The Starbucks coffee chain has 33,833 stores worldwide (as of 2021). This is definitely a lot of coffee. But it’s also a lot of job offers.
If you’ve sent an application to Starbucks and have been invited to an interview — congratulations! Now, you just need to nail that interview and you will be working at the world’s largest coffee chain.
Here’s what to wear to a Starbucks interview.
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Why What You Wear to an Interview Is Important
Looks matter. This may be unfair and what you wear may have no correlation with what you can do, but a lot of hiring managers will still take this into account. According to StudyFinds, 51% of employers do judge job applicants based on appearance.
Now, in the case of Starbucks, the hiring manager paying attention to your appearance makes quite a bit of sense. In most positions at the coffee shop (be that a barista or a manager), you will be working with clients face to face — and you will be handling food. This is why a neat and clean appearance may be one of the things you will be evaluated on.
There are other factors that come into play here. Here is why what you wear at an interview matters:
You clothes speak to your personality
You may not realize this but what you wear to the interview sends a subliminal message to the interviewer on what kind of person you are and how well you can evaluate your environment.
What you wear speaks to how seriously you take this opportunity
It may be a superficial judgment, but a lot of hiring managers may make the judgment on whether you are taking the job seriously by how you dress for the interview. If you show up to the interview looking stressed and disheveled, this may send the wrong message to the interviewer, making you look unorganized and careless.
On the other hand, if you arrive at the interview well dressed and prepared, this will send a positive message to your potential employer, increasing your chances of getting the job.
If you wear the right outfit, you will be more confident
What you wear is not only important to your employer. It can also affect how you feel during the interview. If you are wearing an outfit that makes you feel like you belong in this job, this confidence will come through to your interviewer.
Pro Tip: Ace an Interview with the STAR Method
Here’s the bottom line: what you wear to your interview matters. And it’s all about the looks — it’s also about how you feel. If you want to make a good impression on your employer and increase your job landing chances, put some effort into what you wear.
What Makes Starbucks Interviews Different From Others?
Working at Starbucks means working in a very specific environment. If you show up for the interview in a suit and tie, you will most likely look and feel out of place. With that, dressing too casually is also not the best option as it may make you come across as not serious about the job opportunity.
Read also: What to wear for a teen job interview
Think about everything you know about Starbucks. First, Starbucks takes customer service very seriously. This means that you need to look friendly and approachable.
Second, next time you are getting a coffee, try to pay closer attention to what the baristas are wearing. You will notice that most of them are dressed rather casually. When choosing what to wear to a Starbucks interview, take casual wear as base but style it up a notch to look more professional when meeting your employer for the first time.
Here are a few looks to get you started.
What To Wear To A Starbucks Interview?
According to Interview Penguin, Starbucks receives over a million job applications per year. However, the company only hires about 80,000 people. This means that less than 10% of people applying to the company actually get hired.
This information is not meant to discourage you. Quite on the contrary, it is here to motivate you to put your very best foot forward when seeking employment at Starbucks. And this includes not only having a top notch resume and a killer cover letter — but also making a good first impression.
Below are a few ideas for what to wear to a Starbucks interview.
What to Wear to a Starbucks Interview as a Female?
In most cases, women may find it easier to find the right outfit for an interview as they have more options. Generally, they can also get away with dressing more casually than men.
Here are a few ideas for what to wear to a Starbucks interview as a woman:
- Blazer + a pair of jeans. Add a color pop with shoes or handbag.
- Dress. Make sure it’s not too short or revealing.
- Blouse + buttoned up shirt + dark-wash jeans/slacks. This is a great option for when you want to look professional but still keep a casual vibe.
- Classic button-down shirt + pants. If this seems too plain to you, consider adding a cardigan or scarf to make the look more interesting.
What about shoes and accessories? The general rule here is to avoid anything that is too high-heeled or too casual. You can wear a pair of flats, loafers, or pumps. It’s more acceptable to wear closed-toe shoes to your first job interview.
If you want to add jewelry, it’s fine. But do your best to keep it simple. For instance, a pair of earrings and a necklace would be more than enough to complete the look
If you have piercings or body art, it’s generally perfectly okay to not intentionally cover them up during an interview. In fact, a number of Starbucks baristas have tattoos and piercings. However, if your tattoos may be considered offensive, it’s best to keep them covered. Moreover, you need to be prepared to keep them covered during your working hours at the coffee shop.
What to Wear to a Starbucks Interview as a Male?
Women generally have more options for what to wear to job interviews than men. Debatably, this can make getting ready for your meeting much easier. You can always wear a suit and just be down with it. However, if you want to keep it more casual, here are a few more options:
- Collared shirt + dress pants/dark jeans. This combo aims for balance between business and casual. If you want to dress the outfit down, pair the shirt with khakis or chinos.
- Button-down shirt + dress pants/jeans. This look would be more casual compared to the collared shirt outfit above — but it is still professional enough. You can also add on a sweater to make it more interesting or if it’s cold.
- Classic T-shirt + jeans + jacket. If your personal style is light and casual, you can wear a simple T-shirt and style it up with a jacket.
If you do want to go an extra mile, you can always wear a classic suit. Make sure it’s a good fit, clean and pressed.
As for the shoes, you can keep it simple with a pair of loafers or dress shoes. You can also wear classic sneakers, preferably in neutral colors.
If you want to wear jewelry, keep it simple. For instance, a watch and a ring are generally enough.
Once again, if you have body art of piercings, it’s perfectly okay just let them be and not worry about covering them up during an interview. Unless, of course, you believe that your potential employer may find some of your body art offensive. In this case, it would be best to keep it covered during the interview.