Buzz
Each day, Starbucks brings on new team members for both retail and corporate roles. While working at Starbucks comes with great benefits, the competition is fierce, making it a challenge to get hired. To stand out and become a proud Starbucks employee, invest time in researching the company, seek out job openings, and shine in your interview. Once hired, you're on the path to finding new opportunities for growth within the company!
Steps
Positioning Yourself as the Ideal Candidate
Research the company thoroughly. It's essential to understand Starbucks inside and out. Start by reading both current and past news articles, press releases, and any interviews with key executives or the CEO. Visit the Starbucks website and explore its various sections for more insights.
Familiarize yourself with Starbucks' mission statement. You can access it here: https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/company-information/mission-statement. Read through it several times, take notes, and pay attention to important keywords and actions that the company prioritizes.
- Consider memorizing a few key phrases and be prepared to reference them during interviews. Explain how your personal values align with those of the company.
Visit a nearby Starbucks and ask insightful questions. Get a feel for the Starbucks atmosphere by talking to both customers and staff. During quieter hours, approach the manager and employees to learn more about popular products, special deals, the work environment, and their tips for someone joining the team.
- Ask questions such as: “What do you think customers enjoy most about Starbucks?” “Which items are the most and least popular?” and “What do you think a new Starbucks employee should know right away?”
Read books to dive deeper into Starbucks' culture. Purchase or borrow books about Starbucks from your local library or bookstore. Take time to read and make notes. You can mention these insights during your application or interview.
- Check out Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul and Pour Your Heart into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time, both by Howard Schultz, former CEO and current executive chairman.
Understand the competitive landscape. Starbucks faces competition from independent coffee shops, regional chains, and even major players like Dunkin' Donuts. Research the various competitors—international, national, and local—to understand where Starbucks stands.
- To stand out in your interview, think of ways Starbucks could improve its position in your area and offer these suggestions.
Appreciate coffee culture, even if you don't drink it. At its core, Starbucks is a coffeehouse, and while you don’t need to be a coffee lover, understanding the culture of coffee drinking and the experience it provides is crucial. Being able to share and promote the joy of coffee is an essential trait for a Starbucks employee.
- And remember, there are plenty of other beverages like tea and hot chocolate that contribute to the Starbucks experience!
Refine your leadership abilities. Starbucks values innovation and creativity. Leaders within the company appreciate when employees bring bold ideas to the table that can enhance the Starbucks experience. By focusing on improving something already successful, through teamwork and dedication, you can showcase your leadership potential.
- Adopting this mindset will help you when answering interview or application questions about leadership, your personal values, and how you would contribute to making Starbucks better.
Seeking Opportunities
Explore the Starbucks Career Page. To browse all of Starbucks' job openings, visit: https://www.starbucks.com/careers. You can search for retail positions or corporate roles. Be specific about the type of position you're interested in.
- If you're aiming for a store position, you'll be applying for roles such as barista, shift supervisor, shift manager, assistant store manager, store manager, district manager, or regional director. If you're new to the coffee industry, starting as a barista is a good way to advance into higher management roles.
- For corporate positions, Starbucks hires professionals for roles in public relations, human resources, marketing, legal services, and more. If you have the relevant qualifications, you can apply for these higher-level jobs.
Use LinkedIn to connect with local recruiters. If you haven’t already created a LinkedIn profile, now is the time! Visit Starbucks’ LinkedIn page and look for recruiters in your area. Send them a connection request with a personalized message.
- For example, you can write: “Hi! I’m an experienced barista interested in working for Starbucks. Do you know if there are any opportunities available in Miami? Thanks!”
Stop by your local Starbucks for retail positions. If you're interested in working in a store, it might be as simple as speaking to the manager when you’re there for coffee. Visit during a quieter time and ask if you can speak to a supervisor about current job openings.
- Avoid approaching staff during busy periods, like the morning rush. Visit during slower times, such as mid-afternoon, to make a positive first impression.
- When you approach the manager, try saying: “Hi, I’m Suzy. I’m interested in applying to work here. Are there any positions available? Can I take an application home? Thanks!”
Follow Starbucks on Twitter for corporate job postings. Like many major corporations, Starbucks uses social media platforms, especially Twitter, to announce job openings. They often post about exciting corporate opportunities to attract top talent. Make sure to follow Starbucks on Twitter and check their updates regularly.
- Although you can also follow Starbucks on Facebook and Instagram, Twitter is the first platform they’ll use to share big job openings.
- For corporate roles, you may need a bachelor’s degree or significant corporate experience.
Search online for regional job fairs. Job fairs are excellent events where both local and large companies, like Starbucks, meet potential candidates to recruit for open positions. These events are often organized or advertised by local or state governments. Reach out to your local officials to find out about upcoming job fairs in your area.
- Don’t forget to bring your resume and visit the Starbucks booth. Dress professionally with nice slacks, a crisp button-down shirt, and a blazer or sweater.
Attend military job fairs if you're a veteran or military spouse. Starbucks has a strong commitment to hiring veterans and military spouses. If you fall into either of these categories, reach out to local or national veterans' organizations or military spouses’ groups to learn about upcoming military job fairs in your area.
Submit your application online or in person for your preferred position. Once you’ve found a job that interests you, submit your application either online or in person. Provide accurate contact details, including your address and phone number. Be ready to discuss your background, work history, and why you’re the ideal candidate for the role.
- Starbucks will likely conduct a background check, so ensure all the information you provide is truthful.
Preparing for the Interview and Accepting the Job
Bring your resume to the interview. Arriving unprepared is a mistake you don’t want to make. Bringing your resume to the interview not only shows that you’re organized and professional but also highlights your writing and editing skills.
- It’s also a good idea to bring a cover letter along with your resume.
Dress in business casual attire. Choose an outfit that shows you’re serious about the interview. Avoid wearing jeans, torn clothes, or graphic t-shirts. Make sure your clothing is clean and free of wrinkles.
- Ironed slacks or khakis, a button-down shirt, and a blazer or sweater are great options. While Starbucks values individuality and creativity, feel free to add your personal touch with bold colors or unique jewelry.
Keep your responses concise and focused. Avoid going off on tangents or giving lengthy stories when answering simple questions. Aim for answers that last two to three minutes, allowing the interviewer to ask follow-up questions. Be polite, specific, and clear in your responses.
Prepare to discuss your strengths and weaknesses. As with most interviews, you'll be asked about your strengths and areas for improvement. Be ready for these questions—they’re inevitable. Steer clear of overused answers.
- For example, don’t say: “I’m a perfectionist, which is both my strength and my weakness.” Interviewers hear this all the time.
- Instead, you could say: “I think my greatest strength is my passion for making people happy. This means I’m deeply committed to my work, which can sometimes be overwhelming.”
Bring some thoughtful questions for your interviewer. Having questions ready shows you’ve done your homework and are truly interested in the role. It also demonstrates that you value the opportunity to learn more from someone experienced in the company.
- Ask questions like “What qualities do you look for in a great employee?” or reference something from the application that caught your attention.
- Avoid asking about whether or not you got the job.
- Wait for the interviewer to bring up salary before discussing it.
Send a personalized thank-you note. If you felt a connection with your interviewer or want to follow up on something specific you discussed, sending a thank-you note is a great idea. However, if it’s just a standard “Thank you!,” it’s better to skip it. You want to stand out from other candidates, not blend in.
- Sending a generic note likely won’t affect your chances, but it’s better to be unique than generic.
Accept the job offer graciously. After your interview, Starbucks might take some time to get back to you. If you don’t hear back within two weeks, it’s okay to follow up. When you get the call, accept the position graciously and prepare to get started.
- If you don’t get the job, remain polite and thankful. Ask the interviewer if they’d be open to providing feedback for future opportunities. You could say: “I appreciate your time and the update. Could you offer any advice on how I can improve my chances next time?”
Look for opportunities to grow within the company. Many Starbucks employees move up from retail positions to corporate roles. If you start in a store and are interested in advancing to the corporate side, demonstrate your commitment and hard work. Over time, keep an eye out for higher-level roles that match your goals.
- If you’re a student, consider taking advantage of Starbucks’ College Achievement Plan, which may help with your tuition!
- Additionally, explore in-house internship opportunities.
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Starbucks updated its dress code in 2016 to allow more personal expression, including visible tattoos, dyed hair, and hats. However, hoodies, and face or neck tattoos are still not allowed.
