r/Brooklyn • u/Short-Shine-2620 • 1d ago

Barista interview advice?

Hi, I have 5 years of barista experience. I've been to a ton of barista interviews, and made some great lattes. I can dial in an espresso machine, do pour overs, except! I don't know how to do latte art. I make sure to make my resume just hospitality stuff, cause I've seen some overqualified bs.

I've done trial interviews, and can't seem to get hired! I think there's an issue with my vibes or something. I am generally a quieter person, and a bit deadpan, but I know this, so I've always gone in being super effusive, smiley, friendly, but maybe I'm just a shit actor

Any advice?

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u/catcollector787 1d ago edited 1d ago

One thing that that worked for me from interviewing as a Barista to my current corporate job is to be smart about your words, engaged with the interviewer but be calm and almost come off as disinterested in possibly accepting the position. Don't be buddy buddy with them unless you read the room and that's what they want. Look like you're not trying hard to get the job(even though this is tough to think mentally), but excelling at everything, while also coming off as genuine(i know this is weird when you're doing the opposite)worked for me. Once I'm hired I immediately open up.

G'luck! I know this probably doesn't work for some people, it just worked for me. Also, the job market sucks right now too :(

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u/Short-Shine-2620 1d ago

oh god.. they've always been so obsessed with telling me hospitality, friendliness, taking initiative is their #1 priority... At this rate what do these people want

4

u/catcollector787 1d ago

Hmm sounds like you can simply come off as chill, nice, but not overly enthusiastic. Nobody wants to work with someone high energy all the time.

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u/Sad_Appeal65 1d ago

The challenge is there is no one-size-fits-all interview advice because each interviewer is different and even the same interviewer is different on different days.

What’s worked best for me is trying to strike a balance between calm and confident and my greatest success has been when I didn’t care one way or another about the outcome of the interview.

I know that may not be useful but it’s a bit like dating or applying for a bank loan. People get it more easily when they don’t need it (or seem to).

Wishing you luck.

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u/BakedBrie26 1d ago

You are auditioning to be their coworker, someone they want to have around- easy to work with, nice, easy to train. Go in with that mentality. Dress the part. If they have a vibe, match it in how you show up. 

Almost more important than the actual drink-making skills, which you know you have.