and will continue to use them to realize future success. In 1996, Grainger created a new business priority based on our enduring set of values. These Values are reflected in every aspect of our business, and they can become the foundation for a remarkable career.

We're committed to our customers - and our professionals.

Businesses count on Grainger to keep their operations up and running. We count on people like you to make it happen - by providing them with the best information and the best products, each and every time.

Of course, delivering on this promise is what Grainger employees do day in and day out, through direct contact with our customers in the marketplace and by supporting them through our operations at headquarters and other facilities.

With a work environment that facilitates achievements of career goals and encourages professional growth - from departmental and business cross training to mentoring and promotions, its no wonder, Grainger is one of the best places to work.

Take a good look. Imagine where you could take your career at Grainger.

For more information about Grainger and our employment opportunities, visit our web site at www.grainger.com. EOE.
Culture
Grainger helps customers save time and money by providing them the right products to keep their facilities up and running. Grainger's customers are 1.7 million businesses and institutions across North America. While each customer has a unique facility to operate and a different problem to solve, our customers all share the same requirement: when they need one of Grainger's products, they often need it right away. With more than 16,732 knowledgeable employees, the Grainger team works closely with customers to better understand their challenges and provide cost-saving solutions. Grainger's employees serve customers more than 115,000 times every day through multiple channels. With 2006 sales of $5.9 billion, Grainger is a Fortune 500 company and a perennial member of Fortune magazine's Most Admired Companies list.
Benefits
Benefits at Grainger Grainger employees experience a unique working environment—the stability of an established industry leader combined with interesting opportunities to learn, grow, and make a difference for our customers. At Grainger, we take pride in offering a benefits package that is among the best around. Just as our business strives to meet the changing needs of our customers, our benefits are designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Here’s a look at some of the extensive benefits currently offered by Grainger:
  • Health & Well-Being Benefits — Grainger offers competitive health, dental, mental health, and prescription drug benefits that are designed to provide you with access to quality care at an affordable cost.
  • Financial Security Benefits — Our financial security benefits include a strong profit sharing plan as well as retiree health coverage, life insurance and disability benefits. The cornerstone of our benefits package, our profit sharing plan, provides a valuable way to share in the success of the company.
  • Work/Life Benefits — To help balance work and life outside of work, Grainger provides employees with a variety of benefits in addition to vacation and holidays. These benefits include an employee assistance program, an adoption benefit, an educational assistance program, a dependent care assistance plan, access to auto and homeowners insurance, long term care, legal coverage and a 3-for-1 matching charitable gifts program.
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    Career Opportunities
    Products

    Grainger works with more than 1,000 suppliers to provide customers with access to more than 800,000 products from categories including:

    Adhesives, Sealants and Tape
    Electrical
    Fasteners and Hardware
    Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
    Lighting
    Material Handling
    Metalworking, Welding and Lubrication
    Motors and Power Transmission
    Office Equipment
    Outdoor Equipment
    Pneumatics and Hydraulics
    Pumps and Plumbing
    Safety and Security
    Tools and Test Instruments
    Grainger History
    William W. (Bill) Grainger founded a wholesale electric motor sales and distribution business in Chicago in 1927. He established the company to provide an efficient solution for customers to access a consistent supply of electric motors. The business was incorporated as W. W. Grainger, Inc. in 1928. Sales in the early days were generated primarily through mail order via post cards and a catalog. The MotorBook, as the catalog was originally called, was the basis for today's Grainger catalog.

    To improve customer service, Bill opened a branch in Philadelphia in 1933 and then three additional branches the following year. By 1936, there were 15 branches in operation. It was evident that local branch service would be an integral part of the company's future growth.

    In 1967, Grainger became a public company, and its stock was traded in the over-the-counter market. Today, Grainger stock is sold under the GWW symbol on the New York and Chicago stock exchanges.

    To remain the leader in the industry, Grainger seized technology opportunities early. In 1976, Grainger became the first in the industry to implement optical character recognition equipment. Grainger continued to advance its systems throughout the 1980s by installing a national satellite-based digital communication network. In 1991, Grainger introduced the first comprehensive electronic MRO catalog on CD-ROM. Grainger launched the corporate Web site in 1995 and began taking orders online in 1996.

    Over the last 75 years, Grainger's product line has expanded to more than 500,000 products and repair parts. The Grainger branch network has grown steadily over the years, and today there are more than 400 Grainger branches in the U.S. and nearly 600 in North America.

    The 3800+-page Grainger catalog is published annually and is available on CD-ROM and online at Grainger.com, the company's award-winning Web site.
    Meet Our Employees
    Grainger is a great place to work. It’s a company that cares for and satisfies its internal and external customers. It is rare to have a company that is customer focused and employee friendly. I enjoy having the opportunity to make significant contributions, learn new things and develop additional skills. Whenever a company has good values, a strategic approach to developing its employees and delivers an exceptional value proposition for customers...it is an excellent place to be!
    - Kyle Marshall
    Leadership Development Program participant


    Grainger is a great place to work because of the strong leaders I have had the opportunity to work with. They demonstrate a genuine interest in a team's well being and lead with conviction and sincerity. Another reason I enjoy being a part of the Grainger team is because of the great benefits! Benefits like a profit sharing plan, stock purchase program, health and dental benefits, and educational assistance. I graduated March of 2002 from DePaul University with a B.S. in Business Management thanks to my manager’s encouragement and the company's educational assistance program!
    - Cynthia M. Medina
    Supplier Diversity Consultant


    What I have appreciated most about Grainger in my 23 years with the company is the high degree of ethics and integrity in which the organization conducts its business. No matter how challenging the business environment, Grainger has consistently shown a high degree of respect for its customers, suppliers, and employees. I believe this is one of the key reasons why we continue to be the market leader in our industry.
    - Mike Smuda
    Director, Project Management Office, Enterprise Systems
    Awards and Recognitions
  • Named one of America's 100 Most Trustworthy Companies - Forbes (March 2007)

  • Grainger honored with a 2006 Supplier Performance Award from the U.S. Postal Service.

  • No. 67, 100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2007 - Corporate Responsibility Officer magazine

  • Grainger received ARPAC's Gold Partnership Award for 2006.

  • Grainger received SYSCO Corporation's Facilities 2006 Operations Supplier of the Year award.

  • Grainger ranked one of BtoB magazine's "10 Great Web Sites" (Sept. 11, 2006)

  • No. 6, The 50 Best Companies to Sell For - Selling Power

  • No. 78, Top 100 Best Companies to Work for in IT - ComputerWorld

  • No. 3, the BIG 50 - Industrial Distribution

  • No. 2, Top 10 Electrical Distributors - Industrial Distribution

  • No. 93, 100 Best Corporate Citizens 2006 - Business Ethics

  • No. 328, Corebrands' list of value of brand equity

  • No. 142, Barron's 500 America's Best Companies - Barrons

  • Grainger won the coveted "Most Prepared Supplier Award" at the PRIME Advantage conference.

  • Grainger ranked number 391 on the 2006 Fortune 500 list. Grainger was ranked sixth among Diversified Wholesalers.

  • Grainger receives the Championing Diversity Award, from Limited Logistics Services, an award given in recognition of Limited Brands Associates and suppliers who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to furthering the Supplier Diversity initiative.

  • Grainger makes Fortune magazine's America's Most Admired Companies 2006 list in the Wholesalers: Diversified category.

  • No. 258, Ranking - S&P 500

  • No. 1, The 50 Largest Industrial Distributors - The Electrical Distributor Magazine

  • Dividend Aristocrat List - Standard & Poor's
    No. 16, Top 25 Military-Friendly Employers - G.I. Jobs Magazine

  • 100 Agile Companies - CIO Magazine

  • Fortune 500, America's Top Companies - Fortune

  • Super 500, America's Top Companies - Forbes

  • No. 1 Industrial Distributor (Annual Sales) - Industrial Distribution Magazine

  • Friendliest Companies to the Military for its Reservist Policy - GI Jobs

  • InformationWeek 500, America's Largest and Most Innovative IT Organizations - InformationWeek

  • Director's Award - General Service Administration

  • CIO 100, The World's Most Resourceful Organizations with Use of IT - CIO Magazine

  • NetMarketing 100, Top Business-to-Business Web Sites - B-to-B Magazine

  • Global 1000, The World's Most valuable Companies - BusinessWeek
    • Contact
    Online Customer Care
    Call toll-free at 1-888-361-8649
    Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. (CT)
    Diversity
    Diversity at Grainger

    Grainger's commitment to diversity is essential to the continued growth, innovation, and creativity of our business. Recognizing the interaction among groups of talented people expressing a variety of opinions, ideas, and perspectives is viewed as a strong strategic advantage.

    As the faces of our population change, diversity of thought, leadership, and perspective has become more of a business imperative. Thus, we are mindful of the need to provide opportunities for individuals who have the talent, desire, and integrity to contribute to our growing organization.

    Diversity Philosophy Statement

    Valuing differences and leveraging diverse cultures, lifestyles, perspectives, talents and all the ways that define our individuality are critical to Grainger's success.

    The quality and diversity of our people will make us the first choice for employees, customers, shareholders, suppliers and other stakeholders.

    Diversity Initiatives

    We have implemented several initiatives within the company to ensure a rich diversity of employees and an environment that recognizes and nurtures individual differences.

  • The G-STAR Program (Grainger Systems Training and Rotation

    • Grainger has adopted a full rotational development program within the information Systems function of our business. The program stems from a partnership with a non-profit organization called I. C. Stars.

  • INROADS

    • Grainger works with the nation-wide INROADS program to assist in hiring and retaining minority employees. INROADS’ mission is to develop and place interested minority youth in business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership. We are proud to work with INROADS to draw on the talent of our minority youth.

  • College Recruitment Programs

    • Grainger is committed to recruiting talented students from Historically Black College/Universities (HBCUs), the Black MBA Association, The National Hispanic MBA Association, On-Campus Asian Cultural Arts Council, and On-Campus Native American Cultural Arts Councils.

  • Minority Development Programs

    • In an effort to insure the development of minority employees, Grainger has initiated a program to assist in the development of mid-level management employees. These individuals are assigned a mentor and will receive management training as well as educational opportunities and tools for continued development.

  • Affirmative Action

    • As a Government contractor, Grainger is continually striving to meet and exceed all Federal Government regulation compliance requirements in our minority hiring practices. We have incorporated many of the hiring initiatives into our strategic business plan.
    College
    The Recruiting Process

    Start by attending one of Grainger’s on-campus recruiting events. You will learn about Grainger and speak with recent hires about our accelerated development programs. Then submit your resume at your university's career office. (If we're not coming to your campus, please send your resume and cover letter to Grainger's University Relations Department to julie.tramba@grainger.com.) The next step is an interview on campus to meet with our business managers. Finally, you may be contacted for an in-depth interview at one of our locations.

    Grainger has three development programs: The Financial Development Program, Leadership Development Program (LDP), and Leadership Development Internship Program.

    Undergraduate Programs

    Financial Development Program
    The Financial Development Program provides broad, cross-functional exposure to the finance department and the Company's overall business for a three-year period. Selected applicants rotate through six functional areas: business unit financial analysis, financial planning and analysis, cost and/or general accounting, financial services, internal audit, and treasury. The program begins with a one-month orientation process, including three weeks of on-the-job training in branch services.

    To be eligible for the Financial Development Program, you must have an undergraduate degree in accounting or finance with a strong academic record and related work experience. Proven communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills are also required.

    We actively recruit at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for the Financial Development Program.

    Advanced Degree Programs

    Leadership Development Program (LDP)
    The Leadership Development Program is hands-on, intensive and built around the business needs of the company and the participant's education, background, and career goals. The mission of this program is to offer qualified, high-potential candidates the opportunity to accelerate their development by experiencing broad, cross-functional, rich and diverse opportunities. These opportunities will prepare program members for leadership roles within the company.

    At the start of the program, each member is paired up with an executive level advisor who will assist them throughout the entire program and ensure support, continuity and achievement of developmental objectives. Program members rotate through a minimum of three challenging assignments over a three-year period.

    Rotations are tailored to enhance and develop the competencies and skills necessary for leadership roles within Grainger. Throughout the program, members will need to demonstrate the ability to manage change, develop strong communications and relationship building skills and to think strategically. Additional characteristics a program member must possess are the ability to lead a team or project, be results driven and customer focused.

    A candidate for the program will hold a MBA and will have at least four years of significant professional business experience in which leadership behaviors are displayed, excellent communications skills are demonstrated and cross-functional teamwork is experienced.


    Leadership Development Program Internships
    The Leadership Development Internship was developed to provide substantive opportunities to those who may be interested in the level of work our full-time program provides. The Leadership Development Program, our full-time program, offers high-potential candidates the opportunity to accelerate their development by experiencing rich and diverse opportunities within a specialized area of expertise. These opportunities will prepare program members for leadership roles within the Company.

    During this 10-12 week assignment, interns will be assigned to a specific project addressing current issues facing our business with real objectives and deliverables that will directly impact our business, our customers and our future. Interns will also have the opportunity to meet and work with many of our Senior Executives. Since one of our values is Having Fun, there is also a full schedule of social activities planned for the interns throughout the summer, allowing them to get to know one another and the members of our full time program. Internships are available in several different areas of our business such as Branch Services, Marketing, Supply Chain and Product Management to name a few.

    To be eligible for the Leadership Development Internship, you must be pursuing a graduate degree and have significant professional business experience. You must possess demonstrated leadership abilities, experience working with cross-functional teams, and excellent communication skills.

    Internship Campus Dates

    Kellogg Campus Interviews: February 6, 2006

    University of Chicago
    Campus Presentation: January 10, 2006, 11:45am, Hyde Park Center
    Campus Interviews: February 7, 2006

    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Open House: February 8, 2006
    Campus Interviews: February 14, 2006

    Indiana University
    Campus Interviews: February 2, 2006