How Old Do You Have to be to Work at Starbucks?
To get an entry-level part-time job at Starbucks as a barista, you must be at least 16 years old. To be a shift supervisor and work full-time, you must be at least 18-years-old.
No matter which position you have at a Starbucks, you are required to provide, “legendary customer service,” and make sure the store is a clean and comfortable environment.
If you get a job here, you are not an employee. Instead, they will refer to you as a, “partner.”
Teen Jobs at Starbucks and Age Requirements
Barista (Hourly)
As a barista at Starbucks, your job is to promote the culture, values, and mission of the company while maintaining a calm demeanor during busy shifts. You must deliver legendary customer service while providing quality beverages and food products promptly to customers.
You must also maintain a clean and comfortable store, and act in accordance with Starbucks guiding principles. You have to meet the store standards for cash handling, store safety, and product quality.
You must be at least 16 years old to work as a barista at Starbucks.
Shift Supervisor (Hourly)
Being a shift supervisor at Starbucks requires at least one year of experience in a retail or restaurant environment. You will be assisting the store manager in executing store operations during scheduled shifts.
You will delegate tasks so every customer gets the Starbucks experience, and you will model and act in accordance with Starbucks guiding principles.
Some of your responsibilities will include assisting with training of new baristas and providing feedback of their performance to store management, contributing to a positive team environment by noticing changes in morale and performance, coaching baristas in a positive team environment, and executing all store operations during a scheduled shift.
You must also follow cash management and cash register policies, provide quality beverages, and provide food products to customers.
To work as a shift supervisor at Starbucks, you must be at least 18 years old.
Can a 15 Year Old Work at Starbucks?
Because the minimum age to work at Starbucks is 16, 15-year-olds can’t work here. But we do have a page on our website specifically for 15-year-olds that you can view instead.
Can a 16 Year Old Work at Starbucks?
The minimum age to work at Starbucks as a barista is 16, so 16-year-olds can work there. We also have a page on our website specifically for 16-year-olds that you can view for more options.
How Much Does Starbucks Pay Part-Time Workers?
The hourly earnings for employees at Starbucks vary because of state and city minimum wage laws. We can give you a general idea of what the hourly pay is for each position. Starbucks prides themselves on offering competitive pay, excellent benefits, and a welcoming environment for all of their employees.
Barista (Hourly)
As a barista at Starbucks, you will be making somewhere between minimum wage and $15 per hour. If you are coming in at entry-level without any prior experience, then you will most likely start out around $8 an hour.
The average hourly rate for a Starbucks barista is $9.
Shift Supervisor (Hourly)
The rate of pay for shift supervisors is between $9 to $18 an hour. This position does require at least one year of retail or restaurant experience, so you can negotiate your wage based on your experience and skill level.
The average hourly rate for a Starbucks shift supervisor is $12.
How Much Experience Do You Need to Work at Starbucks?
Starbucks is an entry-level friendly company, so you can apply to be a barista without any prior experience and get hired. However, if you have some work experience, it could get you a higher hourly pay rate and move you faster into supervisory and management positions.
What Should You Wear to a Job Interview at Starbucks?
Starbucks is the most popular coffee shop on the planet, so when you show up for your interview, you will want to look nice and be dressed in business casual attire. Consider something like a buttoned-down shirt with nice slacks and dress shoes. You do not want to show up too casual in a t-shirt and jeans.
They encourage their workers to display their personal style, so you aren’t required to dress conservatively or in traditional business attire. But, you want to make sure your clothes are clean and pressed.
Starbucks Interview Questions
The possible questions in a job interview are endless, and it always depends on the interviewer. But, there are some common questions that they often ask. At a Starbucks interview, you will talk with at least one manager. Here are some questions that they have been known to ask.
How do you approach resolving a conflict?
Why are they asking?
Starbucks has a very specific brand and culture based on connecting with their customers and providing amazing customer service. However, they do know that there will be times when conflict arises, either between you and another employee or with an unhappy customer.
If they ask you this, they are trying to find out how you handle moments of conflict, and if your methods lineup with company values.
What’s the ideal answer?
The interviewer wants to hear that you resolve conflict with communication. Talking things out is always the best way, but you want to remain calm and never raise your voice at a customer or a co-worker.
If you face a conflict with a customer, you want to tell the interviewer that you will talk with them to try to fix it the best way you can, or you will find a manager to help you resolve the problem.
Can you give examples of going above and beyond with your customer service?
Why are they asking?
If you are applying for a shift supervisor position, then you will already have some work experience. They are asking you this to find out what experiences you have with giving excellent customer service at a previous job.
Since customer service is their focus, they are asking this question to find out if you will be starting from scratch in the customer service game, or if you have already have skills that they could build on with their training.
What’s the ideal answer?
There is no wrong answer to this question. If you have an example from a previous job that works well, then tell the story. If you don’t have any work experience, that’s okay as well. Just let them know that you don’t have any examples or history to share, but you are willing to learn and you have the right personality and work ethic for helping customers.
What skills do you have that stand out that you can bring to Starbucks?
Why are they asking?
If a manager asks you this question, they are trying to get you to sell yourself. Part of your job as a barista or shift supervisor is to give amazing customer service, and that requires strong verbal communication skills.
When they ask you this question, they are wanting to find out how well you can communicate, while being positive and professional, and they want to know if you can sell yourself. If you can do that, you can sell their products.
What’s the ideal answer?
Know your strengths. If you get asked this question, tell them how you will benefit their business. They want to hear that you have above average verbal communication skills, have a friendly and upbeat demeanor, and can fill customer orders quickly and accurately.
Tell them that you are a reliable worker who will show up to work on time for every scheduled shift. If you have a passion for coffee and want a career in the industry, definitely let them know.
Benefits of Working at Starbucks
Every partner who works at Starbucks gets a thirty percent discount on products, free beverages while on the clock, and a free pound of coffee each week. Unlike most other companies, they offer insurance benefits to part-time workers. Other benefits are limited to full-time partners.
Starbucks is known for their amazing benefits. You will have a hard time finding another company that offers what they do.
Benefits include:
- Paid time off and paid sick days
- Performance Bonuses
- Vacation
- 401K, Pension Plan, and Stock Options
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Short-term disability
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Military Leave
- Volunteer Time Off
