If you have ever considered completing a Winn-Dixie application, the following information can help you decide if this job is the right fit for you.
Winn-Dixie employs over 41,000 workers across five southeastern states in the US. It currently has over 500 stores. So, if you live in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, or Mississippi, it’s highly likely you have at least one store in your area.
Working at Winn-Dixie
Most past and present workers at Winn-Dixie give the company average ratings as far as work conditions and hourly and yearly pay. Typically, supermarket chains are not very well-paying jobs.
However, that doesn’t mean you can make one heck of a career by starting out at the entry level and progressing all the way to management.
The quickest way to work yourself up the chain into a management position is to do the following:
- Work hard and be a dependable employee
- Stay away from the politics of your workplace (keep your thoughts to yourself and don’t talk badly about anyone)
- Arrive to work on time every single day and do your best to never miss a day of work
- Communicate with your management team and once you have proved yourself, don’t be afraid to let them know you are interested in rising to a management position sometime in the future
Is Winn-Dixie Hiring?
With so many stores and such a wide variety of positions available at every store, chances are Winn-Dixie is hiring in your area. The supermarket business has a high employee turnover rate and this provides plenty of opportunities for anyone hoping to start a career in this type of business.
The following are the pros and cons as described by people who have worked at Winn-Dixie:
Pros
- Coworkers are generally fun to work with
- Great opportunity for advancement to management
- Full-time workers can usually get a consistent 40 hours of work every week
- A pleasant working environment with a family atmosphere
- Management teams are very friendly and helpful
- The company trains its employees very well
Cons
- Very low pay
- The employee turnover rate is very high
- It’s hard to get a raise in pay
- Breaks are very short
- Too much work for the little amount of pay you receive
- Employee scheduling is inconsistent
Jobs at Winn-Dixie
The most common entry-level position is referred to as a Winn-Dixie associate. The following are some of the many associate positions available at just about every Winn-Dixie:
- Bagger
- Cashier
- Customer Service
- Grocery
- Meat Cutter
- Liquor Store
- Seafood
- Night Stocker
- Bakery
- Cake Decorator
- Deli
- Produce
- Self Check-Out
- Floorcare
- Prepared Food
As an example, I’ve included the job descriptions of the 3 most common positions held by an associate at Winn-Dixie.
Winn-Dixie Cashier
As a Winn-Dixie cashier, your primary function has to do with speed and accuracy. Your job is to help customers check out their items as quickly and as accurately as possible while providing friendly customer service.
With this position, you’ll eventually be training new associates at your station. During downtimes, you can expect to be retrieving carts and placing them in their proper places.
This job doesn’t require anything other than the ability to speak English and understand and follow instructions.
Winn-Dixie Bagger
The bagger position at Winn-Dixie is a great job for younger workers who are still attending high school or college.
You will quickly learn how to effectively bag groceries and provide great customer service. Occasionally, you’ll have to check the prices for customers when there is a discrepancy.
You’ll also have to restock items left behind by customers who change their minds about purchasing the products. A bagger’s responsibilities also include collecting the shopping carts and returning them to their designated areas.
The minimum requirements are the same as for a cashier. You simply need to be able to communicate in English and follow instructions.
Winn-Dixie Customer Service Associate
A customer service associate has a wide variety of responsibilities, including helping customers navigate through the self check out process. In this job, you will be at the front end of the store helping in any way you can to ensure the store runs smoothly.
You will also be in charge of handling customer complaints and resolving them to their full satisfaction. Occasionally, you’ll have to perform the duties of a cashier when necessary.
The minimum qualifications for this position are that you need to be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and you need to communicate effectively in English.
Department Managers
Winn-Dixie hires personnel to manage multiple departments within the store. In these positions, you’ll be working under the guidance of your store manager.
Some of these positions include managing the deli, meat, seafood, liquor store, produce, floral, and bakery departments.
A department manager will typically be assigned either one department or two departments at the same time. For example, while in one store you might have a separate deli manager and a bakery manager, in another store you will have a Deli–Bakery manager.
Assistant Store Manager
Also known as the assistant store director, you will be closely assisting your store manager with his or her daily activities.
This is a great position to earn a decent salary and gain experience in store management. You will be helping out with opening and closing the store, be involved in the hiring and firing of personnel, and many other responsibilities.
Pharmacy Technician
Winn-Dixie has pharmacy techs that help the pharmacist with filling prescriptions and performing clerical duties.
There are positions for certified and non-certified personnel. For certified pharmacy techs, you need to be legally certified in your state to carry out your duties and you can expect higher pay because of your certification.
The minimum qualifications for these positions are that you have to be 18 years of age and communicate well in English.
Pharmacist
The pharmacist position at Winn-Dixie is a very high-paying job and typically, there are few jobs available at any given time.
As a pharmacist for this company, you will become involved in promoting wellness in your community and you will be running your particular store’s pharmacy according to professional practice standards.
Winn-Dixie Store Manager
The store manager position is a job where you will be responsible for anything and everything within your store. Winn-Dixie likes to train their future store managers intensely, so you can expect extensive hands-on experience on what it’s like to run your store with the help of other experienced personnel.
This is a very fast-paced position where you will be out on the actual sales floor on a constant basis, overseeing your store’s operations. You will be vigilant in assisting your employees in maximizing their productivity throughout their shifts.
You’ll also be overseeing all the financial details regarding profit and loss at your particular store.
The qualifications for this position include at least 1 year of retail management experience in some capacity.
Winn-Dixie Internship
Southeastern grocers, the parent company of Winn-Dixie, offers a 10-week paid summer internship in Jacksonville, FL, every year from the end of May through the end of July.
All you have to do is apply using this link, and a recruiter will contact you if you are a good fit for the company.
They are looking for college students who are in their junior or senior year and are career-minded. The opportunities offered are possible employment after you graduate and the opportunity to network with established professionals
How to Apply for Winn-Dixie
Applicants wanting to join forces with Winn-Dixie have to apply online at the careers website. Here are the steps to apply:
- Visit the Winn-Dixie careers page.
- Click on “Explore all Opportunities.”
- When you are redirected to the following page, enter your city and state in the Job search box where it says “Location.”
- Scroll down, look at the listings, and choose one.
- Read through the job description and when you have a position that matches what you are looking for and click on “Apply for this Job Online.”
- On the redirected page, you will enter your email and begin the Winn-Dixie application process.
Winn-Dixie Hiring Process
Once you submit your Winn-Dixie application online, you’ll either get a call or an email within 1 week. The company will set up an interview with you.
The questions you will be asked during the interview are very common ones such as, “How would you handle a rude customer?” and, “Tell us about yourself.”
If you do well during the interview and they are interested in your services, they will conduct a background check and a drug test. If everything checks out, they will offer you a job!
Winn-Dixie Hiring Age
To work at Winn-Dixie, you have to be at least 16 years old. Usually, 16 and 17-year-olds who work at this supermarket chain get hired as baggers and in some cases, cashiers.
It’s interesting to note that there are some employees who started out as baggers at the age of 16 and found themselves in a management job by the age of 18 or 19. This proves there is a great chance to advance within the company.
Does Winn-Dixie Drug Test?
Before you are hired, Winn-Dixie will usually conduct a drug test and a background check. This applies to hourly positions as well as salaried jobs.
Winn-Dixie History
With its headquarters in Jacksonville, FL, Winn-Dixie has been around since 1955 and its roots go as far back as 1925.
It was founded by William Milton Davis and his four sons. By 1939 the Davis brothers purchased 51% of a chain of 73 stores owned by Winn & Lovett.
The brothers slowly began acquiring other retail chains and grew Winn-Dixie into the powerhouse it is today.
Benefits
Winn-Dixie offers its full-time workers and salaried personnel a fairly comprehensive benefits plan that includes paid time off, a 401(k), and employee discounts.
Employees report that you qualify for benefits after 1 year of employment. At that time you qualify for 1 week of vacation and some sick time. It is at that point that you receive your 401(k) benefits package, as well.
Final Thoughts – Should I Apply at Winn-Dixie?
Working at Winn Dixie is not my first choice to jump into the marketplace in the supermarket retail business. There are several reasons.
The first is that the pay is very low and there is no way to be able to support yourself if you live independently and pay a mortgage or rent. Now, if you are a college student still living at home or if you live in a place where you are you are just paying a fraction of what other people pay for rent and mortgage, such as a studio or efficiency, then it’s doable.
On the other hand, if you are someone who wants to jump into retail management, Winn-Dixie offers a very good opportunity to advance within its system.
College students may want to take a look at the internship program described above. Retirees may want to look at a part-time job with this retail chain as it will provide a pleasant working atmosphere and a steady paycheck.
If you are someone who is very motivated and wants to start out at higher pay, you can check out a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods Market application. Keep in mind getting hired by these companies is much harder than getting hired at Winn-Dixie.
