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Trader Joe's Crew Member Interview Questions & Reviews

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Web: www.traderjoes.com | HQ: Monrovia, CA

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Updated Apr 24, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.

Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 31 ratings

2.2

“Easy” Interview

Interview Experience [?] Based on 31 ratings

Positive	81%
Neutral	16%
Negative	3%

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1–10 of 31 Trader Joe's Interviews

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3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Jan 2010 (took 1 week)

Took a math test in the back room then waited to get a call back, I was persistent and kept showing my face periodically for the next days upon my hire.

Interview Questions

Why do you want to work at Trader Joe's?

Answer Question

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Skills Test.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Oct 2011 in Los Angeles, CA (took a day)

Very easy. Made to feel at ease with no curve balls. Essentially wanted to get a feel of how customer orientated I was. "Give an example how you went out of your way to help a customer?" In addition was given immediate feedback.

Interview Questions

What was your biggest challenge in your last position?

Answer Question

Other Details

I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jan 2012 in Santa Clara, CA (took 2 weeks)

The first interview lasted about 1/2 hour and was very casual. We talked about why I wanted to work at TJ's and why I would be good crew. At the end he said he wanted to set up a second interview. I actually haven't had it yet but they didn't have a box for that option.

Interview Questions

Why do you want to work at Trader Joe's

View Answers (1)

Why would I be good material?

View Answers (1)

Other Details

I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Mar 2012 (took 5 weeks)

I applied in person and tried to make my application stand out - it did. I kept checking in by phone & in person to express my ongoing interest. Paid off months later when they were hiring. I never stopped checking in and they liked that - especially face-to-face check-ins. Make yourself known to staff.

Interview Questions

Tell us about yourself.

View Answers (1)

If a task was too difficult, how would you handle it.

View Answers (1)

Other Details

I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

1.0

Very Easy Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jan 2012 in North Wales, PA (took a day)

When you first apply you get a pre qualification interview that takes 5-10 minutes and if you pass you get a 1 on 1 with a manager.

The questions were very easy. Only problem I had is that they never called back and every time I called the excuse was the same "we haven't interviewed everyone yet". You would think they interview in a 2 month time frame.

Interview Questions

What is your favorite product here at trader joe's and why?

View Answers (1)

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed May 2010 in Rockville, MD (took 2 weeks)

They were both standard. The First Mate who interviewed me asked tough questions, but I appreciated that and felt better accepting the position after that.

Interview Questions

What is your biggest weakness?

Answer Question

Are you an optimist or pessimist?

View Answers (1)

Negotiation Details

Not able to negotiate anything--salary, schedule, role.

Other Details

I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, an IQ/Intelligence Test and a Personality Test.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Dec 2011 (took 2 weeks)

When I first turned in my application, the assistant manager looked it over and asked a few casual questions. He said they would review it with the other managers and would call within the week. I got a call a few days later, and got an interview the following week. The interview included questions like why i wanted to work at Trader Joes, questions about customer service, describing how i would handle customer complaints...etc. They said there would be a second round of interviews and they would call me if they would like me to come in for one. They said if i didn't hear anything in a week, they probably won't be calling.

Interview Questions

What is your favorite product?

Answer Question

Other Details

I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

1.0

Very Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Sep 2011 in New York, NY (took a day)

Went to captain's square and handed-in my application (PRE-FILLED OUT!!) talked with a manager for a few minutes. He asked me why I was in New York and why I wanted to work there. Waited 2 days and got called back for a real interview. Walked through the store while the manager explained how everything was set up, he was very friendly. Led me into his office and asked me why I wanted to work at Trader Joe's and what I thought I could personally contribute.

Interview Questions

What my favorite product at Trader Joes was

Answer Question

Negotiation Details

print an application off the internet and fill it out before you go into the store, they like that.

Other Details

I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Feb 2012 (took 6 days)

It was 2 interviews. The first was with 2 managers and the second was with the GM and another manager. Those are not the titles they used and none of them ever introduced themselves as managers. They all just used their first names.
I was very impressed with everyone I interviewed with. All of them had worked for TJs for many years a few for more than 2 decades. Also I was impressed with how young everyone seemed even though upon reflection working for the company for multiple decades means the interviewers were not in their 20s.
The interviewers took themselves and the company very seriously and that was awesome. It is such a "cool" place I was impressed with how passionate the interviewers were about groceries. Both interviews were relaxed as well as being very professional.
They asked me how I'd handle an irate customer. They asked me to give examples about times I'd done that in the past. They asked if I liked to work in groups. They asked how a former boss would describe how I worked. They asked if I minded working in the freezer. They asked what hours I functioned better in - morning or evening person. They were all quick to give an example as to how they answered the question when they interviewed or how they felt about a question if I hesitated in my answer. It was two fun and interesting interviews.

Interview Questions

How would a former boss describe how you work.

Answer Question

Negotiation Details

I didn't negotiate. There was a lot of competition for this job so when it was offered I just took it.

Other Details

I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Jan 2012 in New York, NY (took 2 days)

I saw that they were hiring for the crew member position on the TJ website. I printed it out, filled it in, and went to the store to hand it in. I made sure to be very polite and friendly and all smiles when I handed in my application and resume.The person who took my application was very nice; asked me what my favorite TJ product was, my availability, and if I shopped there often. That person told me that they had received A LOT of applications and that they were currently reviewing them and to wait about a week for a call if they want to interview me.

The very next day I got a call asking me to come in for an interview 3 days later. I was ecstatic! I had applied once before a few months ago, but never got called (this was the second time I had applied). I wore a button down shirt and dress pants and shoes to the first interview but realized that wasn't entirely necessary because the interview was very casual; it was in some kind of backroom/employee area. The captain interviewing me was very friendly and nice and smiled a lot. It was pretty short- about 10-15 minutes. Super easy questions. I was told that they were going to do interviews for the rest of the day and that I would get a call back that night if they wanted to do another round of interviews with me.

A few hours later I got a call to come back the following day for a second interview with a different captain. The second interview was a lot of the same questions as the first. Again, I wore a button down shirt and dress pants. I was told more details about the position and the captain who interviewed me was super friendly. All in all, a good experience- took about 20 minutes. I was told that I would get a call back within a few days if I would be offered the job.

I got a call back the same day offering me the job and I accepted :)

APPLICATION TIPS:
-write neatly
-open availability- especially on weekends- is super important
-Write something funny/witty/unique in the area where it says "describe any unique abilities, experience, aptitude that you believe would be helpful in your job" (Try to be as concise as possible while still giving them a fresh, out-of-the-ordinary view on what you are all about) Don't just put "i have x amount of experience in retail and I love people/ That's BORING!

HANDING IN YOUR APPLICATION:
-Be polite, smile, say hello, and look bright eyed and bushy-tailed! (Keep in mind- The person taking your application is happy to see you and likes that you are interested in working at TJ's)
-Be prepared to be screened when handing in your application (The person who takes your application might look over it right then and there and ask you simple questions, i.e favorite product, availability, are you a frequent customer, where you go to school, etc.)
-Be nice and smiley in general while in the store handing in your application (other managers and crew members (quite possibly your future co-workers!) might be looking at aka judging you.

INTERVIEW TIPS:
-Study, study, study! Go on the TJ website, go on Glassdoor (wait- you're here already reading this- good job!) go on the Wikipedia entry for TJ and learn the company history. I actually wrote down my favorite things about TJ (environmentally friendly, care about their customers and their employees, debt free, progressive, ethical, food donation program) and I learned more things about their product line (gluten free, dairy free, no preservatives, organic, low sodium, vegetarian, something for every diet and tastebud) and studied them before going on the interview.
-Look nice and clean- TJ employees have a chill look to them but don't go looking like you're stoned to the interview.
-Smile! Laugh! Engage the person interviewing you. Don't just answer their questions/ have fun with it and let your personality shine. (Nothing crazy though- no jokes that might be offensive, don't badmouth customers or previous bosses/jobs)
-Ask the person interviewing you questions! Ask about the food donation program, ask about store activities, ask how that store connects with their community, ask anything about the store and/or position you are applying for. Do not ask about your salary (not at this point in the process at least)

Phew! I think that's it. All in all, it was a pleasant experience. Good luck, y'all!