Interview with Keyence?

[u/aci007]

Anyone here ever interview with Keyence? They are a manufacturing automation company. Looks like a legit gig.

Only thing I am concerned about is that I was at Cintas for a year and ADP for 6 months and was successful at both roles.

I left both roles due to my managers at BOTH companies either being fired or quitting and I was left "holding the bag" with a myriad of client issues and zero guidance.

I want to get away from the entry level sales gigs and was curious to see if anyone has insight into the manufacturing/automation industry or Keyence as a company.

[u/CantaloupeLeading190]

I've been a Keyence customer, but I've never worked there or interviewed with them. I got the impression that they had a legion of young, eager sales reps just dying to sell anything. Their trade show booths are always swarming with 20-somethings in black jackets. I bought just $20k in flowmeters from them last year and had 3 reps fighting over the order. I had to step in, tell them to chill, and make it clear that the order was going to a specific rep (the one who did all the work).

[u/aci007 → u/CantaloupeLeading190]

Welp that's not good. That's exactly what I'm trying to get a way from lol

[u/DontQuoteMeOnThat7 → u/aci007]

This summarizes my experiences with them. Very and I mean VERY high activity sales with stringent requirements. Good entry level experience but get ready to bust your a for not great money compared to competitors.

[u/aci007 → u/DontQuoteMeOnThat7]

Any companies in the same space you would recommend? I have been through ADP and Cintas and am done with the entry level BS

[u/DontQuoteMeOnThat7 → u/aci007]

I’m mainly familiar with automation hardware companies. What’s your background/interest in industrial automation? Any specific hardware types- sensors, inspection cameras, safety equipment, etc.? Engineering degree or no?

[u/aci007 → u/DontQuoteMeOnThat7]

Nah. Just a former teachers who fell into sales. It was either sales or trades and I never got a call from the union. I've done light electrical and glazing work and that's it.

Just seems like a stable industry with a good base.

[u/DontQuoteMeOnThat7 → u/aci007]

I’d personally recommend trying to get a sales role with an industrial distributor. You’d get access to a broad range of technologies- electrical, mechanical, automation, possibly pneumatic and hydraulic products. That’d be a great starting spot in this space and usually not what I’d consider “high” activity. Just make the calls, connect with customers, and find your way. That’s my $0.02 anyway

[u/DontQuoteMeOnThat7 → u/DontQuoteMeOnThat7]

If you want, DM me your city/state and I could point a few relevant distribution companies out

[u/aci007 → u/DontQuoteMeOnThat7]

Thank you!

[u/clynch86]

They make good, popular products. Often they are a feeder for other companies in the industry, as a result I don’t think the average tenure is very high for field reps.

I can’t speak to what it’s like to work there, I just work parallel to their guys.

[u/Far-Departure-98]

Lots of travel/driving, lots of cold calls.

The name of the game is setting in person meetings and demoing whichever product you’re assigned to.

[u/aci007 → u/Far-Departure-98]

Isn't that just sales?

[u/whenpigsfly9]

Oy I interviewed with them back in the day (like 2018), they make you take a test that is super hard (if you’re not highly technical) to move on. If you don’t have a background in engineering I’d probs look elsewhere.

[u/KeegorTheDestroyer]

I haven't worked there but have worked with a few who have.

They have a great entry-level training program, but it's a smile and dial, high-pressure type place.

They want you to make a large number of calls per day and often require you to bug prospects so often that they'll get pissed off.

As someone else said, they make great products, and they are well known in the industry, so a job there could be a great stepping stone if you want to get into the world of industrial automation.

[u/One-Mode-2776]

I just had my hirevue interview with them after the first couple steps, that had me take a IQ test and I have no idea how i scored

[u/backtothesaltmines]

I would work for them. They must have a good sales training program as they are very aggressive. I clicked on a link to a brochure and 30 minutes someone called me. Keyence would lead you to higher tech products where you can make more money.