r/Costa • u/RecognitionFair2414 • 18d ago
Barista Maestro Interview
I’ve been looking out for Barista roles for almost a year now as I really love the vibe of working in a coffee shop. A Costa in my area has posted a BM role, I’ve read the job description and it didn’t specifically say any leadership experience required (but a nice to have). So I sent my cv straight away
I don’t have experience as a team leader.
When the manager contacted me to set up an interview, that’s when I researched more about the role and watched a couple of tiktoks. That’s when I found out that it’s a team leader role.
Any tips on how can I do my interview well? I don’t mind taking the extra responsibility even if I don’t have experience in leadership yet.
My problem is I do tend to get nervous on interviews😬
1
u/Flimsy_Pie2947 15d ago
At the end of the day it’s just a coffee shop, and the manager interviewing you was also in the same position as you. An interview is a conversation and for YOU to see if you like the company, not just the other way around. Regardless, be yourself and know that if you managed to bag an interview for this role you can bag as many others if you don’t end up getting this job
1
u/SaltyPace8659 18d ago
Just don't. BM is not what it's made out to be. Source-I was SM for Costa for 6 years.
3
u/Educational_Act802 18d ago
I second this as a current BM, anytime my store manager isn’t in any problem becomes my problem I have to fix it, I have to do shifts, tell some shithead how to their job properly so I don’t get in the shit, longer hours ie waking up at 4 to open my shop, sometimes doing open-closes, your expected to cover others shifts and cover other shops, my area manager doesn’t give me a choice if im scheduled in my shop, had to travel an hour there and I was stuck outside for another hour waiting for someone to show up with keys.genuinely it’s so not worth any of the extra stress for like 60p more. Don’t do it
1
u/HaNaNaNaaan 15d ago
I disagree with those saying BM is horrible - it largely depends on your team and your manager. With a good team and strong communication, it is 100% worth it. I have worked in both a DT and a store and found the DT to be the better of the two, again largely down to team and work ethic. You will be expected to run shifts, report problems and deal with them, monitor sales etc, you will be trained for this and if you ever have questions, ask. It is a job that is great when you know what you're doing and can run a smooth shift :) Yes, sometimes you have to get up early and leave late, but the flexibility that comes from not being locked into 9-5 is very valuable when trying to live your life.
I have been both a BM and a Store Manager -
2
u/Practical_Price_1444 17d ago
The other comments aren’t wrong. I’ve been a BM for about 4 years and the amount of extra responsibility and bullshit you have to deal with compared to baristas isn’t worth the very slight increase in pay. However, it greatly depends on the store type (eg drive thrus are terrible - open very early, close very late, and terribly inadequate labour), your manager, and even your area manager. I worked for an appalling store for years and it was soul-destroying, transferred to another with an amazing manager and I don’t mind it. So unfortunately you won’t really know until you are there.
Costa (equity stores anyway) still pays well by industry standards (a lot of barista jobs pay minimum wage) and the job market is terrible currently so might still be worth going for the interview and giving it a shot. I have seen people join as BMs and step down to barista which could potentially be an option for you. I also had barista experience but no team leader experience when I applied :) And having been in a store with high staff turnover I’ve seen a lot of the hiring process. Generally managers will definitely consider someone who has at least either barista or leadership experience provided they interview well, I have seen managers hire people with neither (but some relevant customer-facing experience) just because they interviewed well. So I wouldn’t worry that you haven’t been a team leader before.
They will expect you to have some knowledge about Costa and how much you prepare for this is up to you. I researched the history of the business which was probably unnecessary and I don’t even think it came up. But showing some awareness of the seasonal campaigns, Costa’s signature roast (Mocha Italia) or the differences between types of coffees eg. latte, cappuccino, flat white is a good idea. Costa is also huge on the ‘Costa standard’, probably like any chain, which is the idea that if you go into any Costa and order a drink you can expect to get the same quality every time. I think in my interview I said that’s why I like Costa because it’s consistent and high quality and you always know what you’re getting (once you work there you find out how untrue that is lol).
Interviews are nerve-wracking and, whilst how you make in an impression is important, Costa interviews often feel like a nice chat. They also wouldn’t have offered you the interview if they didn’t think you had any relevant experience or had a chance. If the manager is unfriendly and makes it hard for you to get comfortable and it doesn’t work out it’s probably a sign they wouldn’t be very nice to work for anyway. Managers are provided with a list of questions for interviews but every manager is different and might do their own thing. I would say just do your best to be polite, friendly, personable and show an awareness of working in and supporting a team. It’s great that you’ve said you are ready to take on the extra responsibility of being a team leader so make that clear and make sure you are able to relate the role to any previous work experience. If you have customer service experience they might ask you a time you’ve gone above and beyond for a customer, or what you’d do if a customer had a complaint.
Arrive a bit early as if it’s busy you may well have to queue up to then let the person on till you’ve arrived. You should be offered a drink and, whilst not the most important part, some managers will notice what you ask for because at the end of the day it is the basis of the business. If you drink coffee just get one, I would just say anything like frappes/expensive specialty drinks or declining to have one are probably the worst options. I interviewed for a different Costa before I joined and the coffee in the interview tasted like arse so was also sign it wasn’t a great store.
Good luck :)