In the world of coffee, there’s one name everybody knows — Starbucks.
Starbucks is the most valuable restaurant brand on the planet, generating over $29B in net revenue from over 80 countries worldwide.
But, despite the brand’s global success, Starbucks has only been around since the ‘70s… and didn’t even operate as the coffeehouse we know (and love) until 1987!
That means that, in just shy of four decades, Starbucks has gone from hiring their first green-apron-wearing barista to fully staffing over 32,000 stores internationally.
So, what’s the secret formula here?
Despite what you might think, it’s not their billion-dollar cold drink strategy or best-in-class rewards program… although those things definitely don’t hurt.
It’s their commitment to a company culture that “recognizes the need for human connection,” empowering their employees to take “ownership in the future success of [the] business.”
Because, no matter how many people are customizing their Starbucks drinks on the app, that experience wouldn’t be possible without the presence of one thing:
Top-tier employees to deliver top-tier service in-store.
Starbucks’ Secret to Hiring Success
So, we’ve mentioned Starbucks’ commitment to human connection and employee ownership, but those are far from the only things contributing to the brand’s hiring success.
Starbucks creates (and maintains!) their strong, employee-centric culture through inclusive, empowering, and uplifting strategies and initiatives. Here are a few of Starbucks’ best, (not-so) secret methods for hiring success.
For an ultimate guide on how to write a barista job description, check out part 1 of our hiring series, and don’t miss part 3, where we teach you how to interview baristas!
Partners vs. Employees
Starbucks doesn’t use “employee” to describe staff — they use “Partners” instead. Using Partner promotes the brand’s belief that everyone has equal “ownership in the future success of [the] business,” solidifying Starbucks’ career mantra that “success is best when shared.”
Education and Development
Starbucks Partners also have access to impressive growth, development, and education opportunities. From taking Starbucks Global Academy courses to exploring new career paths with time-limited assignments, Partners have ample chances for learning and self-development.
Perks and Benefits
Finally, Starbucks does a great job at offering perks and benefits people actually enjoy. Combine fun perks like in-store discounts and free Spotify subscriptions with helpful benefits like health coverage and retirement plans, and you’ve got Partners that feel seen, heard, and supported.
Now, let’s see how those “secrets” manifest in Starbucks’ barista job descriptions, shall we?
Case Study #1: Starbucks Barista Job Description
The Highlights
1. An engaging overview of Starbucks culture:
- This section highlights the company values front and center, so the candidate has no question about what Starbucks’ culture is all about
- This section also introduces brand-specific language like Partner so there’s no confusion when reading through the job description
Starbucks Job Description Excerpt:
| Join us and inspire with every cup! At Starbucks, it’s all about connection. People are at the heart of who we are, especially the people that are a part of our store team. We connect with each other, our customers and our communities to make a positive impact every day. We believe in working together to make a difference and in celebrating our shared success, which is why we call ourselves Starbucks “partners.” Starbucks is a place of warmth and belonging, where everyone is welcome, and we value the unique experiences that each partner brings to our team! |
2. A strong emphasis on value-aligned personality traits:
- Most of Starbucks’ “good barista” qualities are personality-related, highlighting the brand’s priority for a value- and culture-aligned candidate
- The number of soft skills vs hard skills makes it obvious that being kind, collaborative, “people person” outweighs knowing how to be a barista
Starbucks Job Description Excerpt:
| As a Starbucks barista, you’ll create the Starbucks Experience for our customers through excellent service and expertly-crafted products. You’ll be in an energetic store environment where you’ll have the ability to master your food & beverage craft, work alongside friends and meet new people every day. A cup of coffee and smile can go a long way, and we believe our baristas have the power to be the best moment in each customer’s day. True to Our Mission & Values, working together we can nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection. You’d make a great barista if you: – Consider yourself a “people person,” and enjoy meeting others. – Love working as a team and appreciate the chance to collaborate. – Understand how to create a great customer service experience. – Have a focus on quality and take pride in your work. – Are open to learning new things (especially the latest beverage recipe!). – Are comfortable with responsibilities like cash-handling and store safety. – Can keep cool and calm in a fast-paced, energetic work environment. – Can maintain a clean and organized workspace. – Have excellent communication skills. |
3. A clear commitment to on-the-job learning and training:
- Starbucks doesn’t require previous experience for its barista position, making it inclusive, welcoming and attractive to any candidate who’s willing to learn
- None of the required knowledge, skills, or abilities are barista-specific; they’re all about a willingness to learn, grow and be part of a like-minded team
Starbucks Job Description Excerpt:
| Summary of Experience: – No previous experience required Basic Qualifications: – Maintain regular and consistent attendance and punctuality, with or without reasonable accommodation – Available to work flexible hours that may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, nights and/or holidays – Meet store operating policies and standards, including providing quality beverages and food products, cash handling and store safety and security, with or without reasonable accommodation – Engage with and understand our customers, including discovering and responding to customer needs through clear and pleasant communication – Prepare food and beverages to standard recipes or customized for customers, including recipe changes such as temperature, quantity of ingredients or substituted ingredients – Available to perform many different tasks within the store during each shift Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: – Ability to learn quickly – Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions and request clarification when needed – Strong interpersonal skills – Ability to work as part of a team – Ability to build relationships |
Why It Works
Starbucks’ Barista job description is a great example of using direct, straightforward language in a way that’s still engaging and enticing. The job description’s friendly tone gives off a warm, welcoming feeling while the direct, simple language tells candidates exactly what they want and need to know. And, by sprinkling the company’s mission, value, and customer-first philosophy throughout the entire job description, candidates are clear on what Starbucks stands for and how they can help further that culture as the brand’s next barista.
Case Study #2: Starbucks Siren Barista Job Description
The Highlights
1. An overview of Starbucks’ unique Roaster & Reserve (R&R) experience:
- This section explains what makes the R&R stand out, demonstrating to candidates the “world-class” experience customers will expect
- The inclusion of Starbucks’ wider company values (e.g. craft and belonging) shows candidates how an R&R role fits into the bigger picture
Starbucks Job Description Excerpt:
| Now Brewing: barista, Main Bar, Siren Retail – Seattle Roastery Our Main Bar baristas provide a quick, elevated experience for our customers searching for to-go offerings at our Roastery & Reserve locations. The Main Bar offers food and handcrafted beverages and brewed coffee offerings featuring our unique Reserve coffees, roasted fresh on-site daily. Located on the first floor of the Seattle Roastery, our Main Bar is often the first stop for our customers, inspiring coffee curiosity through a world-class experience. Baristas at our main bar have the opportunity to showcase their coffee craft and develop their skills while contributing to a team environment steeped in our Mission & Values. Job Summary and Mission This job contributes to Starbucks success of the Roastery & Reserve Store by providing an exceptional experience to all customers as ambassadors of coffee leadership and stewards of quality. Through a commitment to operational excellence, they work together as a team to create the Roastery & Reserve Experience for their customers and one another. The incumbent is responsible for modeling and acting in accordance with Starbucks guiding principles. |
2. A thorough, well-organized breakdown of key responsibilities:
- The use of clear headings and bullet points with simple language makes it easy for candidates to understand exactly what working at an R&R entails
- The detail in the responsibilities section offers transparency about the role’s expectations, so candidates can make a fully educated decision about applying
Starbucks Job Description Excerpt:
| Summary of Key Responsibilities Coffee Expert & Brand Ambassador: – Acts with integrity, honesty and knowledge that promote the culture, values and mission of Starbucks – Provide unique coffee forward experience for every customer – Serve as coffee expert providing exceptional knowledge of food and beverage menu items as well as information regarding preparation methods (roasting process, flavor, etc.) – Demonstrate impeccable composure and ability to thrive in ambiguous situations. Maintains a calm demeanor during periods of high volume or unusual events. – Provides quality beverages, whole bean, and food products consistently for all customers by adhering to all recipe and presentation standards – Follows health, safety and sanitation guidelines and standards – Contributes to positive team environment – Maintains regular and consistent attendance and punctuality Service: – Anticipates customer and store needs by constantly evaluating environment and customers for cues – Delivers exceptional customer service to all customers – Responsible for total service, including table service – Support Roastery and Reserve events model and events execution Sales: – Maintain knowledge of 100+ unique Roastery & Reserve products – Engage customers and leverage selling skills Operations: – Operate in environment with rapid innovation with minimal turnaround time from innovation to product and service delivery to the customer – Follows Starbucks operational policies and procedures, including those for cash handling and safety and security. – Maintain a clean and organized workspace so that partners can locate resources and product as needed |
3. A clear overview of what experience and abilities are non-negotiable:
- All the “must-have” requirements are very clear; candidates will know exactly what skills are non-negotiable to succeed in this position at an R&R
- This section doesn’t just include work experience, it covers everything from physical capabilities (i.e. lifting 35 lbs.) to mental requirements (i.e. memorization)
Starbucks Job Description Excerpt:
| Basic Qualifications: – Ability to bend, twist, squat, reach, crawl, push/pull, climb stairs, and stand without limitation and for long periods of time – Ability to carry 35lb on a consistent basis – Experience in the service or entertainment industry (i.e. restaurant, bar, theater, or hospitality) – Reading, writing, and oral proficiency in the English language – Available to work flexible hours, which could include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays Preferred Qualifications: – 1-2 years of specialty retail sales experience – Ability to carry and balance a tray – High attention to detail with the ability to multitask and prioritize effectively – Ability to learn quickly – Ability to read customer cues and curate an immersive experience based on customer needs – Strong interpersonal skills – Ability to build relationships quickly – Ability to work in multiple positions within different store departments (Zones), performing many different tasks within the departments during each shift – Ability to memorize complex menus, ingredients, beverage & food builds – Facilitation and presentation skills Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions and request clarification when needed – Ability to work as part of a large and matrixed team – Additional languages beneficial |
Why It Works
Starbucks’ Siren Barista job description is a stellar example of distilling a complex, multi-faceted role into a clear, easy-to-digest overview. With clear job responsibilities organized by “type” of duties, candidates can quickly assess whether they’re qualified for the role. Plus, this job description doesn’t shy away from transparency. The level of technical skill, expertise, and commitment a Siren Barista needs is clear, leaving the candidate with no questions about the requirements to deliver the one-of-a-kind experience an R&R promises its visitors.
Case Study #3: Starbucks Store Manager Job Description
The Highlights
1. An emphasis on the position as an impactful, meaningful career move:
- Action-oriented language like “managing”, “driving” and “building” suggests the tasks of this position are ongoing, best suited for a long-term career seeker
- The clearly stated salary, bonus eligibility, and benefits information demonstrate this is a single, full-time role (vs. an open call for multiple baristas, for example)
Starbucks Job Description Excerpt:
| Job Description Brand: Starbucks Coffee Company Job Category: Retail Leadership Job Function: Store Manager Job Level: Manager with Direct Reports Posting Date: Aug 26, 2024 Expiration Date: Pay: $72,400–$101,400 annually Bonus Eligible: Yes Now Brewing – Future Leaders! #tobeapartner Starbucks is known for developing extraordinary leaders who drive business success by doing the right thing for partners (employees), customers and communities – globally. As a Starbucks leader you are driven by a deep sense of purpose. You are aspirational – never a bystander. You take action to make a positive difference every day, and you inspire others to do the same. Benefit Information Our Store Managers bring the Starbucks experience to life by managing store operations, driving financial success, building great teams, and building a meeting place in their communities. They delight and uplift customers through a human connection. Their work goes beyond a perfectly made beverage; it’s about human connection. They enjoy being able to achieve these aspirations autonomously, while leveraging our world class brand and business practices. |
2. A meaningful commitment to leadership, growth, and community:
- Wording like “engage the hearts and minds of your team” and “realize their personal best” reflects a culture of community-building and self-development
- This section highlights several meaningful ways the Store Manager can practice their leadership skills such as inspiring others and creating community impact
Starbucks Job Description Excerpt:
| We will enable you, leveraging your retail experience, to autonomously: – Grow a successful, multi-million dollar business: drive sales leveraging your business acumen, efficiency and problem solving skills – Nurture talent & lead a team: engage the hearts and minds of your team and develop their skills so that they realize their personal best, both as individuals and as thriving teams – Inspire others: become a dynamic brand ambassador dedicated to driving and achieving results through your team – Impact your Community: integrate your business with the community to create better moments in peoples’ lives, from our partners to our customers, communities and planet |
3. A clear, detailed explanation of required experience and expectations:
- The job description explicitly states the experiential and educational requirements alongside acceptable alternatives (which is a great way to be more inclusive)
- This section also includes information about availability and time commitment, with specific (and transparent) reference to weekend and holiday work
Starbucks Job Description Excerpt:
| We’d love to hear from people with: – 3 years retail / customer service management experience or 4+ years of US Military service – Strong organizational, interpersonal and problem solving skills – Entrepreneurial mentality with experience in a sales focused environment – Strong leadership skills and the ability to coach and mentor team partners with professional maturity – Minimum High School or GED Requirements: – Legal documentation establishing your identity and eligibility to be legally employed in the country in which you apply. – Ability to work full time (the work regularly demands in excess of 40 hours per week) including variable hours including early mornings, evenings, weekends and/ or holidays. |
Why It Works
Starbucks’ Store Manager job description does a great job demonstrating the level of involvement and wide-ranging skills this role requires. Simple language is used throughout the entire job description, communicating the role’s expectations and requirements in a straightforward, direct way. However, the simple language doesn’t detract from the overall welcoming, empowering tone. The wording reflects the need for a passionate, driven, and community-oriented candidate — someone who wants to see their work manifest in meaningful results for themselves, their team, their community, and the company.
Craver’s Barista Job Description Template
Starbucks represents the coffee shop’s gold standard in tons of different operational areas, and hiring is no exception.
Whether hiring a part-time Barista or a full-time Store Manager, Starbucks’ job descriptions are chock-full of best practices for coffee shops, including:
- Engaging overviews of the company mission and culture
- A clear emphasis on company values and value-aligned candidates
- A commitment to on-the-job learning and personal development
- Comprehensive descriptions of unique Starbucks features (like the R&R)
- Easy-to-digest formatting with straightforward headings and bullet points
- Clear distinctions between required/non-negotiable skills and “nice-to-haves”
- Explanations of how candidates can create meaningful change in their role
- A commitment to personal development, growth, and leadership
- Detailed, transparent explanations of required experience and expectations
So, as your coffee shop is crafting its next few job postings, remember this:
The only way to hire top-tier employees is with a top-tier job description.
And if you don’t want to start from scratch, that’s exactly why we put together Craver’s Barista Job Description Template—it follows the same best practices, so you can spend less time writing and more time meeting the right candidates.
