How to Replicate Starbucks' Barista Job Description

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.  

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

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

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 a kind, collaborative, "people person" outweighs knowing how to be a barista 

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

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. 

Craver’s FREE barista job description makes hiring your next barista easier than ever.

Case Study #2: Starbucks Siren Barista Job Description

The Highlights

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

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

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) 

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. 

With Craver's FREE barista job description template, your next hire will be your best.

Case Study #3: Starbucks Store Manager Job Description

The Highlights 

An emphasis on the position as an impactful, meaningful career move:

• Action-orientated 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)

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 

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

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. 

Wrap Up

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.

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Written By Melissa Mertsis

Melissa is a freelance writer for Craver.