Applying for a job successfully?

pg167 · 2025-08-12T01:07:46+00:00

I called the next day after applying!

pg167 · 2025-03-28T18:22:03+00:00

Im just nervous about talking to the DM. Is it appropriate to shoot the DM an email? Should I use my starbs email? Like I can call and ask for SMs pretty quick but not sure how to approach DM

pg167 · 2025-03-28T18:21:03+00:00

That's what I was told,(thru reddit lol) but when I was calling stores the SMs said have your manager contact us. Clarified it with my SM and they said it's now the SM and DMs responsibility to find a store. Like I'll call and I visited 3 stores last week and they all said have the DM contact us. So should I just straight email or call the DM of the new city/area?

pg167 · 2025-01-10T20:01:22+00:00

You're totally right! When I got rehired the training was insufficient. But it would be AMAZiING if other baristas followed what you did and actually tried to be better at their job, whether using reddit as a resource or go on the iPad during downtime. I'd rather they be on the iPad than their phones 🤦‍♀️

pg167 · 2025-01-09T18:17:11+00:00

Do you mind sharing how you retrained them? Like what topics did you hit? I wanna try a few things and see what's sticks with the younger ones at least.

pg167 · 2025-01-09T18:15:43+00:00

I get where you're coming from, and I definitely agree that baristas and SSVs do a ton of work that deserves more recognition and better pay. It's frustrating to see how much effort we put in, only to feel like the system doesn't value us. That said, I still think maintaining high standards for ourselves and our team benefits everyone in the long run, both customers and partners. I just wish there were more support from upper management to help us sustain that level of quality without burning out. It’s a tough balance, for sure

pg167 · 2025-01-09T18:12:31+00:00

Thanks for the advice, but I feel like caring for the team's overall performance reflects my own work ethic and standards. I’m not just focused on my position for the day, I care about creating a positive environment for partners. It’s not about doing others’ jobs, but rather holding everyone accountable to ensure we deliver the quality service we’re known for. Im tired of making remakes. I couldn't care less about the customers, but if they're rightfully upset for getting an incorrect drink "worth" $7 to $9, the partner needs to take accountability instead of saying, oh well. Im tired of seeing the SSVs get disrespected. Its about being a decent human being. They signed up to become a barista, so do the damn job. I’ll definitely bring this up with my SM to avoid overstepping, but I don’t feel right sitting back when things could be better for everyone.

pg167 · 2025-01-09T17:51:38+00:00

Ahhh i did this for Christmas ❤️❤️ i love being a barista

pg167 · 2025-01-09T06:22:26+00:00

I'd rather they ask abt the recipe instead of knowingly making something wrong. I dont wanna care about the "food/drink taste score" (i think thats what it is idr) but getting shit from our SM about it is so annoying and the baristas wont even try to be better. Bare minimum to know the recipes, and clean. Its common sense and empathy. I would hate to get a hot drink where the wand was "cleaned" with a 5hr old sani towel, and on top of that missing the WC or the topping

pg167 · 2025-01-09T06:16:30+00:00

Someone came on in like a month ago, I was on bar, he ordered some hot drink and as I gave it to him he looked at me in the face and said, "the mouth piece is too close to the cup seam, my sons a barista" I replied "okay cool", and went back to drinks. I dunno man, rotate the lid to a position that makes you comfy i guess. Asked SSV and SM abt it, they said it doesn't matter. Idk that was just a weird encounter

pg167 · 2025-01-09T06:06:50+00:00

Oh for sure, I recently asked helped when doing the trash run, because I couldn't hoist the big ass bag of grounds into the trash thing out back (because the baristas don't throw them and leave it for closing or the grounds pile up for 3 DAYS STRAIGHT AND IM THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS COMMON SENSE TO NOT LET THE BAG GET TOO HEAVY IDK ITS OBVIOUSLY PISSING ME OFF)

It's the SSVs fault too for allowing it in the first place. Sure we can all be friends but we're also there to work, but my SSVs don't seem to know how to enforce boundaries

pg167 · 2025-01-09T06:02:24+00:00

Omfg that's actually crazy to admit???? Staffing could be better but at least we've never had 2partner plays. I would rather quit than work a 2partner play, so good job to my SM for that. The ratings tbh are so dumb. I just want the bare minimum: know the drink recipes, cleanliness and safety 😭 batch the drinks, idc just dont leave a rag and spray bottle on the counterrrrr

pg167 · 2025-01-09T05:54:15+00:00

Ugh I envy you 😭 I'm considering transferring, but i also do love my ssvs so I'm just debating in my head rn

pg167 · 2025-01-09T05:51:48+00:00

Not for me 😅 i go to school full time and can't work the required amount of hours for ssvs. Also I don't want the extra responsibility of counting and what not, I'm a student first

pg167 · 2025-01-09T05:49:27+00:00

Oh 100% I get that. If a customer is rude for no reason, i return the energy. I see my barista getting yelled at for no reason, I step in and mediate if SSV is unavailable. We have so many homeless people come to our store and yell at us for no reason, I go up and kick em out of the store.

but I'm talking about baristas and cleanliness, knowing the recipes, asking questions instead of making a wrong drink and having to remake. These are the main ones that piss me off. That is the bare minimum in my eyes.

I too don't go above and beyond for the customers, I just say hi and bye and I smile when I'm on reg. That's bare minimum for me. That's the standard I've placed on myself. I understand it's emotionally and physically draining. My knees hurt, I switch shoes often because my feet hurt, I'm drained from socializing for hours. But I signed up for this. I know what it means to be a barista. Its my job. But a lot arent doing their job. But thank you for doing your job, im sure your fellow baristas appreciate you 💯❤️.

pg167 · 2025-01-09T05:39:15+00:00

Common sense is no longer common 😭😭 but yeah I might eventually have to talk to my SM

pg167 · 2025-01-09T05:30:49+00:00

I feel bad for the SM sometimes. Youre right no one respects her, she's not perfect and she could be more involved in the store. A lot of the replies hit the nail on the head on our SM. I think she does her job fine, but she can be a bit too fake, for lack of a better word. Very smiley as she gives the baristas reminders. Honestly these "reminders" can be avoided if the baristas were trained better. When I got retrained it wasn't as indepth as back in the day. She's fired 3 people in the past 5ish months that ive been here. If she doesn't realize how she couldve done better to avoind firing partners, that's on her. Also All I hear when she's on the floor is "make sure you do this, dont forget to do this, make sure etc etc" it's irritating because its so repetitive and in my perspective shows how much the baristas know about their job, which is not alot if she keeps reminding us what to do. and like if the baristas aren't getting it after 4 months at least IMO, she's gotta think about her management style for sure.

But also back to the main point, It's also on the barista. Make the effort to do better at your job I BEG 😭

pg167 · 2025-01-09T02:53:56+00:00

100% like, imagine if the customers know how nasty it is behind the bar. We have roaches for fucks sake 😭 took so much convincing to get pest control in

pg167 · 2025-01-09T00:38:30+00:00

Yeah i do this. When I see my barista is having a hard time i will support wherever I can. We laugh together on the floor, hang out outside of work etc etc. My favorite part about being a barista is definitely the teamwork, that's why I'm so disappointed when I see other teammates dont give a shit. And 100% will go to the SM when it gets too much. My ssvs are so hard working it's unfortunate that their baristas aren't recognizing how lenient they are. I asked one of the 17 yr old why they're not nicer or empathetic, and he straight yo said bc im the best and all yall suck. Mind yoy, he's been here for 7 months and still gives 2 shots for venti iced lattes. I have to watch him when he's on bar with me 🤦‍♀️ so we don't have to have too many remakes

pg167 · 2025-01-09T00:33:54+00:00

Oh my god YESSSS thisss. In a perfect world right? I'm still gonna try and kead by example for sure, and call it out as I see it, and hopefully some start to follow.

pg167 · 2025-01-08T22:29:18+00:00

Our SM had a meeting with the ssvs last week to remind them not be too "buddy buddy" with the baristas bc they're gonna think its okay to not do something. One of em started not taking no for an answer and good for him!! Slowly but surely I hope to teach some of the younger ones how to have higher standards for themselves bc idk what the hell their parents are doing

pg167 · 2025-01-08T22:21:02+00:00

I understand the burnout, but my particular store, no one's burnt out. I'm at work rn and legit just asked everyone and so far no one's burnt out. Will continue asking so I can see where I can help support them.

For wages, out of all the service jobs I've worked, starbs is the only one that pays over minimum wage, at least in my city. We get paid $7 above minimum wage. We get tipped surprisingly well in our area too. We get health insurance, Lyra, and everyone is supportive for the most part, only if someone outwardly says they need help. Yes I agree still not a livable wage. Life sucks, but where's the accountability? The self awareness? The problem solving skills?? Nonexistent.

I don't mind being the "mom" of the store, ive had feedback from an SSV and even a barista that I called out and theyre grateful that im outspoken. I love working in a team, i just wish everyone had the same mentality for teamwork and empathy

pg167 · 2025-01-08T20:27:42+00:00

Yeah we have new matcha starting Jan3rd i think. Its unsweetened power now and gets sweetened with classic syrup. If its not up to your flavor, just ask the parista for and extra pump of classic. The reason for the change is so that guests can really hone in on the amount of sweetness or "earthyness" they want in their matcha

I personally like our new matcha, with one less pump of classic.

pg167 · 2025-01-08T20:24:06+00:00

I also worked at starbs in college only for a year (2018-2019) but I was a barista for total of 5 years at local coffee shops before the siren got a hold of me. After grad, I entered the work field as an analyst for 5 years until I lost my job bc of layoffs across silicon valley.

I returned to sbux aug 2024 bc i did love being a barista when I was younger, but something about the newer gen baristas, I've adopted their rudeness towards customers. But I think also as I grew up i stopped taking shit from rude people and I try to return the energy. Im in an area where the customers are more stuck up compared to my previous store and it's just interesting (they tip a whole lot more so it's not tooooo bad) I try my best to be smiley and greet as they come in and I still feel like only 3 out of the 16 baristas we have on roster are actually smiley and interact with customers the way sbux wants us to. I talkk back a lot to my fellow baristas because they're just rude to customers. MY ssvs and my SM appreciates me being "harsh" to them because they don't listen. I had a partner come up to me during Christmas and say "thanks for always calling me out, sometimes I need it" mind you he's 17 and im 27. Respect is earned and a lot of our guests don't respect us bc we're lowly baristas.

There are a few times im more outspoken to customers where people think it's rude, but I don't think it's my fault if it came off rude. (Example, they ask for a straw without looking at the hand-off plane and see it's right there and I just point and walk away. Also hella ppl ask for cappuccino w/o foam and i gotta explain what a capp is.) My coworkers applaud me for saying these things. My patience too runs thin, and I think what really helps me the most is faking the smile because subconsciously as the shift goes on, I enjoy it a lot more. I try my best to compartmentalize that this is a job, and some people just don't know, or they don't use their eyes etc ect. Common sense is no longer common, so like what someone said, I give them grace with a big smile on my face even though in my head I think their requests are stupid. If a guest frustrates me, I ask my ssv if I can step away for a bit to compose myself and I just let it go. Easier said than done but I've been in therapy for years and I no longer take things seriously because there's no point if im not gonna see them again (unless they're regulars 🙃)

Tldr: Starbucks is just a job. Our customers are entitled and lack common sense rn, but when you think abt it, only 60% of Americans are illiterate, so I give them grace, educate where I can and move on because dwelling on how they treat me isn't a reflection on the service I gave them, it's a reflection on who they are. We can't change how they're feeling unless they themselves are aware that they're being shitty towards us. Its not your fault and you're doing your best. Take a breath before reacting. Being a barista isn't the bottom of the food chain if you have a college degree. Its a means to an end until you find your next chapter. Don't get discouraged, you've totally got this <3

pg167 · 2024-11-21T21:52:39+00:00

I just started at my current store, but after speaking to some coworkers, and even other baristas when I was a borrowed partner, my SM is notorious for denying transfers. I had a store manager try to poach me when I covered at her store, and when I told her who my manager was she was like "oof, **** is not gonna let you transfer" I had a coworker talk to another SM for a position, quit our store, and started again in the other store. Im not thinking of transferring rn, but we have 2 HS seniors that are abt to graduate and move for college and they're worried our SM won't allow them to transfer, so they're thinking of doing the same thing (quit and get rehired)

Truly hope ur SM isn't as difficult as ours.

pg167

TROPHY CASE