Working at Starbucks

[mtizzle]

So I stopped by the Starbucks that just opened in my town. Their coffee's okay, but not my favorite. I need a job so I can start buying my bass stuff and taking my girlfriend out as my parents have told me that they're going to quit paying for all of that stuff. Maybe it was because it's brand new, but I didn't get the same relaxed vibe from this Starbucks like I do every time I go into one. It will be my first real job as two summers ago I worked at the grocery store my dad owns, but it was only for a summer. During the fall I'm busy with marching band and would only be able to work three days a week.

My questions are: Should I bother applying? No one working there knew if they accepted anyone under 18, and I'm 16, and I didn't get a great vibe from the place, but I think that will go away with time.

Also, if anyone has worked there and can give me some advice for the job, please do. I guess I'll make up my mind mid-week and then turn the application in.

[fdeck]

It's food service. They will train you in their processes, and you will follow them. Nothing is lost by submitting the application.

[JonathanD]

Please see addendum 2 of this thread.

"It's only your dignity, Suck It." Bill Hicks

Don't forget to be smart, save some of your money. At least 10%. Save it now or be an idiot forever. Invest it wisely.

[casualmadness]

My best friend's wife worked at starbucks for a long time. She dug it. She actually liked it so much, she considered opening her own franchise. But it costs a gang of cash to open one. Turn in your application. If they hire you, right on. 90% of life is just showing up. Show up and check it out. If it sucks, find something else. FWIW, there is a starbucks in my supermarket and in my favorite bookstore. So even though I don't really got to starbucks, I am around them pretty regularly. I've noticed that the baristas are almost always crazy hot. So it seems like there are some definite fringe benefits.

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by JonathanD

Don't forget to be smart, save some of your money. At least 10%. Save it now or be an idiot forever. Invest it wisely.

+1

At 16, if you can figure out how to get a job, keep it, and have money left over at the end, you stand a good chance of staying ahead of the game for the rest of your life.

Additional advice: Don't blow the money on gear. While I have nothing against GAS, the fact is that you face a huge life change when you graduate from high school. You have no idea what that will do to your gear needs. Will you need a portable rig for college life? Will you change your musical tastes completely when you find yourself in a different scene? Will you do something like join the military or a missionary service? Some money in the bank will put you in charge when you find out what direction life takes you.

[TheDarkReaver]

if labour laws are anything like over here they don't have to pay you as much if you're 16, therefore a large business like starbucks is likely to have a hiring policy tailored to people of you're age group. keeps costs down and such.

[rjny36]

There's some good solid advice in this thread. If you get the job, learn to save some money. If you can get in the habit early, you'll be way ahead. You'll probably be tempted to spend what you've saved on trivial things (I certainly was at 16!), but if you resist the urge, you'll be very thankful for it later on.

This is one of those things that you can trust older folks on. Don't touch the stove to see if we were kidding about it being hot.

[mtizzle]

Thanks for the help, guys! I won't blow it all on gear, but the farthest I'll be going away to college is an hour, so I'm not worried about a portable rig. (No 8x10, but I have a 4x10, and I want an Ampeg B115E..). I'll be filling out the app and turning it in either tomorrow or the next day.

[Ben Lesser]

One of my good friends works at a Starbucks, and she loves it.

That's all I've got.

[GeneralElectric]

I think you need to be 18 to work there. Check out their online application if they have one.

[WarofAges]

man, jobs like those were you can get tips are pretty sweet. when i lived whit my parents, i put about 90 percent of my paycheck into savings, the rest and all the tips paid for beer, cigs,gas, drugs, food( i ate out alot and bought alot of drunk munchies) and Xbox live. i now have thousands saved up for a rainy day...or adrinking binge

[GeneralElectric]

I vote binge!

[WarofAges]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

I vote binge!

hahaha, I've been on a mini binge since class ended...i just havent been paying for any of the booze

[jomahu]

from what i've heard, starbucks has really good benefits. and by "really good benefits," i mean "they offer benefits."

[playinpearls]

you have to be 16. I think it makes illegal to discriminate against age once you have a work permit, which is available at 16 in most states, 15 in some. You get it from your local drivers license center, DMV, or whatever you have there...

[DanGouge]

I worked for a couple years at sbux - they do have really good benefits (especially for the service industry) and as a side bonus, a lot of musicians seem to work there, so it's kind of a networking opportunity.

[Kyon`]

In California, at least in the San Francisco Bay Area, it's 16. I never actually worked there but I do know they start you off higher then most, again at least in this area. Minimum wage here is $8, they start you off at around $9 or $9.50. I'm not too sure, I'll ask my lady friend next time. Doesn't seem like much lost, usually with food service hours are amazingly flexible compared to some retail and it's a good experience. But yeah don't blow your money on gear, maybe the first paycheck splurge a little but save it up. Instead of gear too maybe treat some friends and family to a nice dinner or something like that. I remember taking a small group of my close friends to Disneyland on my first paycheck.

[vene-nemesis]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1z9_TGX7-E