I am curious about those who have left WFM and gotten other jobs? What kind of jobs did you get? Is the pay better or worse? How did your time, experience and skill set developed at WFM help or hurt you in your job search?
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There is a life after WFM!! I'm almost a month into my new job and its a total world of difference. So much less stress, so much more organized, way better technology, far more thorough training. I got a call less than 24 hours after submitting my résumé- and was told they're looking for whole foods people because they know if we've been through the ringer in terms of job expectations. They offered me more than I was making at whole foods, to boot.
Despite all the doom and gloom happening now with WFM, I'll say this: If you don't work for this company, you don't know all the crap that goes on there. If you have experience at WFM, you can move out and up. It's that simple. Tally up everything you have learned from a business angle and use it: especially if you have systems and/or buying "specialist" experience. Skies the limit and having WFM on your resume looks REALLY good to those on the outside. Take it from those who took the leap and know...
I'm at a competitor working part-time. I am planning a long-term career change but so much happier to have a future. 203207 is spot on about the technology. Our technology now just always works. No one even thinks about it. My manager could walk out the door tomorrow and go to any other store in the entire country and not miss a beat. Everything is standardized. No guessing games. But I'm getting out of food retail entirely. It's cutthroat and not interesting to me any more. Be prepared to take a pay cut and possibly change your living arrangements, but you have the rest of your life to lead.
I'm here at the dentist and enjoying my freedom. I love my new job and weekends off as well.
I am self-employed and making twice what I did at wfm, even less expenses and taxes. I work in the same field loosely as I did before. Granted, I now do my own marketing, and make the product, it's on my terms. Anyways. Point being I learned mostly that I am worth far more than I was viewed as at wfm. People love what I do, and my pricing is reasonable. Product is diverse but not much that I can't handle all of it. Things that coordinate and sell each other in the process. So it makes sense. I don't take on massive debt or buy into machines that cost thousands to do what I can do just as well with my own two hands. In the process Ive been able to travel more and share what I do in a very real, personal way.
Ive been gone for two months, and its been very freeing and eye-opening. I knew what I was doing but because of my "title" , no one ever listened. Now look at me :smirk:...guess kicking me out the door wasnt such a hot idea.
Wholefoods gave me all the tools to succeed elsewhere and get more appreciated. Left wholefoods 2 months ago and working for another well known retail company. The pay is not as at wholefoods because obviously it's an entry position but I feel I will go up very fast here and catch up on pay. Another point to note is just how far behind wholefoods is in technology, it's day and night and they have work cut out for them to catch up. It will take more than talking. Team member appreciation is another area where wholefoods do a lot of talking, my current company actually do more for it's team members. In short, wholefoods is well marketed with all the right catchy words but other companies are really doing well in actually walking the talk.