Looking to make some extra money? Or perhaps you’re curious about the job duties of a barista? Or maybe you’re interested in working at a place that caters to coffee lovers? Whatever your motivation, you’ve come to the right place. Because there’s no better way to learn about a potential job than by doing it for real.
After all, working is a big part of life. And no matter what kind of job you land, you learn a lot from the experiences you have. So, if you’re ready to get started, read on to learn about the job requirements for working at Starbucks, and how old you have to be to land the gig.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Work at Starbucks?
The catch here is that you need to be at least 18 years old to work at the Starbucks store. If you’re under 18, you can’t legally work in the United States, so you’ll need to look elsewhere for a job. This Starbucks job requirement is in place to keep the company’s stores staffed by workers of all ages. In some states, like California, workers under the age of 18 are not allowed to serve customers.
Starbucks stores are usually open from 5:30 AM to 11 PM, seven days a week. Because the hours can be grueling for a teenager, many parents worry that their teens will have an easy time sneaking their hours. But really, it’s hard to sneak out of the house at 11 PM on a school night. Even though it’s fun to imagine we do things like sneak out of the house or have a late night at the movies, it’s not the reality for most teens.
Does Starbucks hire people as young as 17? – Yes. Starbucks allows 17-year-olds to work in a number of roles in its locations since they are above the minimum hiring age.
Does Starbucks hire people as young as 16? – Of course. At all Starbucks stores, sixteen-year-olds are eligible for employment.
Is Starbucks hiring at the age of 15? – Yes. Starbucks’ age-to-work restrictions varies by state, although 15-year-olds may work as baristas in several states.
Starbucks Employs 14-Year-Olds in Which States? — Minors as young as 14 years old may work at Starbucks in Montana exclusively, as long as they follow state child labor standards on work permits and hours.
Starbucks Job Requirements
- Be able to stand for long periods of time.
- This is something you don’t notice at first, but it’s necessary for a barista. The most common Starbucks job requirement is for the employee to have a good posture. You’ll be standing for long hours, and it’s not healthy to hunch over.
- Be able to lift up to 25 pounds
- While you won’t be lifting very heavy bags on a daily basis, you’ll be lifting bags from the floor to the counter, and some of the bigger items, like the espresso machine. You’ll have to be able to lift up to 25 pounds without breaking form or hurting yourself.
- Have good eyesight
- You won’t be working near the cash register, but you’ll still have to be able to see what you’re doing. This means being able to see without a computer, tablet, or phone between you and the thing you’re working on.
- Have strong hand-to-eye coordination
- This is another often-overlooked job requirement. You’ll need to be able to pour coffee, make espresso drinks, and work with the other baristas in a coordinated manner.
- Be able to tap and swipe a register – You’ll probably be working behind a register, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need to know how to tap and swipe a register. Every job requires some level of skill, but it’s often overlooked, and you’ll need to be able to tap and swipe a register.
- Be able to clean a coffee machine – This is a big one. It’s not a complicated job requirement, but it’s important. When you’re not working at a Starbucks store, this is the first thing you’ll notice.
Starbucks Employee Job Responsibilities
- Take the order of a customer
- This is the beginning of a job at Starbucks. This is the “Hello, I’d like to order a whole bunch of things.” At this point, the customer has to tell you what they want.
- Make sure the order is ready
- Once the customer gives you their order, you have to make sure it’s ready to go. This is one of the key job requirements of a Starbucks employee.
- Take payment from the customer
- Once the customer is ready to pay, you’ll take their payment. This is a part of the job that is often overlooked.
- Help the customer clean up
- Once the customer is done with their barista experience, they’ll usually want to clean up. You help them with this part of the job.
- Communicate with management
- At some point, you’ll want to communicate with management. This could be when you’re on break, on a scheduled break, during training, or if there’s a problem at your store.
- Clean and sanitize the store
- You’ll have to clean and sanitize the store every day while on duty. This includes wiping down all the tables, counters, and floors.
How to Apply for a Job at Starbucks
When it comes to applying for a job at Starbucks, you’ll have to submit an application online. This helps the company gauge your qualifications, and what they think your strengths are. If you’re interested in working at a particular location, you can contact that location’s manager and ask if they need help staffing their store. You can apply for a job at Starbucks during normal business hours. So, you don’t need to wait for a slow week to apply for a job. You can apply at any time of the day.
Starbucks Employee Job Requirements
Starbucks employees are expected to meet certain requirements in order to be considered for a job. These may include:
- A minimum age requirement (varies by location)
- Availability to work flexible hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Ability to stand for long periods of time and lift up to 25 pounds
- Strong communication and customer service skills
- Basic math skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
- Prior experience in a customer service or food service role is preferred but not required
- A willingness to learn and adapt to Starbucks’ policies and procedures
- Adherence to Starbucks’ dress code and grooming standards.
