A Great Place to Work - Mate Trader Joe's Employee Review

4.0
Oct 11, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The position of 'Mate' is the Trader Joe's equivalent of 'Assistant Manager'. Trader Joe's has opportunity for unlimited advancement, if you can prove yourself to the right people at the right time. Competitive salary and (albeit small) annual bonuses. GREAT benefits, including an employer-paid retirement and easy acquirement of time-off. Plenty of job stability.

Cons

Working a rotating shift is usually required, meaning 1-2 closing shifts, 1 midday shift, and 2 opening shifts per week. The shifts for this position are 10 hours/day, and often you stay late. The raises are one per year, and they are almost laughable, at least in the beginning. For the amount of work that this job requires, the raises and compensation should be higher.

Explore other reviews about Trader Joe's

5.0
Jul 17, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Friendly fellow crew and management as well as very friendly customer base.

Cons

Cross training is good but discourages longterm management of a given section, requiring handing section to a newer employee and taking charge of a different section.

5.0
Jul 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

This company really does care about its employees. There's a reason why people make a career out of their time here. It is the most fun job I've ever had. They hire amazing, hardworking people with great personalities. Management is always willing to help. Theres fun tastings of new products all the time. Customers are generally always in a good mood. The job is physically demanding, but I am in the best shape of my life lol. They schedule you to change what you're doing every hour, so the 8-hour day goes by fast.

Cons

They can definitely play favorites. The same people get the shifts that they want, and when you first start, you can get stuck closing for quite some time.

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