Trader Joe's offers excellent career opportunities and unique work environments. The supermarket chain manages 350 locations and continually looks to add fresh talent to existing teams. The nationwide grocer promotes supportive atmospheres focused on employee success. Workers also enjoy wearing fun Hawaiian-shirt uniforms in place of traditional grocery smocks or business attire. The supermarket chain hires workers able to have fun on the job and adapt to the exciting, free-spirited company culture. Applicants should possess strong desire to support others and provide enjoyable shopping experiences to gain hire.
Facts About Working at Trader Joe's
Hiring Age: 16 years old (How old do you have to be to work at Trader Joe's?)
Available Positions: Crew Member, Cashier, Assistant Manager, Store Manager
Printable Application: No. Search Job Openings or visit official site.
Trader Joe’s Job Opportunities
Entry-level workers may find job opportunities in customer service and food production. Jobs typically feature part-time hours and workers may take advantage of opportunities to advance into full-time positions. Twice a year, employees undergo review for consideration for advancement within the company. To apply for crew jobs, candidates need to personally submit applications in store. A job seeker may drop by the store and fill out an application or download the application online and turn the form in.
In addition to careers at the crew level, Trader Joe’s offers management opportunities for individuals with strong leadership skills. A company focused on eliminating bureaucracy, Trader Joe’s simplifies the management hierarchy down to assistant manager and manager, referred to as mate and captain. To apply for management positions, candidates need to submit resumes, cover letters, and salary histories online. In the cover letter, management candidates need to answer the following questions: “Why do you wish to work for the company?”, “Where is the closest store to you?”, “Would you relocate? If so, what parts of the country would you move to?”, and finally, “What is your favorite product that we sell and why?”
Trader Joe’s Positions and Pay
Whether looking for a part-time job helping customers or beginning an exciting management career, Trader Joe’s offers career paths that being with generous initial rewards and continue to add enticement. The supermarket chain remains well-known for offering some of the highest pay rates in the grocery store industry. The following list shows the jobs available at each store and corresponding pay rates:
Stock Associate
- Stock associate job duties entail keeping shelves and displays stocked to store standards.
- Minimum wage is the starting pay rate.
- Potential hires should be able to lift up to 50 lbs. and stand for long periods of time.
Cashier
- Running the cash register and helping store guests with finding items are tasks delegated to cashiers.
- The starting hourly wage for a cashier begins at minimum wage.
- Cashiers should have a friendly disposition and be able to keep up in a fast paced work environment.
Management
- Also referred to as “Captain” store managers have duties such as supervising employees along with store operations.
- Salary packages range from $30k-$70k depending on the level of management.
- Managers should be assertive, organized, and ready to take on any tasks that need completed within the store.
Tips For Applying
Trader Joe’s is an expanding chain of supermarkets that routinely hires new workers. The grocer promotes exclusively from within and favors individuals in search of career growth. Job hopefuls should also enjoy diverse settings, as both entry-level positions and managerial roles feature tasks that vary day to day. Candidates with excellent interpersonal skills heavily outperform workers who are shy or timid. Any kind of background in the industry increases the likelihood of gaining employment; however, managers usually look at the hard work of prospective employees equally, regardless of prior job titles.
Application Status
After downloading and completing the online application, workers turn the forms into hiring managers and await contact to schedule interviews. Depending on how busy each individual store is, aspirants may participate in on-the-spot interviews. In most cases, job applicants should expect to wait five to seven days to hear back from the chain. Call the store or make an onsite visit in the days following to check on the statuses of applications. Asking about the hiring process or other specific questions related to working for Trader Joe’s shows dedication and determination.
Benefits of Working at Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s believes quality benefits remain keys to keeping employees happy and productive. The supermarket chain offers a comprehensive benefits package promoting healthy living and future savings for eligible team members and dependents. Managers automatically earn benefits packages and store crew may earn eligibility for health benefits after a few months of working for the company.
- Health benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- For financial savings, qualifying workers may opt into generous 401(k) retirement plans.
- To ensure employee well-being, workers receive paid time off for holidays and personal time.
Management enjoys guaranteed two days off per calendar year, and crew members receive flexible work schedules. All crew members enjoy an excellent 10% discount on everything sold at the store.
Additional Information on Trader Joe’s
The popular nationwide grocery store connects to customers through the unique Fearless Flyer. The hard-to-categorize flyer serves part-newsletter, part-catalog, and part-art piece. The flyer includes product stories on supermarket goods as well as customer updates on company practices. The Fearless Flyer comes out eight times a year and may be picked up in-store or downloaded online. Customers that want the official flyer as soon as possible may sign up for free mail delivery. Customers may also subscribe to the official E-newsletter, which informs customers about new recipes, food, event-planning how-to’s, and upcoming events and contests.