Ninety-five young adults gathered at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation for a special Starbucks hiring event coordinated by RISE San Diego, San Diego Public Library and CONNECT2Careers (C2C) on Saturday, January 9. The event recruited opportunity youth — young people ages 16–24 who are unemployed and/or not in school.
During the three-hour training workshop designed specifically for the Starbucks application process, Starbucks and C2C representatives discussed the company’s job openings, the Starbucks online job application, interview tips, and their personal experiences of working at the coffee retail chain.
A young barista, hired in September, shared his experience working with Starbucks and how it has changed his life.
After the workshop, attendees interviewed with managers from various Starbucks store locations.
“It was amazing to see how Starbucks staff empowered young people during the interviews,” said Stephen Colón, C2C youth programs specialist. “One of the interviewers told an applicant worried about having to remove her headscarf that Starbucks wants her to be who she is, and never to work for a company that asks her to do that. The advice and hand-on help provided that day really impacted the young people in attendance.”
The goal is to hire 40 opportunity youth at Starbucks locations primarily in Southeastern San Diego locations. If successful, this partnership may expand to other areas in the county.
The mobile computer lab at the hiring event was made possible by San Diego Futures Foundation.