Pros
You get to be in an environment of fast paced work and customer service. The customers themselves are educated and interesting to be around, as well as to learn from. You learn much about healthy eating and clean food sourcing for your health and the health of your family. I spent over 12 years with the company most of which were fun and stimulating. good benefits, retirement plan, accumulated reserve time (sick days or vacation you chose). Most people are fun to work with. Lots of food and wine to sample, drink, and taste. Getting drunk on wine and beer at work for free.
Cons
It is a private company, so there is little to no transparency in regards to fairness. If you ever need to appeal a decision or accusation, you will see 0 documentation against you. When I started with the company management was very active in helping with all aspects of the store side by side with the part-time crew members. The company went as so far as to let you sign into your shift by hand on your time card, the trust level was unheard of. Times are a changing at the "NEW" Trader Joe's you are not trusted, you are not a value, you are not cherished for your customer service knowledge or care. The crew itself is now being hired for their looks and not their drive or knowledge of grocery or food in general... think Abercrombie and Fitch of grocery stores. It is trendy to work for TJs now, so the company is into heavy turnover and promoting unsuccessful young inexperienced crew members into mate positions (lower in store management). They have also been head hunting "talented" managers from other companies that are not from the same retail category e.g. home depot, lane bryant. The managers are not a part of the culture that has been Trader Joe's, they are cut throat ladder climbers willing to step on anyone,kiss derriere to superiors, coddle lazy work ethic, enjoy high school social behaviors and do things even if they know them to be wrong. I witnessed many flagrant abuses that were rewarded again and again. Sexual misconduct, drugs, absent from store regularly, captains on injury then leaving the store without leadership, and I go on. The review process is inconsistent and is used to cut out employees (expensive). Management is rotated so often they are like tourists, they come in act like they own you and the store, then they leave their mess for you to clean up with notes for the next set of managers filled with fact less opinion. They are not offering hours that any normal family based person can maintain, as well as not offering enough hours to get the benefits package I mentioned as a Pro, so great for college kid. This is not the job you have been told you are getting, unless you transition to a mate position. good luck.