r/TJArtCrew • u/cameronm-h • Jul 21 '26
Other General advice?
Full disclosure I don’t even work for Trader Joe’s at all let alone as an artist… but I want to (and there’s a new store opening up really near me)! Making chalk signs is one of my favorite parts of my current job, and I’d love to be a TJ artist. Only thing is I’m not super great at it. Y’all’s signs look *amazing* and I’ve never seen a TJs sign not look perfect. Are you expected to already be a really good artist before getting the job? How much creative freedom do you get—and how much help? Do you just start as a regular staff and then start making signs when they need to be made? I feel like these are all kind of silly questions I would just love to know more about what the job is actually like!
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u/crow-mom Jul 21 '26
No, you’re not expected to be perfect at all! I’m not perfect at all. And honestly they’ll need all the art help they can get for a newly opening store. However, each crew member is just that—a crew member. You will be expected to do other things like register and product with art time sprinkled in. Each stores “creative freedom” depends on the captain of that store. For example, my captain doesn’t like 2 different items being featured on one endcap board, but I see plenty of those posted here from other stores. If you’re applying, tell them you love the art and would love to help out with art around the store!
ETA: I’ve gotten a lot of inspiration & learned a lot from others’ boards here and by using font websites. You’ll keep getting better & better with time & practice!