Starbucks Interview questions

This drink is made with bold ristretto shots, steamed milk, and velvety micro-foam?

Flat White - Flat White is made with ristretto shots, steamed milk, and velvety micro-foam.

What is the name of Starbucks Instant Coffee?

Starbucks VIA Instant Coffees

What is the non-profitable goal of Ethos water

To provide children access to clean water

What is the name of Starbucks instant coffee

VIA

What year was the first Starbucks founded in

1971

How do you expect to make a difference at Starbucks?

1. Creating a favorable environment for customers (ex. smiling, asking how's their day going, providing them with excellent service.) 2. Building business relationships with your co-workers, so everyone looks forward to coming to work each day. 3. By giving people energy to make it through the day My answer: I'm an excellent enabler of confidence and encouragement to be one's best self. I always bring positive energy with me wherever I am to both the people I work with and customers.

Tell us about a time you went above and beyond for a customer

1. Customers love when you go above and beyond for them which will, in turn, generate more business. Try and think of a time you went above and beyond for a customer. 2. For example, in my last job I worked at a fast food chain. There was a senior citizen at the restaurant and he has finished his meal. It started to rain and he was worried as he did not have an umbrella. Luckily I had an umbrella, so I walked him to his car sheltering him from the rain. My answer: In my previous job, I worked at Spirit Halloween. Many foreign tourists would come in ans window shop and occasionally purchase some things. One time a customer who had a hard time reading English was asking for directions to the Brooklyn bridge. Since it was just around the corner, I guided her all the way to where she needed to go.

Tell us a little about yourself and your previous work history.

1. DO NOT tell your life story. Explain to the interviewer why you're the best person for the job. Tell the interviewer about how your past and present work experience relates to the position you are interviewing for. Valuable past and present work experience could include working with customers, using a point-of-scale system, or any restaurant experience. My Answer: Having worked at Spirit Halloween, I'm more than accustomed to a fast paced work environment. I've assisted customer directly with creating their own unique costume designs and answered any questions about the company they may have asked me.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

1. If you attending college or university, state what you would like to be doing after you finish. My answer: After I finish college, I will focus on going above and beyond to further my career, doing anything and everything necessary to achieve success, better myself and my peers.

Why should we hire you?

1. Interviewers want to hear about that one unique skill that sets you apart from the other candidates applying for this job. Think of your answer as your 'elevator pitch' or your qualifying statement. If you can't think of ways that you are unique, ask a few friends or family members what they feel sets you apart from other people. Their observations may help you understand how you are perceived. My answer: I thrive in fast-paced environments, I can deescalate intense situations between people very easily. I am an excellent leader and a very quick learner.

Describe the day in the life of a barista. What will be expected of you in this role?

1. Making coffee and tea beverages for customers 2. Recommending the coffeehouse's products to undecided clientele 3. Clean and maintain the store during downtime as needed 4. Ensure that you are adhering to food safety procedures at all times 5. Cash handling and accurately record customer order information 6. Resolve customer complaints quickly and efficiently as they arise A. Working as a barista will require extended periods of standing and walking around quickly. Also, working in a fairly confined area with multiple other employees around you. B. Depending on the station you are assigned to, you will be exposed to hot temperatures while operating various cooking equipment, as well.

How many hours can you work?

1. The more flexible you hours the better chance you have of getting hired. So be flexible. 2. State if you can work on holidays or weekends. My answer: I can work up to 25 hours per week including weekends.

Any questions for us (Starbucks)?

1. What do you like best about working here? 2. How would you describe your ideal candidate for this position? 3. What about this position is the most important? 4. How would you measure my success and what could I do to succeed in your expectations? 5. Which part of the position has the steepest learning curve? 6. What can I do in order to get up to speed quickly? 7. What opportunities will I have to learn and grow?

What is your greatest weakness?

1. You should not deny you have a weakness or state strengths as a weakness (I am a perfectionist, or I work too hard and neglect my friends and family). State a weakness that is required for the role but not a deal breaker 2. When you state your weakness make sure you say what you are doing to overcome that weakness. For example, I have a fear of public speaking and I have enrolled in a public speaking class to overcome my fear. My answer: I procrastinate and I've been waking up earlier and doing things earlier to avoid procrastinating.

This drink is composed of shots of espresso and filtered hot water?

Americano - The baristas immediately pour two espresso shots, and then quickly pour hot water over the top to produce a light layer of crema.

Ask about their experiences at Starbucks. Why do they want to work or us?

Answer: Starbucks is a company that values its atmosphere and customer service. I feel as though Starbucks would provide me with a work environment that enables me to be my best self.

This drink has a shot of espresso topped with a deep layer of foamed milk.

Cappuccino - The Cappuccino has a shot of espresso topped with a deep layer of foamed milk.

This drink is made with rich espresso, freshly steamed milk, vanilla flavored syrup, and caramel drizzle crosshatch.

Caramel Macchiato begins with milk steamed until it's stretched and smooth to bring out its natural sweetness and is topped by a dense, creamy foam. Then rich espresso is poured over and through the foam, where it mixes with the milk and creates a brown mark on top. Finally, the barista signs their work of art with a crosshatch of sweet caramel sauce.

Describe the Starbucks experience

Customer service is remarkable. Customers are friendly and respectful Starbucks has a warm and welcoming environment partly due to the smell of coffee.

This drink is made with Espresso and a dollop of milk foam

Espresso Macchiato is made with a shot of espresso marked by a dollop of steamed milk.

True or False: Starbucks in now the owner of the Keurig coffee machine?

False. Starbucks owns Verismo

True or False: Howard Shultz is the founder of Starbucks

False: he is the chairman emeritus

What do you know about Starbucks?

Interviewers want to see that you're knowledgeable about the company you're applying for. Possible answers include but are not limited to: 1. Starbucks was started in Seattle in 1971 2. Starbucks is famous for selling high-quality coffee, tea, espresso, frappuccino, smoothies and an array of food items. 3. They acquired Seattle Best Coffee 2003. 4. They launched instant coffee VIA in 2009 5. There is a loyalty program called My Starbucks Reward card for their frequent customers. With this card, loyal customers can get free drinks, food, etc. 6. Their mission statement is to inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.

This drink is made with foamed whole milk and shots of espresso.

Latte Macchiato

Mr. Starbucks was a character in a novel and the company was then named after him. What was the name of the novel?

Moby-Dick

This drink is made with sweet whipped cream, chocolate mocha sauce, and rich espresso.

Mocha

What excites you about being in a customer facing role?

My Answer: I can be the difference in someone else having a bad day or not. A smile or a sympathetic "I hear you" foes a long way. And I love making people smile.

What is your favorite item at Starbucks?

My answer: Chocolate Chip cookies and brownies.

Which of the following are considered holiday drinks?

Peppermint Mocha and Pumpkin Spiced Latte

What is your greatest strength?

Possible Answers: 1. I am a quick learner (this is a great answer because they will have to spend less time training you) or... 2. I work well under pressure (this is a great answer because they will have their rush hour and you need to stay focused during this time) My answer: Not only does my work ethic improve under pressure, but I'm also able to problem-solve and adapt to new challenges or situations very quickly.

How would you deal with an upset customer?

Possible answers: 1. Listen and let the customer vent. 2. Show the customer you care. 3. Don't blame the customer or the company. 4. Try to solve the problem or find someone who can. 5. Don't make promises you can't keep. 6. Finally, it is important not to take it personally. If you get upset you will take it on future customers. My answers: Don't take it personal, listen to the customer and be sympathetic to their complaint, and solve the problem myself or find someone who can.

Why do you want to work at Starbucks?

Possible answers: 1. I enjoy the product and the service I get at Starbucks, and because of this, I would be happy to represent them. 2. I also fell the company truly cares about their employees, as they offer benefits (health, 401, Stock) to staff who work more than 20 hours per week. Caring for their employees in this way results in why I get great customer service from Starbucks. Employees do their best work when they feel valued. My answer: I feel as though Starbucks has many benefits to offer and would provide me with a work environment that enables me to be my best self. The customer service at Starbucks is impeccable and that comes from keeping their employees happy by caring about their needs.

In the role of a Barista, there will be times where you may deal with an unsatisfied customer. For example a customer is not happy with their beverage or did not receive what they ordered. What would your approach be to this scenario?

Situation: A customer is not happy with their order. Task/Action: Ask them specifically what's wrong. Is it too sweet? Too Bitter? If their current drink can't be fixed with extra toppings or extra syrup, I would simply make the drink over again. Making sure to smile and make the moment right. Result: Customer feels as though their complaint was heard and therefore important to the company and its employees. They will commend the company for excellent customer service.

At Starbucks we initiate connections with our customers, can you walk me through an example where you've done this? Or tell me how you would initiate a connection with a customer as a Starbucks barista?

Situation: At my previous job - Spirit Halloween- a customer comes in and is undecided about the costume they want. Task/Action: I helped them come up with a decision and gave them everything they needed to make their decision a reality Result: The customer walked out of the store with a unique one of a kind costume made of 3 of their favorite characters - Deadpool, Chucky, and Freddy Kruger. The store made a big sale and the customer walked out with the costume of their dreams

Think of a time you have received exceptional customer service. What was the situation? What made the interaction special to you? How did it make you feel?

Situation: I was at a restaurant with my friends and we had been waiting for our food for over an hour. Task/Action: The waiter went to the kitchen, told the cook to make our orders and had them at our table when he came back. Result: I felt important and appreciated by the server and staff. I tipped him extra for it.

True or False: In 1996 Starbucks acquired Seattle's Best Coffee

True

True or False: Starbucks makes sure the buy and serve high-quality coffee that is responsibly grown and ethically traded. To do this they set up a set of standards called C.A.F.E

True

True or False: Starbucks mission statement is to inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time?

True