Depending on store location hours can vary even if you are a section leader. I helped open a store in Houston, TX. and in a month I was a section leader. Texas is supposed to be the second largest market for Trader Joe's, with California of course being number one. When I Started I was working 37.5 hours a week but since it was new a new market area, our store was a little slow so they cut all hours to employees except mates to between 27-32 hours a week, some under-performing people were even cut to one day a week. I now work in Maryland and as a section leader, guaranteed 37.5 Hours. So it depends on were your store is located and how much business they generate. Trader Joe's gets two trucks a day, one in the morning and one at night. So you may have to be at work as early as 4 A.M. and the latest 12 midnight, although depending on the load you may leave at 12:30 A.M. "Mates"(supervisors) work 10 hours or more a day, and have descending schedules. So if they work 4am-2pm on Monday, Then Tuesday they may work 6am-4pm, and Wednesday 8am-6pm and so forth and may restart the next week. So there really is no set steady schedule for them. The company encourages promotions from within. While it's not impossible to get hired as a "Mate" if you have the exp. of course, but it is a-lot harder and more challenging because, TJ's is cautious of hiring someone from another company. Lets say for example someone from Walmart who may want to come in and run and implement things like they did in walmart, they strive to be different. Everyone does everything, so if you like to be a cashier but don't like to stock this isnt the job for you, if you dont like lifting boxes this isnt the job for you. ABSOLUTELY NO OVERTIME! For anyone but mates and higher ups. Boxes and cardboard drying up my skin, boooooo :-(.
