Starbucks proves to be a popular employer with its unparalleled popularity and excellent benefits, especially for teens looking to land their first job. But, how old do you have to be to work at Starbucks?
Following Federal law, Starbucks employees need to be at least 16 years of age, except for Montana, where the legal working age is 14. At 16, Starbucks employs you for entry-level Barista roles. In contrast, Starbucks Shift Supervisors need to be at least 18 years old.
Read on as we discuss everything there is to know about working at Starbucks, inducing tips to ace the interview.
How Much do You Earn at Starbucks?
Starbucks announced that it would be raising its minimum pay to $15 hourly by Summer 2022. As the floor pay hike kicks in, the average Starbucks employee pay will be $17 per hour. The coffee house informed that baristas would be earning anywhere from $15 to $23 hourly pay after the wage increase.
How do You Apply for A Job at Starbucks?
To apply for a job at Starbucks, go to their Careers website and make an account. After that, you can browse through job openings and set up job alerts. You can even apply for multiple openings simultaneously. You can search for jobs directly or choose between retail, retail leadership, corporate, manufacturing, and distribution to find a suitable match.
Any job applications submitted successfully will be confirmed via email by Starbucks. You can also find open positions through Starbucks’ LinkedIn page – which you can follow to stay updated.
If your resume does not clear the initial review, you will also be informed via email. However, candidates in talks with a store manager or recruiter will receive word personally from the individual.
Starbucks: Employee Benefits and Perks
Starbucks has a 3.8-star Glassdoor rating, with 71% of employees choosing to recommend the company to their friends. One of the biggest reasons people prefer working at Starbucks is the excellent benefits and perks they enjoy. From in-store discounts to healthcare plans, there are numerous advantages of becoming a Starbucks employee or “partner” (as referred to by the company).
Here are some of the extensive benefits you get after landing a job at the coffee giants.
Free Weekly Coffee and Tea
Employees can choose to receive a free pound of coffee or a box of tea every week. Moreover, partners at company-owned Starbucks can enjoy a complimentary handcrafted beverage during their break on a scheduled shift or half an hour before and after it. They can also have one pastry or ready-to-eat food every shift.
30% In-store Discount
Not only drinks, but employees get a 30% discount when they purchase food and merchandise too.
Spotify Premium Subscription
US employees can sign up for a Spotify Premium subscription for free. Moreover, those with an active account can switch to the free premium subscription offered by Starbucks to their partners.
Apart from listening to music with no ads, this will also give employees access to the Starbucks in-store playlist through their app.
Healthcare Benefits
Eligible partners (and eligible dependents) can choose various medical, dental, and vision care plans with different coverage levels. Find out more about it here. The company also offers life insurance, accident, and disability coverage.
Competitive 401(k) Plan
Starbucks helps you prepare for retirement through their Future Roast 401(k) plan, allowing easy savings through pay deductions. Moreover, the company also has an equity rewards program, and employees can buy company stock at a discount.
Parental Leave
Starbucks also supports eligible partners thinking of starting a family through parental leave, with possible pay replacement and time off. In addition, in case of adoption, Intrauterine Insemination, or surrogacy, qualifying employees can get a reimbursement of up to $10,000.
Paid Time Off
Whether working in retail or not, Starbucks employees get paid vacation days and 1 ½ pay (of the base hourly pay) for any of the seven paid holidays observed by the company.
Education Assistance
Starbucks partners with Arizona State University’s online degree programs to cover 100% tuition fees for eligible employees earning a bachelor’s degree. Read more about education benefits here.
What Kind of Jobs do 16-Year Olds do at Starbucks?
Starbucks hires 16-year-olds for entry-level Barista responsibilities. Apart from being punctual, baristas should be friendly and keen to learn. Their responsibilities include greeting guests, maintaining cleanliness, preparing food and beverage as per Starbucks recipes, and the occasional cash handling.
Teenagers who start at Starbucks before they turn 18 can begin training for the advanced Shift Supervisor role, which they can assume once they are 18 years old. You need one year of experience in retail or restaurant customer service for the supervisory role. This role includes heading the teams of baristas, as well cash handling duties.
Can You Work Remotely for Starbucks?
Starbucks offers remote and hybrid work opportunities for non-retail jobs. Such roles and their work model vary based on the job opening and nature. More information regarding remote (no location needed) and hybrid (can be done from home and office) jobs are provided during the interview process.
Tips to Prepare for A Job Interview at Starbucks
When preparing for an interview at Starbucks, a few tips can increase the chances of landing a lucrative job offer.
Tip #1: Understand Company Culture
Familiarize yourself with the company culture and read through the content on their website to understand what they ask for (and value) in their employees.
Tip #2: Prepare for Behavior-Based Questions
Starbucks sticks to behavior-based interviewing. So, prepare questions about related scenarios to your applied role and how you would resolve them.
Tip #3: Visit Your Local Starbucks
If you aren’t a frequent Starbucks visitor, make sure you start dropping by regularly. This will help you know their products and understand how the employees work through the day.
Tip #4: Get Social
Follow and interact with Starbucks social media handles to get to know the workplace.
The Bottom Line
To land a job at Starbucks, you need to meet the minimum age requirement of 16 in most states – this excludes Montana, where the minimum employment age is 14 years old. However, 16-year-olds can get employed at Starbucks only for entry-level barista roles that require no prior experience. Employees are trained and are offered excellent benefits that keep getting better as they climb the company hierarchy.
Overall, Starbucks provides great employment opportunities, especially for those just stepping into the retail world!