Good if you love food - Anonymous employee Trader Joe's Employee Review

4.0
May 17, 2010
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

If you love food this is a great place to work because you are trying something new all the time. Good mix of physical work, customer service, responsibility (if you want it) and brain power. You can get up to 50 cents an hour raise 4 times a year, and if you work over I think it's like 18 hours you get benefits. The customers are pretty cool.

Cons

The hours can be long and stressful. As in most retail environments shifts are irregular. You might work until midnight then come back at 8 am. While that's legal, it just sucks, especially if you have a commute. Sometimes you get surprised in your review and wish that management would address issues when they happen so that you can work on them before you blow a good raise. It's clicky as well, including with the management. If you come to work on time every day, have a reasonably flexible schedule at least, have a positive attitude, are willing to do what you are asked, express an interest in learning more or improving, and love talking to customers about food then you will love this job. Just stay away from the gossip. Supervisors are in training too and sometimes aren't very helpful. Find out what the store manager wants and do it.

Explore other reviews about Trader Joe's

5.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent work environment and team.

Cons

Might not be a con for some but the job requires you to spend a lot of time on your feet moving objects so not recommended if you have any injuries or ailments.

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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