Too many changes - Anonymous employee Trader Joe's Employee Review

3.0
Feb 1, 2014
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Raises 2x per year. Diverse crew. Good benefits. Stable job. You are appreciated if you have a good work ethic.

Cons

Secret is out that you don't want to be promoted from within. Website that says "we promote strictly from within" is deceiving. TJs hires managers from other companies and then promoted them(since now they are "within"). They are trying to promote more part timers but they know it would just be for all the work that needs to be done and no actual advancement. TJs will work your butt off for a couple of years and give you small raises until you drop back to part time status. And then they will find another sucker to replace you and keep the cycle going. Can't find a single Captain in our region that was actually someone who worked their way up from within the company. No idea what is going to happen with the company. Big secret emergency nation-wide captains coming up. What major change is coming???????

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CEO approval
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Pros

Easy schedule to work with

Cons

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4.0
May 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Great way to meet people, socialize, and learn customer service -Always tasked with different things every hour -Friendly crew who will always help you to learn and get better at your job -Get a slight pay raise every 6 months -No outside commitments and amazing benefits if you work full time (about 28 hours a week for every 6 months) -Will take time, but find your friend group, stay with them and have fun, you can't please everybody -Care for your body, do not overdo it with physical labor, its a retail job and you only have one fragile body for yourself, get help or insist about your pains

Cons

-Not many, unless you are stuck in a bad store with bad management -I had some good luck of working in 3 great stores, so YMMV -Sometimes can get cliquey like you are back in high school -Getting promoted up to store management may involve buttering up and being a "yes-person" -Care for your body, do not overdo it with physical labor, its a retail job and you only have one fragile body for yourself, get help or insist about your pains

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