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Starbucks Interview Questions & Reviews in Canada

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Web: www.starbucks.com | HQ: Seattle, WA

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Updated Feb 14, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
Ratings are reflective of location and job title.

Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 302 ratings

2.6

“Easy” Interview

Interview Experience [?] Based on 302 ratings

Positive	59%
Neutral	30%
Negative	11%

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1–10 of 16 Starbucks Interviews

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3.0

Average Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed May 2010 in Montreal, QC (Canada) (took 4+ weeks)

-first contact with recruiter
-first interview by phone
-second interview at the corporate office

Interview Questions

There was no difficult questions

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Oct 2011 in Calgary, AB (Canada) (took 6 days)

Process began online, with the usual profile setup and filling in of details. Parts of the form can be a little frustrating (I took too long on one page, and got booted out of the form, so I had to fill it in all over again). Nice part was that I could apply to multiple stores at once, with just a basic check-box list.

Got a phone call 2 days later at 9AM (didn't pick up because I wasn't awake yet), phoned back and set up an interview for the following day.

Arrived a few minutes early, was offered a free drink (got a Grande Awake Tea), and say in the general seating area. Met with the assistant manager, who had a print-out of a number of questions, had a great one-on-one chat about working for Starbucks, and her background with the company. Shortly afterwards, she called over her Manager, who asked me a few questions as well (and asked for more clarification on some answers I gave to the assistant manager). Was told I would hear from them the next day. The overall interview took just under an hour.

Got a phone call the next day from the Manager with the offer, and got my schedule for the rest of the week right then.

Interview Questions

Give an example of a time when you had to make a decision, when you weren't sure whether it was the right one or not.

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Personality Test.

More Starbucks Barista Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Sep 2011 in Oakville, ON (Canada) (took a day)

I applied online to about four locations and two days later they called me in for an interview. The manager asked if I could come in THAT day for an interview but I said I couldnt. This was my very first job interview and first potential job I was so nervous. She interviewed me the next day. I walked in about 5 minutes early and the manager offered me a free drink, i picked a passionfruit iced tea. We sat down on the tables and she asked me questions and even though I had no previous job experience she told me to relate it to life, school etc. Im a third year nursing student and she REALLY liked that. I told her all the parallels between working as a nurse and working here and she loved it. She said that a lot of starbucks employees are nurses and that they do exceptionally well. So I think she liked me from the start. I just got lucky I think, we got along really well. She hired me on the spot.

You just need to smile, be confident and prepare. This website helped me a lot in this interview I knew everything she was going to ask me. Emphasize that you are friendly, enthusiastic and welcoming. And that you really value customers and making them happy. I have no customer service experience but I still told her that I look forward to handing people their much needed coffee in the morning, and see their eyes light up. Make it seem like you would LOVE to work here, and it should be fine :).

Interview Questions

Why do you want to work for starbucks?

Answer Question

A time where you had to make a hard decision

Answer Question

A time where you left a customer/patient/someone completely unsatisfied and what did you do to fix it?

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Personality Test.

More Starbucks Barista Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Apr 2009 in Calgary, AB (Canada) (took 3 weeks)

The interview process was thorough and well planned with lots of detailed questions.

Negotiation Details

I was offered less because of a "lack of experience in retail" and it took me three years to get back to my original request even though I met or exceeded nearly all metrics set before me.

My advice ask for more they need you more than you need them in Alberta and you will never be payed fairly to your experience or success level.

Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Background Check.

More Starbucks Starbucks Store Manager Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Aug 2011 in Toronto, ON (Canada) (took 1+ week)

I applied online earlier but was unable to connect with the recruiter. The online application requires you to upload your cover letter and/or resume and complete a skills/personality test that they call a "Virtual Job Tryout". I reapplied again 2 months later and was called again and had a phone interview that lasted roughly 10-15 mins. From there I had an in person interview with the recruiter the next day that was your basic behavioral interview ("Tell me a time when..."). That interview lasted approximately 40 minutes. I then had an interview 6 days later with a district manager that was again behavioral and lasted approximately 40 minutes. Both interviewers were very professional and made me feel comfortable. Both interviews were held at their Toronto head office on Yonge St. Next I had an "informal" meeting with the regional director and the district manager of the store we were meeting at. It was short, maybe 20-30 mins and we just talked about why I want to work at Starbucks, why I left my previous job, what were the opportunities in Starbucks I had noticed, etc. I was then called later that day and offered the position.

Anyone interviewing with Starbucks should have already thought about their previous experiences with angry customers, stressful situations, risks they've taken, their weaknesses, their management style, etc..

For every answer, they are looking for a Situation, an Action, and a Result. What was your Situation? What Actions did you take? What were the Results of those actions? If you do not satisfy those parameters with your answer, they will ask probing questions to find out what part of the S/A/R you didn't tell them.

Interview Questions

Can you tell me of a time where you took a risk and weren't sure of how it would turn out?

Answer Question

Can you tell me about a time where you were faced with an upset customer and the steps you took to make it right?

Answer Question

Can you tell me about a time where you were faced with a situation where you weren't sure what to do? What happened?

Answer Question

Can you tell me about a time where you disagreed with your boss? What did you do about it and what happened?

Answer Question

Negotiation Details

It is pretty one sided although they do offer a competitive salary for the position. I was happy with the initial statement of what I would get during the interview process, as it was more than I had expected. Then they upped it even more when they actually offered me the position. Don't expect to be breaking the bank with this position, but it is very competitive especially when you factor in the 15% bonus potential, $500+ in free coffee a year, up to $1000 a year in QASA certification bonus, among other benefits.

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview, a Skills Test, a Personality Test and a Background Check.

More Starbucks Store Manager Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Received and Declined Offer

Interviewed Jul 2011 in Toronto, ON (Canada) (took 3 weeks)

Applied on line for barista job. They called and asked me to attend thier job fair. I went and waited for over 2.5 hours with a million other people. Said they`d call by the end of the week, they didn`t. They called late the next week to arange a second interview. Both interviewers used exactly the same questions so I dont see the point in having 2 interviews. Pretty easy. Said they`d call by Monday, they didn`t. Called the next week and offered job.

Interview Questions

How have you handled negetive feedback in the past

Answer Question

Tell me about a time you had to deal with an unsatisfied customer

Answer Question

Reason for Declining

5 am start time (the subway isn`t even open yet)

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

More Starbucks Barista Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jul 2011 in Toronto, ON (Canada) (took a day)

I went to a job fair looking to hire baristas for multiple locations in downtown Toronto. During this, I had to speak with two managers for a location very close to my house. They asked many very generic questions.

Interview Questions

How do you prioritize multiple tasks at once?

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through an Employee Referral and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

More Starbucks Barista Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Oct 2010 in Vancouver, BC (Canada) (took a day)

It is a behavioural interview. Be sure to have examples in the STAR format so that you can describe your specific skills and how they are relevant to the job. It is a very positive culture and they are looking for people who are going to give legendary customer service and be a great team player.

Interview Questions

Describe a time when you did not meet customer expectations and what specifically you did to vreate a more positive experience for them.

Answer Question

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

More Starbucks Shift Supervisor Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Jun 2010 in Toronto, ON (Canada) (took 1 week)

First you walk into a store, they usually tell you to apply online...this is a formality that all Starbucks now require. To help your chances, you can be friendly, "outgoing," order a simple drink i.e. latte/cappuccino (not some bullsht vanilla frappa triple non skim sugar fat craap), inquire about the coffee of the day etc.. make sure to ask for the manager and inform him/her that you will be applying online. Look good and don't be shy, make a good first impression. Leave your CV/resume with the manager even though you will be essentially resubmitting it online.

Now, for the online part. It consists of reposting everything on your resume, availability, etc... and a very long and exhausting personality test. This is only to screen you so your application can get through to the manager. No one wants serial killer pedophile psychopaths making their frappa crappa lattes. Answer it as you would any personality test. If you are shy, introverted, dishonest and lazy, you will probably convey that in your results, unless you're smart - be careful there are trick questions, repeated questions to make sure there's consistency etc... I suggest just answering the questions normally if you don't get the job screw it dunkin donuts will hire you in a second.

If you passed the screening the manager will see a couple of your answers and your availability, previous employment etc...he will by no means have a complete idea of who you are, so bring your CV and your best bullsht and behavior to the interview. The managers usually follow a preset list of questions in some strange logical progression. They are atypical but understandable. As an international brand and chain there has to be some type of standardization. The manager will usually hire on gut feeling, along with satisfactory answers to the questions. Look good, as usual, smile, be friendly, easygoing, but don't look like an idiot. Don't suck up, don't have brainfarts and don't EVER mention past errors. They want to know the mistakes you made and how you handled them. There HAS to be a happy ending to all these stories or else you will be giving yourself a happy ending thinking about the job you could have gotten if you weren't so dumb.

OK, so you've got the gist, now for questions: Why Starbucks? Mention a time you were given a negative criticism and how you handled that, changed your behavior as a result etc..., Mention a time you had to plan and organize something, a big project etc.. and how you handled that, When you're new to a job, how do you communicate, reach out to other people, fit in, get to know them etc..., Mention a time you did something wrong and how you handled the aftermath of your error, Mention a time where you were asked something and didn't know the answer and how you handled that situation, and of course, tell me about yourself...the manager will ask a couple of questions about your school, your interests, activities, work ethic...why you are the way you are....All you have to do is convey to the manager that you are happy, friendly, good with customer service (very personable), but also work hard, won't be late or call in sick, and work well in a team. You have to appear mature, confident and knowledgeable. This is sound advice for any job, so the same applies here.

Personally, I think it's a load of bullsh*t that you have to go through all this just to serve coffee - I mean as long as you're not some cave animal that has never spoken to a human being before you should be fine - but these days it is what it is. Don't be stupid, you'll get the job.

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Personality Test.

More Starbucks Barista Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Oct 2010 in Toronto, ON (Canada) (took 1 week)

I applied online through the website, had to answer a 45 minute situation based questionaire (questions regarding conflict resolution, team work, customer service)
Got a call the next day to come to the store for an interview
Went to the store for a behavioural took about 1 hour and 20 minutes then had a second interview at another store for 20 minutes and then got a call with the job offer
For a barista position the interview process was very lengthy and complex. Similar to what you would expect at a large company.