Starbucks Interview Questions And Answers

Table of Contents

This article will give you the information you need to apply to an interview at Starbucks successfully. First, we’ll cover general information about Starbucks. We’ll then go over Starbucks interview questions that you’re likely to hear during your interview process. Following each Starbucks interview question, we will give answer suggestions. You can use these as-is or modify them to suit your personal opinions and experiences.

How To Get Hired At Starbucks (explained in this video)

About Starbucks

Starbucks, the ever-popular coffee company, began in Seattle with a single coffee shop in 1971. Decades later, it now employs more than 250,000 people. Starbucks rates #96 on a list of top 100 companies to work for in 2018. This is largely due to their positive and upbeat company culture and their competitive employee benefits.

Their employee benefits include a 401k plan with company match, health insurance, an employee discount, tuition assistance, stock grant, and even a free Spotify subscription. Part-time employees are eligible for many of these benefits.

When it comes to selecting new members, Starbucks conducts phone interviews as well as in-person interviews that might be one-on-one or in small groups. It’s best to prepare yourself for a combination of these situations. Usually, the Starbucks interview process involves more than one interview.

Starbucks Job Interview Questions & Answers

Below are several of the most common Starbucks interview questions along with suggested answers for them. By familiarizing yourself with Starbucks interview questions before you go into your interview, you’re multiplying your chances of receiving an offer of employment. We’re going to cover three Starbucks interview questions each for three of their most commonly applied-to positions: Barista, Shift Supervisor, and Assistant Store Manager.

1.) Barista Interview Questions & Answers

Q1: Talk about a time you received bad customer service. How did it affect you? What would you have done differently?
A1: There was a time that I was ordering food but the cashier didn’t pay much attention to what she was doing at all. She didn’t seem interested in her job. My food ended up being made wrong so I had to take it back.

By being attentive to the customer, you can reduce mistakes and improve customer satisfaction. Guests want to be taken care of, not ignored. I would have made more of an effort to appear present and enthusiastic.

Q2: What would you do if a customer complained about their drink?
A2: I would apologize promptly and take the drink back to be fixed. There is no point in trying to argue with a customer because it will make them more unhappy. Instead, I would try to fix the problem as quickly as possible.Q3: What do you think a day in the life of a Starbucks barista looks like?
A3: A lot of multitasking, moving around, giving great customer service. On top of that, I see the communicating a lot with team members to help the team function efficiently.

2.) Shift Supervisor Interview Questions & Answers

Q1: What special edge can you add to our team?
A1: I’m a strong leader because of my emotional intelligence. Employees want to be recognized for their successes, and they want to be led by someone who will lead by example. I like to verbally recognize employees when possible. On top of that, I always make sure to perform as I expect my employees to do.

Q2: How can you successfully motivate a team?
A2: Staying positive is one of the keys to maintaining a team’s morale. Morale is one of the most important influencers of motivation. If your team is surrounded by negative energy and led by someone with a bad attitude, they’re more likely to be unhappy at work. What’s worse, they won’t be motivated to do their best.

Q3: What are some challenges you’ve faced as a supervisor and how did you overcome them?
A3: When I started my first supervisory position, I wasn’t aware of the shift in how I would be perceived in the workplace. Suddenly, I became the “fun-killer.” Some employees resented the fact that I would redirect them when they were too chatty or when they pulled out their phones on the clock. I quickly realized that after their initial test of my management abilities, most employees appreciated the fact that I would be direct when there was an issue rather than beating around the bush.

3.) Assistant Store Manager Interview Questions & Answers

Q1: What do you look for in potential hires?
A1: First, I try to determine their work ethic. One of the most telling signs is whether they actively work on personal projects. For example, an applicant might have a blog or a side project that they regularly dedicate time to. This shows that they are passionate individuals and realize the value of hard work.

Moreover, I also gauge their ability to work within a team. By asking behavioral-based questions related to teamwork, I can often get a sense of whether they’d do well working with a group of people or if they are more of a lone wolf.

Q2: Talk about a difficult conversation you’ve had with an employee
A2: One day, I had to let go of a long-term employee. Unfortunately, despite all of the counseling he’d done with various management staff, he had become too comfortable in his position. That was due to the fact that he had been with the company for over eight years. When I sat him down and informed him of the decision, he became irate and began yelling.

I had to keep a level head and de-escalate the situation quickly, as there were other staff members within earshot. It’s always difficult to let go of employees who have been around for a long time. On the other hand, it’s important to recognize when the performance of an employee is negatively impacting other employees.

Q3: What do you know about Howard Schultz?

A3: Be sure to do your research about the founder and executive chairman of Starbucks, Howard Schultz. One of the most common Starbucks interview questions for management applications is a general question about Schultz. Try finding out fun facts about him that you enjoy or get to know the story of how he created and grew Starbucks from the ground up. However, you choose to answer this question, make it obvious that you’ve done your research.

Starbucks Job Interview Tips

Prepare questions for the interviewer.
No matter what Starbucks position you’re interviewing for, have questions prepared. One of the most important Starbucks interview questions involved in the decision to hire you isn’t a question that your interviewer asks you. It’s what you decide to ask your interviewer(s).

Taking the initiative to ask questions shows that you have a long-term interest in the position. For example, try asking your interviewer, “Why do you enjoy working for Starbucks?”.

Dress the part

Show up at your interview dressed appropriately. If you aren’t given any specific instructions by phone or email when setting up your interview, it’s best to dress up. For men, try a button-down shirt and a tie. For women, go with a blazer over a dressy top or an office-appropriate dress.

Do coffee-related research

You don’t have to drink coffee to work at Starbucks. However, it does help if you understand coffee-related terms and jargon. If you’re able to describe the process of brewing coffee or even demonstrate, you will have an advantage during your interview. If you don’t make coffee at home, visit YouTube to get familiar with the process of brewing coffee. Research making lattes, mochas, and frozen coffee drinks.

Conclusion

We hope this article has made you feel more confident about your upcoming Starbucks interview. Be sure to visit the Starbucks overview page on Glassdoor to get more general information about the company. Do additional research if possible. It helps tremendously to prepare yourself in advance. Do you have any additional tips to add for anyone looking to get hired at Starbucks? Comment below with any tips or Starbucks interview questions you’ve encountered.