The Starbucks Experience: What was it like being a Starbucks barista

July 2012. Upon finishing the one and only examination paper for the final semester in college, it was then the time for us to sit back and relax while waiting for the graduation and the call to serve the country (No, not into the army). But after an irksome period of staying home with nothing other than food, TV and the Internet world, I was desperate to get out of the house and get a job. So, I had myself checking on the vacancies in the classified section on the newspaper and on the Net almost everyday. I eventually got one. It was a job at a pharmacy but they told me to start only after a week later but the job did not excite me much, so I pulled out myself just the day after the briefing. Then, it suddenly crossed me that I should try barista-ing. I actually applied at CBTL but I did not get any reply from them. There, I have wasted a passport picture of mine. Lol.

Few weeks had passed, then one fine day, I stumbled upon an advertisement on the Facebook page of Starbucks Malaysia. Apparently, there was another store opening at a new and latest shopping mall in Kota Kinabalu city. So, I dialed the contact number provided. Few days later, I received the call back and was asked to be present for an interview.

The Interview

The interview was almost an hour long, with countless number of questions, out of a checklist. The petite and strict-looking interviewer turned out to be my boss, also the store manager for the upcoming Starbucks store. The overall interview went fine. I stuttered here and there, but in the end, the boss said, "I like you". And so, I got the job in my hand. RM3.50 per hour for a part-timer, but the salary was not really my concern at that desperate-for-a-job moment.

First Impression (Training Day 1) & Day 2

Because by then, the store was not ready, I was sent to another store at City Mall for training. On the first day, there was the First Impression, which all new baristas (they are called 'Starbucks partners') must undergo. Nothing much; just reading up some information about the company, its mission, vision and values; also the rules and regulations as a Starbucks employee before putting on signature on few pages. Being a Starbucks employee, a full-timer will get a fixed basic salary per month minus few allowances, a four-figure wage per month is possible. While for a part-timer, it is on per hour basis. Working shifts are between 6 to 10 hours; usually 8 hours per shift. Benefits offered to the employees include healthcare benefits, referral programmes and intensive training, employee discount and my favourite: two employee beverages and a meal per shift. Doesn't sound all that bad, right? :)

Anyways, on that very same day, I also met a joyful Leez, who was also in the team for the new store. Both of us had coffee-tasting, conducted by our manager. We were introduced to the crucial steps in tasting coffee and learnt about the high-quality coffee beans that are purchased and brought in by Starbucks. Before I was let go, I was given the uniform: a black shirt, an apron and a cap.

Day 2: Was instructed to do 'Sliding', which is to carry a black bus tub and a towel around, clear the tables and carry all the used mugs and plates to the Back of House (BOH). Also, did dish-washing and sweeping duties. After that, I was given the coffee and tea manual to which I studied diligently to learn about different beverages that Starbucks offers, the ingredients and the procedures/steps in making them. The supervisor there also introduced me to the Bar area (where all the magic happens :P) and all the equipment, before a short tour around the store. Spent the whole six hours studying the manual and getting familiar with the working environment.

Few days before the opening of the store

Gone with the days of training at City Mall. Was told by the boss/manager to gather outside 'our' store at Suria mall. There, Leez and I was introduced to our then future assistant manager, Rudy, and to few other partners. There, we spent days carrying around and organizing all the stuffs for the opening of the store. On another days, we got ready of the banners, flyers and whatnot. I also had another part time job to do, so I was not fully involved in the process of opening and the launch of the store.

Had photography-fun at Jesselton Point despite the scorching heat.

The rest of the working days

After the official opening of the store, I continued training for weeks before I got hold of all the drinks' recipe. Then, it was the time to handle the cash register. It was quite frightening when I first handle one, because
(1) to be held responsible for a large sum of money IS horrifying (you have to get the right amount of money in the cash drawer by the end of your shift)
(2) dealing with customers one on one (I hate dealing with the ones with crappy attitude and those with weird accents/slangs. Worst, foreigners who DON'T and CAN'T speak even basic English. Like, OMG, go learn English before you travel to another country, please!)
(3) I felt like a robot, repeating the same questions every time ("Hot or iced?", "Size?", "Do you want the whipped cream on top?", "That's all?", etc. Then, the mouth went dry from all that talking and could not take a break for a gulp of water because the line was getting longer)
(4) I hate to do Maths in my mind, which is why I am really slow when it comes to money-counting.
But all went well, somehow. Plus, I got to talk to cute guys. We even met a guy who looks like Zayn Malik once! LOL.

The customers can be the most fun and also the scariest thing to deal with. I love watching people; the way they walk, talk, socializing with their friends, 'interacting' with their gadgets when the whole family members are in front of them, etc. Not that I would stare at them like a predator preying on its victim, but sometimes it is quite entertaining to watch people's eccentric behaviours. I also adore all those lovely people/customers who appreciate and acknowledge the service they receive there and actually say 'Thank you' to the baristas, or AT LEAST turn and smile to them as the baristas welcome and thank them upon walking in and out of the store. And those foreigners, I often see them clearing out their table themselves before leaving the store. Very thoughtful. And why can't Malaysians do that? 0_0

Meeting and dealing with customers with numerous characters and behaviours that walked in every day taught me to be more patient and keep putting on a fake smile. Yes, there were 'oppressive' moments while working there, for instance, facing...um..unpleasant colleague/s, dealing with grumpy, crude and fussy customers, working on unfixed schedule and few other unmentionable issues.

Throughout the working period, I have worked alongside a line of awesome partners; seniors and juniors. We do not have wide gap in age among us, so every one is quite friendly and easy-going, and yes, crazily fun at times. I had really fun times getting to know them and working together in running the store. Not only that, I got to know other partners from other Starbucks stores in KK. Overall, it is such a delight to learn about the international brand and its products, as well as to be involved in projects Starbucks is associated with, like the ones below.

 Starbucks Cheer Party 2012.

Coffee-tasting with Gaya Travel Magazine and their guests - bloggers/travel writers.

And after almost five months, I have finally left the job to make way for the teaching career. It was a real pleasure to have the chance to try walking a different career path before venturing into one that I might hang on to (or rather stuck to) for the rest of my life. The experience of working with Starbucks now makes me a Starbucks addict :D

Another memory made: Celebrated the coming of 2013 with the partners.

Will surely miss them and the working environment :)

Current favourite place to hang out (and at the same time, disturbing the partners while they work, LOL)
☺

Well, thank you for reading this really lengthy post :)