Don't believe them! - Marketing Associate Sysco Employee Review

1.0
Oct 10, 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Fairly nice set up to their training, 8 weeks total. Benefits were great. Was put up in some of the nicest hotels in Louisville while there on training/meetings. Steve Hocker is a really nice guy and makes sure everyone has his cell number.

Cons

First outside sales job. I was told that I'd be given accounts to start me with (corporate goal is $7,000 in weekly sales), I was given $1,000 a week. They said they give 2-3 years to get comfortable in the position. Action plan after 11 months and fired three weeks later. Working there was a nightmare. Sysco claims to have the highest product quality/specifications which compensates for being a little higher priced. Unfortunately, I tended to be around 20% over the competition selling at or below cost. It is also near impossible to find out the specifications or benefits that justify the price. Finding out requires you to contact a brokerage and try to get a call returned from your support rep (they're very overworked). Getting samples is basically impossible. To make commission, you need the entire order to come out around 10% margin (lord knows how you do that). You will work 5 days and a half day on Sunday. 3 weeks in a row I received an email on Tuesday/Wednesday telling me to be in Louisville on Friday for margin training. While they have rebate programs, printing incentives and other benefits to the customers; there isn't a clear cut way to find what they are or how to put them to use.

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5.0
Jun 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

flexible opportunities dynamic Free lunch at corporate

Cons

Clicky Not remote Must be office 3 days at least per week

2.0
May 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You can make money but it all depends on the orders you get, how fast you can go, how long you can maintain that pace without getting burned out. Definitely a young mans sport, as the do refer to you as "industrial athletes."

Cons

Like many industries the hours can be long. For the ones who don't make much on running above rate then you can make up for it in hours. If you soak the hours and run you can definitely make some big money. The turn over rate is extremely high there, even in management. I used to be proud of the union but the teamsters in Cleveland are completely worthless, I would bet they are getting paid under the table to not fight for contract negotiations. When I was there the contract expired and they barely fought for anything, on voting day they literally said they wont back us up if we don't pass this contract....so consider that when you want to work for this place. Also the equipment is so old and broken that people were taking the scanners home just so they could have a good one for the next night.

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