Pros
TJ's has some of the best benefits without a union commitment for any retailer of its kind. It has a competitive base pay, a 401k that is second to none and, in my state, some of the best medical benefits at half the cost of your hard-earned pre-tax dollars as other places. The scheduling varies from store to store but, over the years, they have been very flexible and accommodating. The crew can vary as well but, it is usually a light-hearted atmosphere, and most stores are like a second family, taking care of one another in times of hardship. The best boss I ever had was at my first store. Not because he was trying to make friends but, because he was fair, and had a back bone. Although just one of the many bonuses to working at Trader Joe's, trying products, and having an opinion on them is pivotal, and each crew member is encouraged to open products (with approval) and taste them for themselves. There are frequent in-store, educational tastings, and even more frequently, free-for-alls in the breakroom. Trader Joe's used to hire only intelligent, qualified, common-sense laden individuals that promoted the store as a brand, and they have carried the stores for many years. I'm sure this is the case in more competitive areas. Many stores, with lower turnover rates, still have this core staff employed. I highly recommend this job for those completing college coursework, and plan on transitioning into the corporate world upon degree completion. The experience of dealing with a diverse clientele is really only second to the medical industry. People need medical care, and people have to eat!
Cons
As a TJ's "long-timer", I have watched this company grow from about 100 stores to over 400, and it is not immune to growing pains. With a small home office on both the East and the West coast, the demand for corporate assistance and intervention, in stores, is beyond what the company is capable of handling. Many cases of misconduct go unresolved. Pay raises are fewer, and the internal feedback is limited to those times. Continued education and training do not exist at my current store. The size of your region will severely limit your options for upward mobility unless you are willing to move. Training for supervisory positions, unless adamantly monitored by you WITH your captain's support, do not move along at the speed at which they were intended to, and you can fall behind in training for years. Trader Joe's has gotten stale, and is now subscribing to the same corporate rigmarole as much of the Western workforce has.