Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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SHIFTS...was it this hard for you to be promoted?? (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by ksmurphs
ok i’m going to try to make this short and sweet!.
i worked at starbucks for almost a year at my old store, about 6-7 months in i did voice that i would love to go further in the company and try my hand at being a shift! my manager was really into it and said he would train me himself. he never did, for the next months i was there he constantly just egged me on thinking he’d get around to it and finally at the last month of me being there he told me my customer connections had to be better? the lack of communication sent me over the edge and i quit!
fast forward to my new store !
in the interview i did voice my concerns on lack of communication and my manger agreed with me and did mention the store needed some work. i’ve been here for maybe 6 months and i love it! a couple months ago i did voice to my new manger that i was interested in becoming a shift and she said she’d talk to our DM...never did. so last week i reminded her and told her i was willing to relocate (since our store has enough shifts) she was very nice about it and said she’d ask around! i haven’t heard anything from her and today i overheard her saying we’re getting a new shift....i tried touching base with her when she was off the floor but she basically just shut me down and told me she has too much on her mind right now.
currently my manger is kind of running two stores so i understand the stress she’s under. but i can’t help feeling frustrated! i’ve put so much work into starbucks and it sucks not feeling appreciated or heard.
i worked at starbucks for almost a year at my old store, about 6-7 months in i did voice that i would love to go further in the company and try my hand at being a shift! my manager was really into it and said he would train me himself. he never did, for the next months i was there he constantly just egged me on thinking he’d get around to it and finally at the last month of me being there he told me my customer connections had to be better? the lack of communication sent me over the edge and i quit!
fast forward to my new store !
in the interview i did voice my concerns on lack of communication and my manger agreed with me and did mention the store needed some work. i’ve been here for maybe 6 months and i love it! a couple months ago i did voice to my new manger that i was interested in becoming a shift and she said she’d talk to our DM...never did. so last week i reminded her and told her i was willing to relocate (since our store has enough shifts) she was very nice about it and said she’d ask around! i haven’t heard anything from her and today i overheard her saying we’re getting a new shift....i tried touching base with her when she was off the floor but she basically just shut me down and told me she has too much on her mind right now.
currently my manger is kind of running two stores so i understand the stress she’s under. but i can’t help feeling frustrated! i’ve put so much work into starbucks and it sucks not feeling appreciated or heard.
mcr0414 3 points 3y ago
I see it happen. It take awhile. I’m at 7 years and on my 3rd store. I have seen partners that should of been promoted, that were. I have seen people who should’ve not been. I have literally seen it all. I personally was a partner for maybe 5 months and had 3 shifts quit and was forced to do development day which turned into a panel on the spot and forced to promote otherwise I would be transferred out. I promoted was a shift for almost 6 years and demoted. I make 14.75 as a barista after demoting and work another job and for me it just worked out. I stayed very close to every dm and did my job and worked hard. I don’t want to promote and I’m one of those people who doesn’t think it’s worth it because for me personally I wasn’t make much more but working open to close and pulling way more weight than others because i was considered a strong partner. It’s alot more responsibility. You can’t leave until another key holder is there. And depending on your shift crew was it worth it? I was tired of the weekends and shifts I didn’t want to work. But Starbucks all in all is an amazing company and is great to its partners if that’s what you want. You got this. Keep in touch with dm and sm and don’t settle for what you are worth. Friends, family, and your health ALWAYS come first . I wish I could go back and remember than instead of worrying about my team. I had 3 shifts quit and I was the only shift with the sm and we were fine. It will ALWAYS work out. You got this!
ksmurphs [OP] 1 points 3y ago
thank you i really appreciate it!! i know it’s a lot more responsibility but i feel like i can do it and be good at it, i have lots of support from my coworkers who all think the same, hopefully my sm will notice soon!
colonade17 2 points 3y ago
I don't understand what managers are looking for. I've had the majority of my SSV team support promoting a barista only to have the SM shoot it down without giving much of a reason or working on a PDP with the person. I've also seen people promoted who I questioned, only to have them get fired a few months later.
When I got promoted I was endlessly frustrated by the lack of clear guidance from my SM about what he was looking for. It's hard to know what to improve if the person who makes the decision about promoting you doesn't give you clear information.
When I got promoted I was endlessly frustrated by the lack of clear guidance from my SM about what he was looking for. It's hard to know what to improve if the person who makes the decision about promoting you doesn't give you clear information.
ksmurphs [OP] 1 points 3y ago
exactly!! i don’t understand how there’s so much lack of communication within starbucks and the whole promoting topic, i’ve heard multiple baristas and shifts having this exact same story it’s depressing
colonade17 2 points 3y ago
A big part of the problem is the inconsistent experience and training of store managers. Especially internal hires who have no outside management or business experience. I can see them fumbling around and not knowing what to do all the time.
kirzyle 2 points 3y ago
I not gonna lie... at my store I definitely think it's more about who my manager likes over who has the ability/knowledge to be a shift.
Recently we held interviews for a shift position and there were several applicants, one was a shift at a previous store and transferred to ours and I have managerial certs and have been the manager of a bar and grill previous to Starbucks--- both of us were turned down and the job was given to the 18 year old girl who's the younger sister of another shift at our store..
All that being said I think it depends more on the manager than the actual person. Which is upsetting because I too have worked very hard and put in alot of effort and passion into learning and working at Starbucks but haven't been allowed to grow beyond barista trainer.
Recently we held interviews for a shift position and there were several applicants, one was a shift at a previous store and transferred to ours and I have managerial certs and have been the manager of a bar and grill previous to Starbucks--- both of us were turned down and the job was given to the 18 year old girl who's the younger sister of another shift at our store..
All that being said I think it depends more on the manager than the actual person. Which is upsetting because I too have worked very hard and put in alot of effort and passion into learning and working at Starbucks but haven't been allowed to grow beyond barista trainer.
ksmurphs [OP] 1 points 3y ago
definitely feel that at my store as well!
Smazlynne 2 points 3y ago
I’m not a shift but at my store it seems like it’s hard but also not hard? Like my manager promoted my friend really fast because she had previous management experience and we really needed shifts at the time but my other friend was about two years in and had to be a barista trainer first. I reached out to my manager about 6 months ago that I was interested in developing and she also stated I needed to become a barista trainer first and I just barely finished the training and train my first ever green be an later this week and I still have to get a few more under my belt and then have our DM run an assessment before we move any further
IcePhoenix96 1 points 3y ago
If you're dead set on the promotion in the next month or two, keep the pressure on your SM(who will forget or look over you when it comes time to promote otherwise) by becoming a trainer (if you aren't already), coach other baristas when you can, make GREAT customer connections, do the PDCs and Development days when able, and learn all the policies you can and share.
Finally, while doing all that, start picking up shifts at other stores in your district. Wow them by showing all this off and kicking ass in their store and then tell them you've been trying to become a shift. Networking lowkey works still even within the company. I was lucky bc I was basically handed the SSV position both times I expressed interest because I was doing all of the above and they needed SSVs. I waited about 2 months the first time from initially saying I would want to, and then 1 month the second time I was promoted.
Edit: Be the person people turn to when something goes wrong or they have a question and your SM/SSV isnt there. Thats who the SM will promote generally.
Finally, while doing all that, start picking up shifts at other stores in your district. Wow them by showing all this off and kicking ass in their store and then tell them you've been trying to become a shift. Networking lowkey works still even within the company. I was lucky bc I was basically handed the SSV position both times I expressed interest because I was doing all of the above and they needed SSVs. I waited about 2 months the first time from initially saying I would want to, and then 1 month the second time I was promoted.
Edit: Be the person people turn to when something goes wrong or they have a question and your SM/SSV isnt there. Thats who the SM will promote generally.
Iworkatstarbucks 1 points 3y ago
I’m not a shift but I’m in a similar problem. I was offered a shift position did all the training said I was ready and then.. nothing happened. I brought it up with my manager twice and she says oh yea and then still nothing happens. Now 2 other people are becoming shifts one on probation and here I am still a barista even though I know everything..
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