Confessions of a Starbucks Barista?
I had an interesting encounter with a Starbucks barista this morning. I'm riding the metro doing my aloof thing when all of a sudden I hear this "Hey! Grande hazelnut coffee, right?". At first I was like "Awesome, someone else is a fan!" and went back to la-la land (aka playing Yahtzee on the iPhone. haha...) Then I realized the chick was staring directly at me!It turns out she used to be one the baristas that hooked me up back near our old office. And since she's always been pretty friendly, I figured I'd tell her about my dreams of working there one day :) For all who don't know, I have this list of 5 places I'd like to work at someday, although I'm not sure I blogged about that before?
Anyways, I started picking her brain about what it's like to work there in hopes of getting the "inside scoop." I can't remember the entire convo (even after just 15 mins! aye..), but here's more or less what she told me below. And probably tweaked more to the pros considering she REALLY loves her job:
Working at Starbucks: The Pros
- You meet a lot of cool people! You're surrounded by energetic and entertaining co-workers, as well as mostly fun customers. People love their coffee and are generally in a good mood when they get to you - especially in the mornings before any craziness occurs that day.
- Starbucks has great health benefits. I didn't have enough time to ask specifics, but she said it was really good and she has no complaints.
- You can relocate without a problem! Want to move to California? Easy peasy! How about Texas? Fine by them! You've got Starbucks scattered across the entire world that are always looking to fill a position or two. In fact, this particular barista told me she's now at her 3rd state in 4 years @ Starbucks so far :) Although she did say that moving overseas isn't *as* easy as xfering in the States, but she's heard it's doable as they'd rather higher someone who already knows the ins and the outs over a noob. Either way, this is a job perk I could get used to.
- Job security is pretty good. Unless you do something stupid, you can spend quite a few years with Starbucks. Since there ARE so many shops around the world, you really don'teven have to worry about your particular shop being closed down - you just move right down to the next one or two. And in DC, it's like literally moving a block ;) A friend of mine has FOUR fo them within a 5 block radius. It's crazy. (crazy good!)
- There are stock benefits. Unfortunately my new friend doesn't participate in this program (and believe me I REALLY wanted to shake her good), but she did say most of her co-workers do. One of them recently cashed out all his stocks and used the money for a down payment on a house! I again didn't have too much time to pick her brain on it, but it definitely piqued my interest. I also wonder how long her friend worked at Starbucks, and how much, exactly, he invested in this plan.
- There is/was a great 401k plan. We didn't actually talk about this today, but I've heard that Starbucks has a great one - or at least used to before this economy went to crap. If any of you know what it's like, or works there, drop a note and let us know!
- Time goes by really fast - at least during rush hours. When you're helping one customer after another, time flies like a mother.
Working at Starbucks: The Cons
- A small % of the customers are dicks. They see you as low lifes working a job that pays pennies, and they treat you like you're their bitch. Most of the customers are pretty cool, but these are the people that ruin your day and make you wish you weren't doing what you do. Sometimes, however, it's satisfying to watch them get thrown out if they start getting abusive (all according to this chick, anyways). It's alot like retail in that regard, except at Starbucks they bitch about something that costs $4 instead of $40.
- You have to clean a lot. She doesn't hate this all the way as it keeps her busy and has to get done anyways, but it's not the funnest thing to do in the world. Apparently this is what goes on between the morning and afternoon rushes.
Labels: career, in the real world, starbucks
posted by J. Money at
8:08 AM
24 Comments:
Come on, what are the other 4 places that you want to work?
I'll give one other away right now - although it's not too surprising - I want to work for a local bank :) I want to start at the very very bottom (whatever position that is?) and then work my way up the chain until I'm no longer helping actual people. From there, I'll move onto job #3, #4, and then #5 - all the while blogging about it.
You'll have the complete list of dream jobs soon, hopefully this quells your interest for now sir.
"You meet a lot of cool people!"
I agree this part of the job would be a blast. Chatting it up all day with folks that are all amped up on caffine!
You should read "How Starbucks Saved My Life" about a middle aged guy who loses his job and starts working at Starbucks for the health insurance. It's pretty heartwarming and can offer you a little insight in working there.
She didn't tell you that you can order a 'short' vs grande drink? The short is a regular sized cup of coffee. They still have them, but they're not listed on the board.
This should be made into a BOOK!!!! By the way, you know it's fall now that they're offering Pumpkin Spice Lattes ... rock.
Dude, at a bank you're never helping people. Trust me I know. I have co-workers that worked client facing, and you're never helping. It's customer service in every bad sense of the term.
If you want to help people get into credit counseling or work for a credit union.
A friend of mine did exactly your dream job for a local (to him) bank in Australia - started as a mail-runner when he was 14 and retired at 39 as VP, Regional Operations / HR. Then he went on "walkabout" for about 8 years...
I wonder how the tips are/if anyone tips?
I used to really want to work at Starbucks. Then I realized I just liked getting coffee all the time there instead.
@Vinny - Definitely on the chatting up people, but not the caffeinated part yet as they're sober as can be until you GIVE them the drink ;) haha...
@MapGirl - Never even heard of a 'short', but now I'm going to ask and see what happens ;)
@Sallie's Niece - YES! I've actually heard about that book I just keep forgetting to get it - thanks for the reminder :) I'm copying and pasting it into my "books to get" spreadsheet right after I comment this.
@Anonymous - Oh yeah, love the fall food/drink selections as they come out too.
@the weakonomist - That's not good...maybe once you land a desk job there doing mortgages or opening up accounts it would be more fulfilling? I hope so :( Big fan of credit unions though so maybe I'll have to go that route first and see - thx!
@Anonymous - Your friend is AWESOME!
@AK - haha, I hear ya :) I know the tip jars around my office are always filled up a bit, but I've def. seen some that are pretty empty and waiting to be fed... I wonder too if they all split them like bartenders? It seems like they'd have to.
Ya know, just about every job, some customers are dicks. That is life.
Ok, I have to comment. I have worked at Starbucks 2 diff times, 2 diff stores. Loved working there, although I will say that both times (& stores) there was always that 1 chick that I couldn't stand working with! Otherwise, good job to have if you don't mind the small paychecks. Most employees are hired for part time (around 20 hours) although there is always a way to pick up extra shifts. Only Managers and Assistants are guaranteed 40 hours, as they are salaried. Good health benefits, and stock plan (which I also never participated in since the stock price started out high for me, then tanked.). I always worked the morning rush and Loved how fast my shifts went by. Mostly awesome customers who love that you can remember their drink and their name. Some totally oddball and asshole customers too... but where don't you get those?
As for tips, the jars are usually emptied as soon as they start looking full (trust me, it sucks to see someone run off with your tip jar!) and then each week the shift supervisors divide all the tips amongst everyone based on hours they worked. Tips from my stores averaged 20-50 bucks a week, sometimes more. (like, the holidays!) Another benefit, that you would love J- free beverages while working your shift, plus a 20% discount on everything else.
There is a lot of cleaning involved, but thats the case with any restaurant/food service type job. So get over it, right? Oh- I will say I HATED working the afternoon shift on a hot day (in yuppy town, CA) when all the middle school kids would come in and mob us for frapp after frapp after frapp! Ahh!
Hope this helped.
p.s. you should work for USAA.
I worked for the bux all through college, my sister was a store manager for 10 years, my brother in law is a store manager currently. I liked it for the flexibility, I did work when I went home to my parent's for the holidays.
They have revised their 401k within the last 12 months and its no longer great.
Their benefits are decent, but you get them if you average 24 hours/week so that is the really good part.
Tips vary per location I made anywhere from $1.50-3/hour in tips.
There is no longer ANY job security with Starbucks. They have eviscerated the corporate level staffing and even store level management.
It's a great job when you are in college or in between something but they no longer respect their employees and give lip service to a lot of their "core values" that they touted for years. I do not have respect for starbucks and my brother in law only works there because he can't find anything else at the moment.
My dad had the same idea, so he quit his job to work at a SBUX. He loved it, but it didn't pay the bills, so he found a better job than his old one. He still has fond memories, and more importantly, still drinks SBUX coffee.
If someone works at a food service place, and still eats there after they quit, it's a good place to eat/drink.
I have a self-imposed limit of having one venti latte a week which I get every Sunday morning. The thought of free drinks ALMOST has me thinking about a part-time job.
Woah, you guys know a lot of people that work(ed) there! Very cool insight, THANK YOU so much for taking the time and sharing with us :)
If only they paid more. I know lots of people who have worked at coffee shops who have generally liked it, but it either 1) gets old or 2) doesn't pay enough. So it would be cool to work there for a year or two but any more and I would probably get real sick of it (or of not having cash).
I literally just left SBux site and popped over to reader to enter to win one of your gift cards... was thinking of applying there in order to get benefits but still be a stay at home mom to my little boy. In my state, you actually have to fill out a paper application and bring it to the store, which kinda sucks, but I'm totally taking your post as a sign that it was meant to be and printing out the paper app and heading in. Thanks for the info. In my old job selling mortgages, I used to seek some stress relief in the bottom of a starbucks cup and I thought that the bux might be the best place to work EVER. Maybe I'll get the chance to find out!
What about the ethics behind where their coffee comes from? How much does your 'fair trade' starbucks coffee cost, compared to what the coffee pickers earn?
You got me there - no idea. Unfortunately I'm a bit naive in that department.
@Jamie - yes, it IS a sign - go do it :) although selling mortgages also sounds pretty hot. stressful as you say, but def. interesting as it has to do with finance.
I worked at Starbucks for five years. One bonus that hasn't been mentioned: you're constantly networking! I worked at a super-busy store and we still knew all the regular customers by name and beverage. Consequently, they knew our stories. I was offered jobs on a number of occasions from people who could see that I was a positive, energetic person with a great memory (haha, thanks coffee!). I only left because one of my customers offered me a better-paying internship that led to a full-time career! But I still miss Starbucks and have often though about going back.
I worked at a Community Coffee (CC's) in New Orleans for half a year while I was just out of school. The morning rush was fun, the afternoon rush was okay and otherwise it was totally boring. I thrive on the rush-rush-rush type of atmosphere when there are 20 people lined up out the door. On the plus side, we got 100% free drinks and if the managers weren't in, you could "comp" a bagel or piece of zucchini bread and no one would give you trouble for it. If a cookie was broken, we weren't supposed to sell it. There were a lot of broken cookies.
Actually, working for CC's I got the only Christmas gift or bonus I've received to date. It was a big, nice, expensive-looking throw blanket. I still use it all the time.
And we made way more in tips than $20-$50 on a 20-hour part-time bit. I believe hourly was around $6 and with tips it normally boosted to $9 or $10 - too lazy to do the math but that's serious dough.
Thanks for insights Jessica & Amber! Def. good stuff to know ;) I agree that networking is a VERY good aspect of the job - something more of us should be doing! I think I'll accidentally break a cookie while I'm there too and see what happens to it. haha...
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