Starbucks Corporation is one of the, if not the most popular American chain of coffee and roasteries. Primarily American, it is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and currently is the largest coffeehouse chain in the world. Founded in 1971, Starbucks has adapted its mission statement as “to inspire and nurture the human spirit- one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.” Being so widely popular all over the states and in the rest of the world, Starbucks is always looking for enthusiastic young minds who are willing to contribute their time and energy in making every customer delighted and contented. This is the question- Why Do You Want To Work At Starbucks?
Known for their espressos, macchiatos, frappuccinos, and other variations of both hot and cold-brewed coffee, along with different types of tea and other blended drinks, they won Best Coffee in 2003 and by popular demand, introduced instant coffee in 2009 for their customers. They have also introduced a membership card of sorts named “My Starbucks Reward” for their loyal customers to collect points and redeem them later for discounts are other premium offers. The company has pledged to make sustainability their goal and is working every day towards building and maintaining green stores with more recycled products. They have also invested in making sure their coffee beans are ethically sourced and that plantation workers have proper working conditions and are paid justly. To work at Starbucks as a barista, you do not need much experience or a ton of qualifications; Starbucks looks for recruits who are enthusiastic about the service and coffee industry, have the eagerness to learn, and are aware and on board with the company’s mission statement.
Why Do You Want To Work At Starbucks? Why Should We Hire You?
Any Starbucks interview is incomplete without these questions; you can frame your answer along the following lines:
- Say that you have learned that Starbucks values its employees and gives them health and other benefits; link this with the top-tier service you have received from Starbucks employees every time you have walked into a store or gone by the drive-thru.
- Include that, from the point of view of the customer, you have never been disappointed with the behavior and helpful attitude of Starbucks employees, and that you would love to be a part of an organization that treats its employees well. Say that you are a coffee lover and that it would be a dream if you could walk into a store and smell freshly brewed coffee every single day; working amongst the thing you have grown to love would make you very happy.
- The work environment at Starbucks, you believe, will teach you to be more organized and planned. Other than that, you will also learn to nurture your problem-solving skills and gain valuable experience in the service industry.
For the “Why should we hire you question?”, remember the requirements listed in the job description and let the interviewers know that you have read it and do have most of the skills listed on there.
- Reiterate skills like how you can work well in a team, cooperate and coordinate with other employees to work in harmony and provide a smooth and efficient service, how you are good with people and can communicate with ease, how you can be patient with long queues and impatient customers, and that you want to represent the brand that you have grown fond of.
The Interview Process And Some Commonly Asked Questions-
Once you have applied online, Starbucks will first call you for a brief interview over the phone where they will recheck with you the background data that you have provided in the online application. If they want to proceed further with your application, they will call you for a face-to-face interview. Starbucks holds two interviews before sending out confirmation letters to the selected recruits; unlike most other companies in the goods service industry, Starbucks likes to keep their interview environment very relaxed and makes their candidates feel comfortable and at ease. The ones who got the job as well as the ones who did not, all of those people hold the opinion that Starbucks makes the interview process feel like a breeze and makes sure the candidate is not stressed out.
In-Person Interview-
The in-person interview mostly consists of questions about and your knowledge of the company, some general and scenario-based questions. They usually start by asking the candidate if they have been to any of the stores before if they are regular customers and what opinion they hold of the quality of food and service they have received from the stores. Then they will proceed to ask you to list what you think your greatest strengths and weaknesses are; a point to be noted here, you should answer this question in accordance to the fact that you are at an interview at Starbucks- list your strengths and weaknesses which are relevant for the position you are applying for.
Tips- While answering the “what do you think is your weakness?” question, do mention something related to the job and how you are trying to overcome that weakness. Another similar question of this kind that you can expect at a Starbucks interview is along the lines of, “what do you find motivating?” To answer this, you need not be brutally honest and end up saying money; instead, say that you are goal-driven and you like meeting deadlines, or, you excel when you work amongst people, and seeing other people work hard motivates you to do the same. Starbucks is also known for asking few scenario-based questions during the interview.
You can expect questions like:
- What would you do if you are having a bad day at work?
- If a customer is upset, how would you deal with the situation?
- What steps will you take to get the drive-thru queue to move along?
To answer questions like this, the best way out is to imagine yourself in that situation and then provide an analytical, well-thought-out answer. Patience is the key in the service industry; make sure the interviewers get to know that you understand the importance of this.
Quantitative Questions-
You will also be asked questions like how flexible your work schedule is if you are free on the weekends and on calendar holidays (the more flexible you are with your schedule, the greater the chances of you getting hired) if you are on board with standing for long hours if you had a decent attendance record in your previous job (provided you had one, no discredit if you did not), and what salary you are expecting, etc. Give to the point and specific answers for these kinds of questions.
Being frank during the interview, and focusing on the qualifications you have that match with those mentioned in the job description, and most importantly, showing that you represent a company of which you have grown fond of for its customer service, work environment, and the values it holds, will help you nail the interview.
Other FAQs-
What To Wear At Starbucks Interview?
If you are there for an entry-level job position interview, dress casually and avoid wearing shorts. If you are there for a managerial position, try wearing something more business casual and formal.
How Long Are Shifts At Starbucks?
New employees at the entry-level job positions work about 4 to 5 shifts per week, each shift continues for about 5 hours. Every employee has to work a minimum of 20hours per week to be eligible for employee benefits.
