Copying something I posted on another thread, my advice:


>If you think an average barista shift is stressful: do not become a shift.
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>If you’re not trying to move up past SS and/or stay with Starbucks for an extended time: do not become a shift.
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>If you need flexibility in your schedule: do not become a shift.
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>Additionally debate if you’re at a high-incident store: all of that would now be Your Responsibility.
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>I appreciated the pay increase and enjoyed having more control over the floor. Watching my coworkers be stressed / exhausted during callouts and having that be my responsibility was exhausting on my soul. The increasing realization of how much we were supposed to be doing/cleaning/etc that we just didn’t have time for wore on my soul. I missed interacting with the other shifts, as many of them I’d just pass by after promoting.
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>This sounds more negative than I mean it, but it’s a lot of things to consider.


Honestly I think a lot of the shifts I knew who weren't stressed out by the job... weren't even trying to finish the tasks they were supposed to be doing (possibly weren't even aware of them) and/or not correctly supporting their baristas.

I’ve been with Starbucks as a barista over two years and it never seemed worth it to me…honestly only benefits are a little bit extra money(which they don’t pay enough) and an addition to your resume. But I’m friends with some shifts and they make it seem horrible…they have to deal with a whole bunch of stuff. One of them even talked about demoting herself. You really have to be the type of person to not care what others think of you because it’s a struggle to keep all baristas happy, I see people get pissy with the shifts about all sorts of things.

I echo a lot of the responses already received here . I was a great shift and my partners really loved me as much as i loved them. I had a really great team at night and a rhythm that always worked. When it was good, it was gratifying and rewarding and even fun. but when it was bad, i’d cry uncontrollably in the back and be unable to pull it together for my team.

since i’m speaking past tense, i’ll tell you that i just recently left for a lower stress job. i’m not the type of person who can just leave work at work (when it came to staebucks anyway, it’s the only job i’ve ever had so it was hard for me to separate myself) and it was ruining my mental health on a consistent basis. being a shift is a constant cycle of doing way more than anyone else for almost no appreciation (though i suppose this is dependent on your store environment). while i had a team that would pull their weight, i was still pulling the weight of the opening shifts 9/10 times because they weren’t getting things done. and the problem with starbucks in general is that if you give an inch they’ll take a mile and when you get burnt out, they’ll tell you you’re putting the pressure on yourself. or if you say that you’re having a hard time getting baristas to do what you ask, they say it’s your problem and offer next to no tools to help you be a better manager. it’s exhausting

basically, i became a shift because i needed the money, but i was making less than $20 an hour after almost 2 full years being a shift (and the best one at my store) and constantly having to fix other shifts problems took a major toll. it generally speaking isn’t worth the money or the frustration

and to rub salt in my wound, i know i was a great shift but when my SM found out i was looking to leave she essentially said that i wasn’t cut out to be a leader and some people aren’t meant to work in jobs like this… like sure i don’t thrive in a high stress environment for long without burning out but let’s not act like i wasn’t the most consistent person working there long term, and that half the staff said they were going to start looking for something else once i left . i think that speaks to how good of a leader i was to the team.

in summary do what’s best for you, it’s a good learning experience in leadership and looks really good on a resume, but it takes a LOT out of you

(editing for more context: i think it also depends on your age. i’m 21, i became a shift at 19, i think being able to let things go also comes with experience which i still don’t entirely have.)

Most fun position Starbucks has if you’re intelligent and good with people!

The benefit for me, personally, is the satisfaction from ensuring you can actually support your partners in a more direct way.

I don't like my partners not having time to take breaks. I also don't like my partners being stuck in the same position their entire shift and/or purposely being put in a position they struggle with or genuinely despise.

As a shift I get to ensure my partners get all their breaks, have as much support as I can provide, and also get a consistent rotation and are able to KNOW they can tell me they want or need to move and they WILL be heard.

I didn't get to make that happen as a barista.

Also if you thrive on time and resource management it's a great job to have. I truly enjoy the process of planning and adjusting that plan as the day progresses .

All I can say is it looks really impressive on a resume depending on how long you keep the position.