5
eNPS Score
Q&A With Starbucks Employees
We're committed to upholding a culture where inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility are valued and respected. Your entire experience—starting with your application—is designed to be the beginning of an inspirational journey, where you are treated warmly and with transparency, dignity and respect.
How employees describe working at Starbucks
Good, but could be more engaging.
Review from Engineering Dept
Overall good because of my coworkers
Review from Sales Dept
7 years and the company has had many ups and downs. High expectations for low hourly wages. Easy to promote within if you are motivated to do so. Semi-hard labor (physically and mentally taxing at times; always standing/moving/talking; messy). Transfers available all over the U.S.
Review from Sales Dept
I love my job and the people that I work with. I look up to my manager. I just wish I could move up in the company at some point
Review from Operations Dept
The questions were not too difficult.
Review from Sales Dept
What it's like to work at Starbucks
- Starbucks employees generally work 8.2 hrs a day
- Employees at Starbucks report the work pace is extremely fast
- On a typical day, employees at Starbucks have 0 meetings
- 87% of Starbucks employees look forward to interacting with their team every day
- Starbucks employees most often take 0-10 paid vacation and sick days each year
- 56% of Starbucks employees report they are happy with their work life balance
- Starbucks employees typically get valuable feedback on how to improve at work Every Week
- 77% of Starbucks employees call their work environment positive
Q&A With Starbucks Employees
IDX: 0 TOT: 87
What benefits does Starbucks provide?
Top Employee Response
Much less than in years past, but they help subsidize heath, vision, dental, and life insurance. They removed Personal days for store partners, lowered the discount for the stock purchase program and pay about 70% less than most companies around. They did add an extra holiday (MLK Day) for a total of 7 paid holidays. Paid ASU tuition, but nobody I know has used it, or any of the other new benefits they've added recently. Store partners get a food markout now, but corporate partners don't. They also offer vacation. 5 weeks for a full time partner after 10 years. They used to be much, much better, but Starbucks cares more about their shareholders than their partners these days.
great medical benefits, no personal growth
Well I’m not sure what a corporate Starbucks technically provides but I can say that it has provided me with a chance to be a productive individual and become responsible.. it has also provided me with a family I have never had and people to vent to or ask for advice.. it has provided me with motivation and inspiration.. it also had a huge significant role in helping me out of a severe depression I was stuck in..
If you could make changes, how would you improve the culture at Starbucks?
Top Employee Response
We are WAY understaffed! I would certainly have more staff to reduce employee burnout. Also, our training regiment is awful. There is very little training to be able to effectively learn the multi-level of activities required for each barista. It's quite overwhelming when you are thrown into the position with VERY little hands on training after reading some PowerPoint slides for a day.
I would make sure every person behind the counter is motivated and wants to be there. It is difficult to run efficiently if even one person doesn’t have a motivational attitude.
No one wants to change or improve just do what has always been done. We need to innovate and not build a box around ourselves.
Does Starbucks drug test or do a background check?
Top Employee Response
Yes they do a background check, but no they don't get a drug test
No unless in a plant or manufacturing role
only in the pre hire process and if you damage equipment, otherwise feel free to do drugs, heck our supervisors do!
What's the interview process like at Starbucks?
Usually in panels. Talk about your resume in story format
Very nice and easy
At least 2 or 3. I had 7 and 3 were 2 people panels
What part of Starbucks's business is growing fastest? What part is having difficulties?
Their sales of the sugar drinks. Less and less get coffee. We are beginning to act like a fast food franchise and getting away from the coffee shop feel.
Manufacturing. Exterior non “fundamental” departments like design, legal affairs etc
We are always getting new recipes for new drinks, and our food is growing slowly but surely. Our coffee sales seem to be down and they are limiting amount of coffee being out in stores because of that.
What are you most excited about working at Starbucks?
The interaction between customers and fellow employees.
Customers and coworkers. People make it break the job. My coworkers are fun to be around and my customers get to know us and that makes the job much more fun.
I love the partners that I work with and talking to some of our regular customers
How can I improve my chances of being hired at Starbucks?
Great personality and past experience.
Be yourself! My location lets me be me and interact with the customers in a way that makes my job fun and keeps the customers coming back.
be interested in the human connection
What's the office vibe like at Starbucks?
Everyone SAYS they’re nice and acts that way but you can’t be too personal and some people if you are even a little bit they twist it to try and step on you. All of it is passive aggressive and you don’t see it coming.
Office vibe... there isn’t one. We are always on the floor doing something
People tend to be head down.
How does Starbucks make decisions around promotions?
Top Employee Response
Mainly on whether you are liked and have a good relationship with your senior mamager
This a squishy, grey area that few outside of management understand.
It often doesn't. Then people leave to work at Amazon for 30% to start. 200+ and counting (that I know of).
How's the vacation policy at Starbucks?
Ask for the time off and you can get it if it's available.
It's pretty good. I like it alot.
2 weeks to start up to 5 weeks after 7 years
What should I wear for an interview at Starbucks?
Depends on the role. Business casual or Business.
Nice casual or business casual
business casual
How's the work life balance at Starbucks?
Top Employee Response
Lately working at Starbucks and balancing life has been fine. There has been a definite rise in what feels like a lack of employee focus. Meaning that in the recent years of working at Starbucks, the company had a real focus on making sure they focused on the well being and happiness of the staff especially the backbone (the barista). In the last 9 months to a year the concern on up-selling and the customer being always right has taken over; even in cases where it feels like Starbucks does not care about the employee as much as the customer. This is a little upsetting because the customer base has become to know that no matter what they ask for or expect--their wishes will be fulfilled and they don't have to treat the employees like people anymore and could care less about them. This makes each shift feel longer and turbulent.
Good
Not too bad.
What do employees at Starbucks think about their benefits?
like the benefits, hate the treatment we get to get them
I don't think very many of them take advantage of the benefits Starbucks has to offer. I take advantage of all their benefits.
They are amazing and definitely a reason to stay with the company.
What interview questions does Starbucks ask?
How did you deal with people who don’t agree? How did you change people’s minds? How do you influence those around you that have more experience?
about previous leadership roles, what you can add to the culture, incidents where you have handled conflict resolution
Normal interview questions
How challenged are you at Starbucks?
At first a lot, but that is tapering off.
Physically very challenging
Very much challenged. Everyday honestly.
What's one thing you wish you'd known before joining Starbucks?
That there was no training.
How much janitorial/dishwashing work is required
Lack of growth
How's the morale at Starbucks?
Good
Depends on the day (if we are understaffed) and what supervisor is working.
It varies from day to day. Sadly it can be pretty bad, but there are times that make up for the lows. The community is a huge reason people stay with the company.
What do people at Starbucks think about the CEO? What do they do well and what can they improve?
We don't know them. We do know that the company has changed since there is a new CEO
The CEO is doing everything he can. Making sure that both customers and partners are equally treated.
He is new so wait and see
How does Starbucks handle HR issues?
by popularity basis
Great! Whenever an issues comes up they handle it appropriately and in a timely manner.
very effectively and professionally
Who did you meet with during your interview? And how long did it take to hear back from Starbucks?
The manager. The very next day.
store manager- less than a week
Met with two store managers and it didn't take long. Just about a week or so.
How do I do well in an interview at Starbucks?
Be prepared with former employment, be yourself, show your personality and your willingness to work hard.
make eye contact, be interested in human connection, be interested in making a positive impact within your community
It was scary at first but they actually make you feel comfortable within the interview process.
How long do the interviews usually take at Starbucks?
1 hour
20 mins
It depends on your answers for the questions. My interview took about 45mins to an hr.
What are your coworkers at Starbucks like?
Most are great and very hard workers. There are a handful who are very challenging to work with .
friendly, informative
They are like family.
How much and how often do raises happen at Starbucks?
They don't unless you become a shift barista
Yearly, only about .25-.50 cents
At least once a year
What kind of people succeed at Starbucks?
Hard working people who are very good at multi-tasking and must be people oriented. You also have to hold well under pressure and not lose your cool when things go wrong or customers get snippy.
The ones who work hard and shows the management that they are willing to step up and go onto the next step in the company.
People who are willing to work hard
Curious about what work's like at Starbucks?
Anonymously Ask Starbucks Employees Any Question
Should I work at Starbucks?
41% of Starbucks employees would encourage their friends to become coworkers, whereas 23% are neutral and 36% would not recommend working at Starbucks to their friends.
| 41% | Promoters |
|---|---|
| 23% | Passive |
| 36% | Detractors |
