Getting a job as a convicted felon can often be tough due to prejudices and biased hiring practices. Whether you are looking to switch jobs or are looking for a new one, the story is the same. Thankfully, in the past few decades, many NGOs and activists have taken initiatives to change this. They have convinced many US employers to become a part of campaigns like ‘Ban The Box’ and ‘Fair Chance Pledge’. These changes can help you find better job opportunities as a convicted felon. They also ensure that you have a safe working environment.
When you are looking to start a new life, it is imperative to find an unbiased employer. Ideally, look for an employer that does not discriminate against you and has policies in place to prevent such things from happening. One such company that you are looking for is probably Starbucks. So if you are a convicted felon who is wondering about Starbucks’s hiring policies, then you have landed on the right page. This guide answers all your basic questions. This guide will also provide you all the information that you might need to clear the hiring stage for Starbucks. You will find tips and additional information that can help you stand out from the crowd when submitting your application.
Company Overview
Starbuck’s is a retail coffeehouse chain in the United States with a global presence. It was founded in Seattle back in 1971. It specializes in a variety of coffee-based drinks that are unique to the company’s taste and brand. Starbucks operates in over 30,000 locations worldwide and has a huge employee roster of over 291,000 employees. The company is the driving force behind the craze for artisanal dark roasted coffee. In turn, demand for this coffee has grown exponentially in the last few years. In 2018, the company achieved $24.71 billion in revenues.
Starbucks offers a variety of products in its stores including the likes of beverages, smoothies, tea, baked goods, sandwiches and more which helps them cater to their customers better rather than just focusing on coffee. The company has many entry-level jobs that can help you start a new career. Starbucks also provides you with benefits and a safe working environment.
Profile of Jobs at Starbucks
Starbucks is one of the biggest commercial coffee chains that is currently operating in the American market. Therefore, the company needs employees and hires regularly. Most of their entry-level jobs are ideal for people that are just starting out or have a bad past. The average hourly wage at Starbucks ranges from approximately $9.42 per hour for Cashier to $42.04 per hour for Software Test Engineer. Also, they have an equal opportunity policy and are on the Ban-the-Box list.
| Job | Salary (per hour) |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $9.4 |
| Host/Hostess | $9.93 |
| Barista | $10.6 |
| Dishwasher | $15.08 |
| Baker | $16.77 |
| Cashier | $9.42 |
| Shift Manager | $12.53 |
| Tow Truck Driver | $16.55 |
| Warehouse Worker | $13.48 |
| Customer Service Representative | $10.98 |
| Cafe Assistant | $10.16 |
Will Starbucks Hire You?
Yes, Starbucks does hire felons. The company does not consider your record but expects you to be truthful and forthcoming in your job application. If you are shortlisted, then the company does a criminal background check on you on a case-by-case basis. This helps Starbucks prioritize the applicants based on their relevance to the position on hand. They then find and pick the best one that fits their needs. Whether you have a misdemeanor or a felony on your part, Starbucks will provide you an equal playing field which will ensure that there is no discrimination or bias against you during the hiring process.
Starbucks has taken the business pledge to ‘Ban the Box’ and be a part of the campaign. This means that they do not ask personal questions about your past in the job application form or the interview process. It is only if you are selected that you will be asked a few questions and a background check will be done to determine your candidacy for the position at hand.
Keep in mind that the company does not have any specific schemes for recovering felons and convicted people. Although this does not mean that you will be facing any kind of discrimination in the workplace. It simply means that you will not have dedicated facilities and services that are otherwise available in companies that have felon specific programs.
Does Starbucks Do Background Checks?
Yes, Starbucks does a background check. But you will undergo a background check only if you are on the shortlist with an offer of conditional employment by the company. The company reviews all applications on an individual basis and each applicant that has a misdemeanor or felony on their record is reviewed by an unbiased Adjudication Committee. This ensures complete anonymity and eliminates any possibility of any kind of discrimination.
The committee considers each applicant for the position at hand based on their location and skills. The company encourages each potential applicant to go through the background process to get easily hired at Starbucks. The company aims to evaluate convicted felons on an individual basis with their circumstances in mind. This way each individual can be given an equal chance before the company makes its decision.
Getting Hired at Starbucks with a Felony Record
Starbucks does not have any dedicated programs or schemes that are focused on hiring convicted felons and providing them with a safe and healthy work environment. But Starbucks has taken the Fair Chance Business Pledge and the Ban-the-Box. This means you will not face questions about your criminal history during the initial hiring process. This ensures that you don’t have to answer uncomfortable questions on your job application and also prevent any kind of discrimination during the initial screening of forms.
They also evaluate each potential candidate on an individual basis as well as keep their circumstances and situations in mind. This helps provide a bigger picture of each person’s personality which in turn helps the company determine their relevance to the position at hand.
Starbucks’ employment pledge also states that they are dedicated to giving a chance to convicted felons by offering an equal opportunity hiring process. All of this makes your chances of getting a job with Starbucks pretty high. But there are always more things you can do to ensure that you stand out from the other candidates. Here are some tips that will help you in getting hired at Starbucks.
1. Take Heed of the Dress Code
Starbucks has a dedicated look book for its employees that helps them maintain a specific dress code throughout their stores. You should make yourself familiar with these dress codes and wear something that complies with them to the interview. This way it will be much easier for your interviewer to picture you working at Starbucks.
2. Improve Your Communication Skills
If you are applying for a customer service job that requires you to attend to customers regularly, then you should work a little on your communication skills. You could take some mannerism tips online and work on communicating in short, sweet and simple sentences. This will help give you an edge over your competitors when you are going through the hiring process.
3. Explain Your Resume Truthfully
If your resume has large gaps in unemployment then you should prepare your answers for it before you show up for the interview. Although Starbucks prioritizes privacy, the company expects full disclosure and honesty from its employees. You should tell them the truth without divulging too many personal details in the process. This will help you build up trust with your employer which can go a long way after selection.
4. Review Your Record and Apply Wisely
Starbucks at the end of the day is a retail store chain of coffeehouses and if you are applying for the position of a barista or a customer representative, then chances are that some misdemeanors and felonies on your record might go against you. If you have been convicted in the past of monetary theft or violent interactions, then there is a high chance that you will not be considered for the position. If that is the case, then you should look at some other companies or apply for a different job that does not require you to interact with customers.
Review what is on your record. This will help you considerably increase your chances by applying to more relevant positions.
5. Stay Clean and Ace the Drug Test
Additionally, the company does not have a strict drug test policy but it is rather based on the franchise manager and its location. If you are a recreational drug user, then it might be a good idea to stop before you submit your application.
Besides, you can also visit the store that you are applying for to get a better perspective of the situation. In case your store is inside a mall or larger retail outlets like Target or IKEA, then the drug test policies will be dictated by the parent store.
Finally, be prepared for the worst. That does not mean the end. You can still find other jobs at more suitable companies that are willing to give you a chance.
>>> Click Here to Apply for Available Jobs at Starbucks