It may not happen right away. It may take a few trips to Trader Joe’s, or maybe more than just a few trips; regardless of how long it may take, it eventually happens to everyone. Suddenly, somewhere between the corner tasting station and the colorful “New Items” sign, you suddenly realize: “It is tons of fun to work here!”
And so it is. It’s not surprising that creative expression and outside-of-the-box thinking is encouraged at Trader Joe’s. It is, after all… well, Trader Joe’s. Two unusual and fun jobs are the positions of Food Demonstrator, the person whose job it is to expose store visitors to new products and new ways of eating them; and Store Sign Artist, the person who creates all those fabulous signs you see around the store.
You may wonder: Just who is that beaming gal offering yummy bites of Salmon Roulette? Exactly how does he or she know so much about cruelty-free and environmentally friendly salmon farming methods? And how about that guy sketching and painting up a storm? How did he land that job?
Well, let’s find out…
Store Sign Artists: Getting the message across in a fun way
As we stroll down the aisles it’s hard to ignore the colorful signs that just burst with expression. And the blackboards… Who knew that anyone could be so creative with colored chalk? It’s an unusual job, but somebody has to do it!
Trader Joe’s will sometimes post Craigslist ads in search of store sign artists; or you can find job posts on the Trader Joe’s website. But if you think you have to be an accomplished and experienced painter to land the job, think again. Oftentimes, folks who apply for positions as Sign Artists get hired by simply proving themselves worthy with their raw talent and portfolio.
It takes so much more than nice sketching and painting skills to be a Store Sign Artist. The folks who create Trader Joe’s store signs have to be able to design and produce under pressure. Within a set period of time, they start with a basic idea, think of a concept and then create a sign by hand using one of a wide variety of media including blackboard, wood, and foamcore. The artists work on-site to produce their distinctive, one-of-a-kind creations.
Food Demonstrator: Not your run-of-the-mill foodie
With a premier gourmet store such as Trader Joe’s, Food Demonstrators are essential. How else could one know just how absolutely fabulous the Kalamata Olive Hummus is? Once initiated, it seems impossible to have entertain without it.
Hence, the Food Demonstrators take great care to plan, prepare and sample Trader Joe’s gourmet food items. Moreover, it’s their job to stay informed, not just about the product itself, but also about the industry in general. In fact, Food Demonstrators are often well-traveled gourmet food lovers themselves. Consequently, these folks really get excited about the endless array of gourmet and specialty items that Trader Joe’s has to offer.
Besides educating customers and apart from providing us with a piece of the Trader Joe’s food-tasting experience, Food Demonstrators just brighten our day, plain and simple!
Employment at Trader Joe’s: A unique and fun-filled team experience!
Because of the Food Demonstrators and Store Sign Artists, shopping at Trader Joe’s becomes an adventurous sensory experience! These employees stay informed about TJ’s merchandise and have a sincere desire to help with a smile.
Other—perhaps less unusual—employment positions at Trader Joe’s include “Crew Members” and “Store Leaders.” Crew Members share a variety of responsibilities from bagging and restocking to verifying merchandise deliveries and building interesting merchandise displays. Store leaders are responsible for developing various aspects of their store management skills, from learning about products to training employees. Because of Trader Joe’s commitment to “promoting from within,” many Store Managers start out as Crew Members.
In reality, everyone at TJ’s pulls together as a team to create a warm and friendly shopping environment that puts us at ease. It is not uncommon for a Food Demonstrator or a Sign Artist to work the cash register, restock the shelves or collect shopping carts. The bottom line is caring for Trader Joe’s customers and striving to meet their needs; and somehow, the folks at TJ’s manage to accomplish this while having loads of fun.
Finally everyone, from Food Demonstrators and Sign Makers to Crew Members and Store Leaders, gets to taste Trader Joe’s fantastic gourmet products. No wonder everyone is so happy all the time!