Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Is Store Manager worth it? Please share your perspective. (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Laeryken
Hey folks.
I'm in a unique position where I believe a path to ASM is well within my reach, but I'm not sure if I want to go for it (at 3+ year commitment, in my mind), or if I want to take this opportunity to transition to non-food-service customer support?
Background: I'm in my mid-30s and just finished my Business: management degree, with a 15-year resume of customer service and training experience and 6+ years of ASM/Supervisor work. Now, with my degree and networking, I expect to be able to find a job in different places, such as tech support call centers where I have a network. I also know two excellent, local district managers who I respect and would be willing to work for.
But, a part of me wonders... take this opportunity in front of me? Store managers, are you glad you did it? Has it given your career the boost and experience you had hoped? Do you feel the Management training was extensive and valuable? Should I run for the office job while I can?
A part of me loves the job. The thrill of pushing peek COSDs, the feeling of promoting talented partners, the joy of a chat with one of your favorite regulars in what is your coffee shop. That all appeals to me.
But labor cuts, corporate demands, broken machines, dirty bathrooms, 4am opener call-outs, trash runs, and having to continue to brew pike and "Just say yes" to demanding assholes?
Please share your stories, especially those of you who promoted from within through the ASM position. Thank you for any feedback.
I'm in a unique position where I believe a path to ASM is well within my reach, but I'm not sure if I want to go for it (at 3+ year commitment, in my mind), or if I want to take this opportunity to transition to non-food-service customer support?
Background: I'm in my mid-30s and just finished my Business: management degree, with a 15-year resume of customer service and training experience and 6+ years of ASM/Supervisor work. Now, with my degree and networking, I expect to be able to find a job in different places, such as tech support call centers where I have a network. I also know two excellent, local district managers who I respect and would be willing to work for.
But, a part of me wonders... take this opportunity in front of me? Store managers, are you glad you did it? Has it given your career the boost and experience you had hoped? Do you feel the Management training was extensive and valuable? Should I run for the office job while I can?
A part of me loves the job. The thrill of pushing peek COSDs, the feeling of promoting talented partners, the joy of a chat with one of your favorite regulars in what is your coffee shop. That all appeals to me.
But labor cuts, corporate demands, broken machines, dirty bathrooms, 4am opener call-outs, trash runs, and having to continue to brew pike and "Just say yes" to demanding assholes?
Please share your stories, especially those of you who promoted from within through the ASM position. Thank you for any feedback.
MrDragon7656 5 points 4y ago
After three years you need to make a choice.
Not on if you want to be a manager or not, but if you want to be in this job anymore. Check your pay, needs, desires and future ideas and see where you stand.
If the answer is yes you do go for it, just remember there is nothing special about Starbucks any longer it is another large world wide fast food company. And we managers do not get the best of lives. Only thing I can say is put your staff first and company second.
Not on if you want to be a manager or not, but if you want to be in this job anymore. Check your pay, needs, desires and future ideas and see where you stand.
If the answer is yes you do go for it, just remember there is nothing special about Starbucks any longer it is another large world wide fast food company. And we managers do not get the best of lives. Only thing I can say is put your staff first and company second.
Laeryken [OP] 2 points 4y ago
Yeah, it’s been 5 years at Starbucks now. But three was while in college full time, so it was meeting my needs. Only this past spring did I graduate and am now ready to either go for SM or look elsewhere.
MrDragon7656 3 points 4y ago
One thing I got taught by a DM was that if you wish to go past SM, then you either have to be very lucky or someone needs to.. pass on. I know morbid, but that advice was basically that once someone gets in to a corporate position it's apparently to good to let go of so they end up staying there for good.
Hell our UK DT Manager also manages all of the EU and Russia at the moment. Obviously her job isn't to run them but to monitor standards and decide where to go with DT. But still she's been there for like 15 years now
Hell our UK DT Manager also manages all of the EU and Russia at the moment. Obviously her job isn't to run them but to monitor standards and decide where to go with DT. But still she's been there for like 15 years now
Laeryken [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Yeah, I do understand that DM is a hard job to get; this would definitely be a stepping stone for me, and I would likely not get dicked around with the whole of becoming DM if it didn't look like a serious possibility.
yonner075 3 points 4y ago
My question to you is: are you willing to put everything down at a moments notice for your store?
That’s how it is, I was a supervisor before I stepped down for grad school and literally every time there was a big issue my SM was called for it all. Down 2 shifts? Pick up the slack.
I believe it’s a great opportunity but if you have the means to have an actual work/life balance I wouldn’t pass it up. I enjoy working for this company but even as a shift it’s rough to have a work/life balance.
That’s how it is, I was a supervisor before I stepped down for grad school and literally every time there was a big issue my SM was called for it all. Down 2 shifts? Pick up the slack.
I believe it’s a great opportunity but if you have the means to have an actual work/life balance I wouldn’t pass it up. I enjoy working for this company but even as a shift it’s rough to have a work/life balance.
Laeryken [OP] 2 points 4y ago
Yeah, it's definitely a lot at times, but so are a lot of other jobs. But yes, I keep thinking that, if I can get out of food service it won't be nearly as bad.
yonner075 3 points 4y ago
That is true, it all depends on your DM/superiors.
monkeyeighty8 3 points 4y ago
So odd that \*today\* is the day I see your post.
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Today is bittersweet for me. I've been an ASM for exactly 3 years today. My last DM & my current DM are big on sourcing outside talent. I've seen 3 outside hires get their own store. I continue to do my job well enough that I have -0- CAs in my file/haven't been put on a PIP-yet I'm not worthy enough to run a store of my own.
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My SM is dual-managing 2 stores, running herself ragged, yet no store for me (I'm just expected to run my store in her absence, for my pay rate).
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But I bonused today for last quarter (because we actually comped over LY, due to Hurricane Irma), so I have that going for me, which is nice.
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TLDR; think about it long & hard. What is leadership like in your area? Do they promote from within?
​
Today is bittersweet for me. I've been an ASM for exactly 3 years today. My last DM & my current DM are big on sourcing outside talent. I've seen 3 outside hires get their own store. I continue to do my job well enough that I have -0- CAs in my file/haven't been put on a PIP-yet I'm not worthy enough to run a store of my own.
​
My SM is dual-managing 2 stores, running herself ragged, yet no store for me (I'm just expected to run my store in her absence, for my pay rate).
​
But I bonused today for last quarter (because we actually comped over LY, due to Hurricane Irma), so I have that going for me, which is nice.
​
TLDR; think about it long & hard. What is leadership like in your area? Do they promote from within?
Laeryken [OP] 3 points 4y ago
Yeah, that sounds like some horse shit right there, and that's the kind of stuff that scares me. I'm really sorry to hear that they're not respecting your time and energy. For the record, I believe 3 years of ASM could get you a manager job at almost any other company out there if you can get an interview.
monkeyeighty8 2 points 4y ago
At this point I have to regroup & pull up my big girl panties & get some self-worth going to have the energy to start looking for something else.
I hope your leadership/district is different!
Good luck to you, Partner!
I hope your leadership/district is different!
Good luck to you, Partner!
nikkicarter1111 2 points 4y ago
It's a hard step to make, and everyone is different. My partner recently (in January) left Starbucks after 8 years, and realizing that even if she could make it from ASM to SM, SM probably wasn't worth the insane amount of work and stress. She's got her CNA licence now, and has started applying to nursing schools to get her BSN. It's a huge career change at 30, and it feels like giving up at first, but I think it can be worth it. Good luck to you on your journey, and I hope that whatever you decide to do, you're happy!
monkeyeighty8 2 points 4y ago
Thank you for the kind words-it means a lot!
Laeryken [OP] 2 points 4y ago
You wouldn't have gotten to ASM if you didn't have significant worth, value, and ability. You're practically running a store right now, and I'll bet you take great care of your team.
You update that resume! You go get your promotion, externally if need be. If you can ASM, you can for sure handle the next step.
You update that resume! You go get your promotion, externally if need be. If you can ASM, you can for sure handle the next step.
monkeyeighty8 2 points 4y ago
Thanks a latte, Partner!
nikkicarter1111 2 points 4y ago
I've seen 3 managers spiral straight to mental health breakdown and quit in the 5 years I've been with the company. I've had 5 managers at 2 stores in 2 cities, and through borrowing around the area, and through my partner, I've personally been friends with 4 more. The only one that ever seemed happy and healthy was only a manager for 8 months before he demoted himself to shift supervisor. My partner used to be an ASM, she worked 60-70 hour weeks every week for 7 months (while being salaried for 40hr/week) before she stepped down. She cried almost every day after work. She was with the company for 8 years before quitting less than a year after she left the ASM role.
I personally think that because of where I've worked, I've seen some of the more stressful locations take their toll, and I wouldn't expect everywhere to be similar, but I still wouldn't recommend SM to anyone. My current SM is considering quitting in the next few months. He's been an SM since March of this year, and he looks worse and worse every day.
If you can hang, and you are stable and have a good work-life balance, I think it's probably a good job, but I think you have to carefully manage your time and be okay with being expected to be all things to all people at all times. \[Spoiler: that's damn near impossible\].
I wish you the best of luck, whatever you decide.
I personally think that because of where I've worked, I've seen some of the more stressful locations take their toll, and I wouldn't expect everywhere to be similar, but I still wouldn't recommend SM to anyone. My current SM is considering quitting in the next few months. He's been an SM since March of this year, and he looks worse and worse every day.
If you can hang, and you are stable and have a good work-life balance, I think it's probably a good job, but I think you have to carefully manage your time and be okay with being expected to be all things to all people at all times. \[Spoiler: that's damn near impossible\].
I wish you the best of luck, whatever you decide.
Laeryken [OP] 2 points 4y ago
Yeah, it’s not an easy job, that’s for damn sure.
In California, at least, even store managers are salary non exempt, I’m not sure if that’s company wife, but you make money for your overtime now, which probably results in less abuse of the store manager - or at least they make the extra money.
I definitely need to talk to a couple of my old SM buddies over beers, that’s for sure.
In California, at least, even store managers are salary non exempt, I’m not sure if that’s company wife, but you make money for your overtime now, which probably results in less abuse of the store manager - or at least they make the extra money.
I definitely need to talk to a couple of my old SM buddies over beers, that’s for sure.
nikkicarter1111 3 points 4y ago
I definitely would. We used to live in Seattle, where supposedly you aren't supposed to work more than 40hr/week as a salaried partner....but every SM and ASM in the downtown retail core that I'd ever met sure as heck did.
Funnily enough, we live in CA now :D
Funnily enough, we live in CA now :D
Laeryken [OP] 2 points 4y ago
Oh they definitely pull 50-60 hour weeks... I just know that they get paid for their time.
nikkicarter1111 1 points 4y ago
That's good!
traumstdu 2 points 4y ago
I'm currently an SM, been with the company over 5 years and went up through the ranks.
Do you like a challenge that literally never ends? Then SM is for you. I both love and hate my position, but most days it's just love. One thing that can make or break you is your DM, because now they're your immediate boss and they control your workload. What they don't control is in your hands - if you have a good team that you want to develop they can take on some of your work too.
Not sure where you're located but taking a peek at Glassdoor to check salaries is a good idea. For my market I feel very fairly compensated, so I'm saving up before planning on moving on to something else within the company.
Do you like a challenge that literally never ends? Then SM is for you. I both love and hate my position, but most days it's just love. One thing that can make or break you is your DM, because now they're your immediate boss and they control your workload. What they don't control is in your hands - if you have a good team that you want to develop they can take on some of your work too.
Not sure where you're located but taking a peek at Glassdoor to check salaries is a good idea. For my market I feel very fairly compensated, so I'm saving up before planning on moving on to something else within the company.
Laeryken [OP] 2 points 4y ago
Thanks, I appreciate the response; it sounds like we've had a similar trajectory. My current DM is a pretty good leader, and I know another nearby who I respect and would be willing to work for, I think.
I'll check glassdoor around me, good call. However, I know that bonuses become a part of it -- how does that all play in? I know they can be hard to get and be a significant portion of salary.
I'll check glassdoor around me, good call. However, I know that bonuses become a part of it -- how does that all play in? I know they can be hard to get and be a significant portion of salary.
traumstdu 1 points 4y ago
Bonuses are based on your store's sales, the goal depends on if you're a dt or cafe store. The higher your sales are past that goal, the higher your bonus is. You get them quarterly, so 4 times a year.
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