Customer and Employee Experiences Are Completely Different - Crew Member Trader Joe's Employee Review

4.0
May 26, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good level of training. If you're a believer of the products, this is your chance to help customers appreciate them as well. You won't really have a choice anyway, since a high level of customer service is mandatory. Entry-level starting pay is competitive. Stores are laid out well; not oppressive and gloomy like other chains. If you're friendly and work hard, advancement is do-able... just let management know you'd be interested in running a store in the future. If you want to work in grocery, this is a good place to start.

Cons

As a customer surrounded by helpful people, you might not notice the following "cons." This is like any job where you work with fellow grunts: you'll run in to plenty of lazy people. I had worked at a decent corporate job previously and had forgotten how bitter, crude and flirty co-workers could be behind the scenes. Depending on the store you work at, receiving and moving the pallets can range from tough to brutal. The Mates (people in the Hawaiian shirts) shoulder a ton of responsibility. If you work at a busy store, you'll have to tone down your desire to keep the shelves full; helping the sometimes-high-maintenance customers and running the registers trumps restocking.

Explore other reviews about Trader Joe's

5.0
Jul 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Easy schedule to work with

Cons

None at all at all none

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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