RaceTrac is another convenience store chain like Wawa that places emphasis on doing its best to retain employees. These types of retail stores usually have a high employee turnover rate due to the low pay and as well as lack of career growth potential.
Working at RaceTrac
RaceTrac strives to put people first and it seems to be paying off. Generally, employees are happy while working at these stores. This retail chain gets slightly above-average reviews when it comes to rating the work/life balance, compensation, work culture, job security, and management.
Here are the pros and cons reported by employees:
Pros
- Employees receive a 40% discount on food as well as free drinks
- Managers receive bonuses
- There are plenty of opportunities to advance within the company
- Management is flexible when working out employee schedules
- You get a weekly paycheck
- The associate job is easy to learn
- Coworkers are very friendly and the stores have a pleasant atmosphere
- Part-time workers can get dental and vision insurance
Cons
- It’s difficult to get any type of employee break time
- Starting salary is very low
- Many complaints regarding bad management
- Training for new associates needs improvement
- Some stores are constantly understaffed
- High employee turnover rate
- Lack of pay raises
RaceTrac Starting Pay
The starting pay for RaceTrac is a fairly low $9 to $10 an hour, on average. One of the complaints about this retail chain is that there is a high employee turnover rate due to inadequate pay.
It’s interesting to see how many retail stores still don’t provide adequate starting pay for their workers and this drives them away, eventually. There is little doubt that if the starting pay was a little higher, there would be less turnover.
RaceTrac Hiring
There is a great chance a RaceTrac is hiring in your area right now if you live in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, or Louisiana. If you have a nearby store, it’s a good idea to visit that store in person and introduce yourself before applying online.
If you want a quick answer as to whether your local stores are hiring, simply visit the official careers website in the “how to apply” section below.
RaceTrac Store Careers
The 4 main jobs at the store are very simple and each one carries a basic duty that helps make this retail chain a successful one.
Here are the jobs:
- Store Associate
- Shift Manager
- Co-manager
- General Manager
RaceTrac Store Associate
In this customer service position, you’re going to provide quick and efficient service for customers. You’ll be working in a very high volume store so your days are going to go by quickly as you engage with customers in this fast-paced job.
These jobs are offered either full-time or part-time, and you may have to work nighttime hours, weekends, and holidays.
The only minimum qualifications for this job are that you need to be able to read and count.
RaceTrac Shift Manager
This is a job where store associates are usually promoted after they’ve proven themselves to be hard and dependable workers.
In this job, now that you’ve learned everything there is to know about being a store associate, you will be in the perfect position to help train new employees. You are also going to work closely with your management team to help the store become profitable and to maintain excellence in customer service.
On a daily basis, you will lead your team of associates to success in your store.
The minimum qualifications for this position are 2 to 3 years of having worked in a retail setting, and over 1 year of experience in some type of management capacity. Additionally, store associates can ask for a promotion to this position after working hard and performing for 6 months to 2 years at RaceTrac.
RaceTrac Co-Manager
Comanagers at RaceTrac are some of the hardest working employees at the store. With this position, you are going to help your manager and make your store successful by supervising and helping shift managers lead their teams.
You will also be in charge of the day-to-day operations, especially when the general manager is not present.
Shift managers typically get promoted to this position once they have shown they have the potential for true leadership.
RaceTrac General Manager
As the store manager, you will be leading up to 20 employees in your store and helping them perform up to their maximum capabilities. Whenever some type of personnel issue arises, you will be the one to attend to and resolve the problem.
You’ll oversee all the operations in your store and it is your responsibility when it comes to constantly maximize profit for your store.
The minimum requirements are that you should have a successful record of experience in retail management. There is no bachelor’s degree required although it would be beneficial to you during the hiring process.
A store associate can conceivably work from 6 months to 2 years in the entry-level position, get promoted to a shift manager position, and follow that by getting promoted to a co-manager position. Within 2 to 4 years total after joining RaceTrac, an associate can become a general manager!
RaceTrac Maintenance Careers
There are many maintenance positions available in this company and here is an example of the types of technician careers you can find in this department:
- Facilities Detail
- Pressure Washing
- Preventive Maintenance
- Calibration
- Advanced Service
RaceTrac Corporate Careers
RaceTrac also offers many corporate positions and here is a list a possible job openings to consider:
- Energy Dispatch
- Construction
- Administration
- Architecture
- Energy and Sustainability
- Finance
- Environmental
- Engineering Human Resources
- Legal
- Risk Management
- Information Systems
- Merchandising
- Store Support
- Supply Chain
- …and more
RaceTrac Internships
RaceTrac offers paid internships in most of its departments including finance, accounting, construction, information systems, supply chain, and human resources.
These internships are offered throughout the year and offer many development opportunities in an enjoyable atmosphere. To be eligible, you have to be at least a sophomore in college and it’s preferable to have a grade point average of 3.0 or above.
The pay is very competitive and housing assistance is offered to some students. You can discuss these details with your hiring manager during the interview process.
How to Apply for RaceTrac
In order to apply for any position within this company, you must do so online. Here’s what you can do:
- Visit the official RaceTrac track careers website.
- It is recommended you look through the website to become acquainted with the company.
- Once you have an idea of where you might fit in, return to the main page and click on the “Search Our Jobs“ link.
- On this next page, click on your location and look through the job listings.
- Once you find a position you are interested in, click that link.
- Read through the job description, then click the “Apply“ button.
- You will be redirected to a page where you can create a free account in order to begin the RaceTrac application process.
RaceTrac Hiring Process
Once you submit your RaceTrac application, you will either get an email or a call back within the first 2 to 5 working days, on average. They will set you up for an interview and you will usually be interviewed by the general manager of the store.
If you pass that interview, you will be subjected to a background check. If you pass that, you will likely be hired within the first 5 to 10 days after applying.
You will then attend a paid orientation for two days and you will receive paid on-the-job training for another two days.
For management, corporate, and maintenance jobs, you can expect to have at least 2 interviews before you are hired.
If for some reason, you don’t get a callback from the company, dress up in business casual clothing and visit the store. Try to ask a manager on duty about the status of your application.
Remember to be as personable and friendly as possible so that everyone you come in contact with can see that you are a good fit for this company.
RaceTrac Hiring Age
The minimum hiring age for this company is 18 years old. RaceTrac does not hire minors because of the obvious dangers and liability while handling cash transactions.
Does RaceTrac drug test?
RaceTrac does not generally drug test new store associates. However, that does not mean that you can count on not having any type of drug test.
Some departments, such as corporate, maintenance, and managerial, do perform drug test on new applicants.
History of RaceTrac
Carl Bolch founded RaceTrac in Tt. Louis, MO, in 1934. The stores were then called Carl Bolch Trackside Stations.
After Bolch’s son, Carl Bolch Jr. became the company’s chief executive, he eventually renamed the company to RaceTrac in 1976. This company now runs over 650 convenience stores across the southeastern United States and employs well over 7,000 people.
Benefits
RaceTrac offers its full-time employees a comprehensive health benefits program. it includes the regular health, vision, and dental, as well as the following:
- 401K
- Short and long-term disability
- Life insurance
- 40% discount on all store-bought foods and free drinks during your shift
- 2 weeks of paid vacation after a full year of full-time work completed.
- Wellness programs
- Professional development
- Scholarship program
Final Thoughts
I have always been impressed by the way store associates treat their customers every time I walk into a RaceTrac. Associates are always professional and they provide service quickly and efficiently due to the high volume of business they conduct on a daily basis.
That’s what this store will bring to any new hourly applicant. A chance to work in a very fast-paced atmosphere while learning the ends and outs of the retail business and polishing their customer service talents.
I can compare RaceTrac to Wawa in many ways and either one is a great fit for somebody looking to jump into the retail business at a convenience store. The biggest difference is that Wawa generally pays one dollar more an hour to start.
Therefore, it is up to you to conduct your own research to find out which store is a better fit for you. Either way, you can’t go wrong because both offer an excellent chance to advance within their system and make pretty good money once you settle into a management career.
