The Top 15 W.B. Mason Interview Questions and How to Ace Them

Getting hired at W.B. Mason can be a competitive process. With over 6,000 employees and $2 billion in annual revenue, this company has established itself as a leader in office supplies and business solutions.

As you prepare for your W.B. Mason interview, it’s important to know what types of questions you may encounter. In this article, we’ll cover the top 15 interview questions asked at W.B. Mason and provide tips on how to craft winning responses.

Overview of W.B. Mason

Let’s start with some background on the company. W.B. Mason was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Brockton, MA. They are the largest privately held supplier of office products in the United States.

Some key facts about W.B. Mason:

• 70+ locations across 23 states
• Offer over 30,000 office supplies and business essentials
• Next-day delivery on most products
• Custom office furniture and promotional products
• Print and marketing services

The company prides itself on exceptional customer service, speedy delivery, and competitive pricing Employees praise the supportive work culture and opportunity to grow within the organization

Now let’s dive into the common interview questions you can expect during the hiring process at W.B. Mason.

1. Why do you want to work for W.B. Mason?

This question tests your knowledge about the company and how you see yourself contributing to their success, The interviewer wants to know what draws you to WB Mason specifically,

How to answer: Highlight your alignment with W.B. Mason’s values, mission, and work culture. For example:

• Mention their commitment to unparalleled customer service and how you would thrive in that environment.
• Discuss their rapid growth over the past decade and how exciting it is to work for an industry leader.
• Share that their promotion of internal candidates fits your desire to advance your career.

Back up your points with specific examples of why W.B. Mason stands out compared to competitors in the office supply space. Show your motivation to be part of the team.

2. What experience do you have in the office supplies industry?

Many roles at W.B. Mason require knowledge of the office supplies space. Be ready to discuss any relevant experience you have.

How to answer:

• List any office supply companies you’ve worked for and your responsibilities there.
• Share experience interfacing with office supply vendors or customers.
• Discuss skills from other roles that translate, like data analysis, inventory management, or relationship building.
• If you lack direct experience, show eagerness to learn the industry quickly.

3. How would you handle an unhappy customer?

W.B. Mason emphasizes stellar customer experiences, so expect scenarios like this. Show how you resolve issues professionally and keep customers satisfied.

How to answer: Use the STAR method:

• Situation: Describe briefly the circumstance of the unhappy customer. For example, they received a damaged product.

• Task: Your responsibility was to listen to their complaint, apologize, and come up with a solution.

• Action: Explain the steps you took such as replacing the item overnight at no charge and following up to ensure satisfaction.

• Result: Share the outcome, like retaining the customer’s business. Emphasize customer service skills like empathy, ownership, and problem-solving.

4. How do you stay motivated when working toward goals?

W.B. Mason looks for self-driven team players. Share how you maintain motivation and positivity when working toward individual or team goals over time.

How to answer:

• Discuss intrinsic motivators like feeling accomplished, making progress, and believing in your work.
• Share tactics you use like breaking large goals into smaller milestones.
• Give examples of rallying and encouraging teammates when energy is low.
• Mention being motivated by incentives like bonuses or recognition for top performers.

Convey your work ethic, determination, and commitment to achieving company goals.

5. Why should we hire you over other candidates?

Use this question to sell your relevant skills and experience. Differentiate yourself and convey why you are uniquely qualified for this role at W.B. Mason.

How to answer:

• List 2-3 standout qualities that make you right for the job. For example, industry expertise, sales achievements, leadership experience, innovative thinking, etc.
• Give specific examples of how you used those qualities to drive success in past roles.
• Share how your capabilities align with the role’s responsibilities and qualifications.
• Express enthusiasm to bring your talents and competencies to contribute to W.B. Mason’s continued growth and excellence.

6. What are your greatest strengths?

Hiring managers want to know two things with this common question – what you’re good at and whether those strengths match the open position.

How to answer:

• Share 2-3 top strengths tailored to the role you are interviewing for.
• Provide specific examples demonstrating those strengths in action from your work experiences.
• For a sales role, strengths could include persuasion, relationship-building, or achieving sales targets.
• For a customer service role, highlight strengths like patience, problem-solving, or communication skills.

This shows self-awareness and how you are a great fit.

7. How do you respond to pressure or stressful situations?

W.B. Mason wants to ensure you can maintain performance when under pressure. Share how you stay focused and composed when times get tough.

How to answer:

• Give an example of a high-pressure situation you faced and how you responded productively.
• Discuss tactics you use to manage stress like delegating tasks, taking short breaks, or asking for help when needed.
• Emphasize outcomes like successfully meeting tight deadlines or quotas despite challenges.
• Reassure the interviewer that pressure motivates you and pushes you to do your best work.

Convey your ability to thrive and deliver results under pressure.

8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Interviewers ask this to determine if you are committed to growing with the company long-term. Demonstrate your ambition and vision of the future.

How to answer:

• Affirm your interest in continuing to build your career at W.B. Mason.
• Share your aspiration to take on more responsibility in higher roles based on your strengths.
• For example, mention interest in a specific promotion like moving from Account Manager to Sales Manager.
• Discuss desires to expand your skills through W.B. Mason’s training programs.
• Express excitement to be part of the company’s growth journey and evolution over the next 5 years.

Align your goals with professional development opportunities at the company.

9. How do you build rapport with customers?

Strong customer relationships are vital in roles like sales, account management, and customer service. Discuss your approach to establishing trust and rapport.

How to answer:

• Share active listening tactics you use like paraphrasing customers’ needs.
• Give examples of aligning product solutions with each customer’s unique circumstances.
• Mention customizing communication style to match different personalities and perspectives.
• Describe exceeding expectations, like following up after the sale to ensure satisfaction.
• Emphasize understanding customers’ businesses and building connections that go beyond transactions.

Demonstrate your customer-centric mindset and empathy.

10. Tell me about a time you exceeded sales targets. What were the keys to your success?

For sales roles, expect behavioral questions like this. Discuss what enabled you to surpass goals successfully.

How to answer:

• Set up the context briefly by sharing the specific sales target you were tasked with.
• Discuss the strategies, actions, and skills that drove your standout performance. For example:
  • Leveraging CRM data to identify high-potential leads
  • Building trusted relationships with key accounts
  • Gaining expertise in customers’ needs to provide tailored solutions
  • Maintaining disciplined follow-up and persistence to close deals
  • Partnering creatively with marketing to drive more leads
• Share both quantitative and qualitative results, like dollar amount sold and customer retention.
• Finish by reiterating the most impactful factors that led to exceeding expectations.

Demonstrate your sales prowess and ability to replicate success.

11. How do you stay up-to-date on product knowledge and industry trends?

Employees at W.B. Mason need to be knowledgeable about new and existing products, technology, competitors, and general industry shifts. Discuss your approach to continuous learning.

How to answer:

• Mention reading industry publications, blogs, and sales whitepapers.
• Share proactively seeking out product trainings and demos.
• Discuss networking events or trade shows you attend to interact with vendors and peers.
• Describe setting Google alerts for news related to your role.
• Provide examples of how you’ve applied something learned to improve your performance.
• Convey passion for staying current and translating knowledge into sales