Tips for the Starbucks Application and Interview Process
By Elizabeth Burrus
So, you want to work at Starbucks but just don't know how to land that job? It's a lot easier than some people think. Stick to these rules, and you'll be a shoo-in.
First of all, you want to make a good impression with the manager. Call ahead of time and find out when they will be in the store, and go in to ask for an application. Even if you know where the stack of applications are, act like you don't so that you have to ask for one directly. Smile a lot and make sure you order a drink. Don't worry if you lose this application- you can print as many as you want off of the Starbucks website. You are only picking one up at the store for show.
Make sure that you attach a resume to the application. It will separate you from all of the other people trying to get in who don't have one, and will almost always assure you that first interview.
Don't think that just because you have never worked before, you can't have a resume. All you need to do is play up your qualifications and achievements (whether they were in school or extracurricular ones). You can find many guides online on how to do this. Make sure that you include plenty of bullet points on how loyal and motivated you are, how you love to make someone's day, and that you are a skilled memorizer and multitasker. Also note that you like to learn and are a patient and fair leader. If you are none of these things, then you probably won't like the job much. Always include references, even if it's just a teacher or friend who knows your work ethic. You don't necessarily need to apply to multiple Starbucks to maximize your opportunities of working there since managers often share applications between stores. Keep in mind that open availability is a huge plus on an application, and may just be the thing to make or break your chances of working there.
Some people recommend turning the application in directly to the manager. I didn't personally do this because it made me feel cheesy and like I was stalking them. I think that you should choose to either pick up the application from them or drop it off to them, but not both. It's your call though. The goal is to show an interest in the job and a flash of your upbeat and determined personality directly to big guns upstairs without making him/her think you're a creep.
It may take up to a month for them to respond. Starbucks managers and assistant managers are very busy, and they can sometimes misplace your application. If they don't call you within a month, apply to a different Starbucks or find other work. They do not call you if you don't get an interview.
If you are contacted to set up your first interview, always say yes to whatever time they ask you to come in. Even if you have a family reunion or other important event, cancel it. If they ask what time you would like to come in, say, "whatever is best for you- my schedule is very open".
If you turn down their time, they will think that you will do this when they will actually need you at the job. Even if they set up an interview with you after you have already turned down a time, it will remain in the back of their minds and possibly destroy your chances of working there.
Arrive 12 minutes early for the interview. Make sure that you are not over or under dressed. Business attire, no matter what anyone tells you, is NOT appropriate for a Starbucks interview.
Some people will claim that you should wear the Starbucks uniform (pants and a collared shirt), but this is absolutely considered underdressed attire for most managers, especially if you are female. If you re a girl, wear either a casual dress or a skirt with a nice blouse. Hair can be up or down. Most suggest wearing it up, but do what you are most comfortable with (I wore mine down). If you are a guy, try to avoid jeans, and don't wear a shirt with writing on it. When you get to the interview location, go up to the counter and kindly say, " Hi, I'm here for a (enter time) interview". They will probably ask your name and make you a free drink (which you should accept) before they alert the manager of your arrival. Have a seat and relax. Make sure that you are nice to everyone who works there, not just the shift manager, because they might put in a bad word for you if you are rude.
When the manager comes out, stand up, shake their hand, and smile. Be very polite and say that it's nice to meet them/ask how their day is. If you are nervous, say that you are. They probably are a little bit too! The interview will probably be at a table, and they are usually scheduled at a time when very few people are in the shop.
The interview questions will probably follow a "tell me about a time when such and such happened and how you handled it" format. If a question catches you off guard, say, "Hm, I'll have to think about that" or, "that's a good question.. hmm" if you are unsure of the answer.
Make sure you come up with something, and try to avoid saying, "I don't know/I've never experienced that". If you have an experience similar to one they are asking you about, try to link a question over to that, but only use this as a second-to-last resort if you really have nothing.
Example:
Question: What was a time when you upset a customer, and how did you handle it? Answer: Well, I never exactly upset someone as far as I could tell, but I once gave someone another person's order. I just offered to let them keep it for free, apologized for the inconvenience, and corrected the order in half the time.
This is very important: The manager will probably ask you how you view friendships between coworkers. Keep in mind that managers are usually young and in their twenties, so they don't want someone to work for them who is a robot. They want to hear that you can stay focused on work and make friendships in the workplace at the same time. They don't want someone who is boring. Try not to have lengthy answers. They have work to get back to.
At the end they will ask if you have any questions for them. This is what I asked: 1) Do I need to wear my hair above my shoulders? 2) How many hours might I expect to work per week if I get the job?, and 3) What is your favorite thing about working for Starbucks?
When the interview is over, thank the interviewer for their time, continue being kind to the staff, and leave. If you are told that you will be contacted within x amount of time (usually 1 week), then wait. It is common for the manager to be busy and forget to call you. If they haven't contacted you by when they said they would, call them the next day. Just because you are not called does not mean that you did not get the job! They are just extremely busy people, and they will like that you took the initiative and contacted them.
There is usually a second interview, but no more than two. If the first interviewer has no room at their store but liked you, they will talk to managers at other stores and try to get you a second interview there. Make sure that you are open to working at any location within 8 miles of your home for this very reason. The second interview will be much like the first, and usually means that you will get the job, even if it's at a different location. Just relax and be friendly- never forget to smile. You may also want to send a thank you note to your interviewers for taking the time out to see you.
Ultimately, you must be really friendly and have open availability. You should say that you can work holidays and that you don't mind picking up someone else's shift. If you can handle it, you might be able to get a lot of work hours in. Don't trust people who say you can only work 15 hours/week at Starbucks. Most people in that position have school or other obligations, so have to abide by their shift and their shift only. If a Starbucks is really that packed with employees, you can always find a more needy location. If you need to pick up more hours, try http://www.havemyshift.com/ .
By Elizabeth Burrus
So, you want to work at Starbucks but just don't know how to land that job? It's a lot easier than some people think. Stick to these rules, and you'll be a shoo-in.
First of all, you want to make a good impression with the manager. Call ahead of time and find out when they will be in the store, and go in to ask for an application. Even if you know where the stack of applications are, act like you don't so that you have to ask for one directly. Smile a lot and make sure you order a drink. Don't worry if you lose this application- you can print as many as you want off of the Starbucks website. You are only picking one up at the store for show.
Make sure that you attach a resume to the application. It will separate you from all of the other people trying to get in who don't have one, and will almost always assure you that first interview.
Don't think that just because you have never worked before, you can't have a resume. All you need to do is play up your qualifications and achievements (whether they were in school or extracurricular ones). You can find many guides online on how to do this. Make sure that you include plenty of bullet points on how loyal and motivated you are, how you love to make someone's day, and that you are a skilled memorizer and multitasker. Also note that you like to learn and are a patient and fair leader. If you are none of these things, then you probably won't like the job much. Always include references, even if it's just a teacher or friend who knows your work ethic. You don't necessarily need to apply to multiple Starbucks to maximize your opportunities of working there since managers often share applications between stores. Keep in mind that open availability is a huge plus on an application, and may just be the thing to make or break your chances of working there.
Some people recommend turning the application in directly to the manager. I didn't personally do this because it made me feel cheesy and like I was stalking them. I think that you should choose to either pick up the application from them or drop it off to them, but not both. It's your call though. The goal is to show an interest in the job and a flash of your upbeat and determined personality directly to big guns upstairs without making him/her think you're a creep.
It may take up to a month for them to respond. Starbucks managers and assistant managers are very busy, and they can sometimes misplace your application. If they don't call you within a month, apply to a different Starbucks or find other work. They do not call you if you don't get an interview.
If you are contacted to set up your first interview, always say yes to whatever time they ask you to come in. Even if you have a family reunion or other important event, cancel it. If they ask what time you would like to come in, say, "whatever is best for you- my schedule is very open".
If you turn down their time, they will think that you will do this when they will actually need you at the job. Even if they set up an interview with you after you have already turned down a time, it will remain in the back of their minds and possibly destroy your chances of working there.
Arrive 12 minutes early for the interview. Make sure that you are not over or under dressed. Business attire, no matter what anyone tells you, is NOT appropriate for a Starbucks interview.
Some people will claim that you should wear the Starbucks uniform (pants and a collared shirt), but this is absolutely considered underdressed attire for most managers, especially if you are female. If you re a girl, wear either a casual dress or a skirt with a nice blouse. Hair can be up or down. Most suggest wearing it up, but do what you are most comfortable with (I wore mine down). If you are a guy, try to avoid jeans, and don't wear a shirt with writing on it. When you get to the interview location, go up to the counter and kindly say, " Hi, I'm here for a (enter time) interview". They will probably ask your name and make you a free drink (which you should accept) before they alert the manager of your arrival. Have a seat and relax. Make sure that you are nice to everyone who works there, not just the shift manager, because they might put in a bad word for you if you are rude.
When the manager comes out, stand up, shake their hand, and smile. Be very polite and say that it's nice to meet them/ask how their day is. If you are nervous, say that you are. They probably are a little bit too! The interview will probably be at a table, and they are usually scheduled at a time when very few people are in the shop.
The interview questions will probably follow a "tell me about a time when such and such happened and how you handled it" format. If a question catches you off guard, say, "Hm, I'll have to think about that" or, "that's a good question.. hmm" if you are unsure of the answer.
Make sure you come up with something, and try to avoid saying, "I don't know/I've never experienced that". If you have an experience similar to one they are asking you about, try to link a question over to that, but only use this as a second-to-last resort if you really have nothing.
Example:
Question: What was a time when you upset a customer, and how did you handle it? Answer: Well, I never exactly upset someone as far as I could tell, but I once gave someone another person's order. I just offered to let them keep it for free, apologized for the inconvenience, and corrected the order in half the time.
This is very important: The manager will probably ask you how you view friendships between coworkers. Keep in mind that managers are usually young and in their twenties, so they don't want someone to work for them who is a robot. They want to hear that you can stay focused on work and make friendships in the workplace at the same time. They don't want someone who is boring. Try not to have lengthy answers. They have work to get back to.
At the end they will ask if you have any questions for them. This is what I asked: 1) Do I need to wear my hair above my shoulders? 2) How many hours might I expect to work per week if I get the job?, and 3) What is your favorite thing about working for Starbucks?
When the interview is over, thank the interviewer for their time, continue being kind to the staff, and leave. If you are told that you will be contacted within x amount of time (usually 1 week), then wait. It is common for the manager to be busy and forget to call you. If they haven't contacted you by when they said they would, call them the next day. Just because you are not called does not mean that you did not get the job! They are just extremely busy people, and they will like that you took the initiative and contacted them.
There is usually a second interview, but no more than two. If the first interviewer has no room at their store but liked you, they will talk to managers at other stores and try to get you a second interview there. Make sure that you are open to working at any location within 8 miles of your home for this very reason. The second interview will be much like the first, and usually means that you will get the job, even if it's at a different location. Just relax and be friendly- never forget to smile. You may also want to send a thank you note to your interviewers for taking the time out to see you.
Ultimately, you must be really friendly and have open availability. You should say that you can work holidays and that you don't mind picking up someone else's shift. If you can handle it, you might be able to get a lot of work hours in. Don't trust people who say you can only work 15 hours/week at Starbucks. Most people in that position have school or other obligations, so have to abide by their shift and their shift only. If a Starbucks is really that packed with employees, you can always find a more needy location. If you need to pick up more hours, try http://www.havemyshift.com/ .
1 comment:
HeY! Thanks for this post! very helpful! I am pondering the thought of applying there.
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