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At 18 years old, Cassie landed her teenage dream job at Starbucks as a barista. She had always felt drawn to the company because of the coffee passion and values she had read about, and it looked like a fun part-time job! She loved it and was promoted to shift supervisor after just 4 months. As Cassie started to plan out her future and moved to pursue an undergraduate degree in communication, she knew she wanted to stay with Starbucks and was able to transfer to a store close to her university.

“When I started at Starbucks as a barista in 2018, I thought it would be a short-term, part-time job to earn some extra money for school, but I stayed for the benefits, flexibility, and support in balancing work and education,” said Cassie. “I realized how much the access to perks like tuition reimbursement, flexible schedule shifts around exams or internships, or even to relocate by simply transferring to another location was important and not available with every job.”

While completing her degree, Cassie had her sights set on journalism or pursuing her Masters and went on to intern at two local newspapers in Alberta, while continuing to work at Starbucks. It was during this time that Cassie realized that working for Starbucks was something she didn’t want to let go of just yet. It also highlighted the many transferrable skills she’d learned at Starbucks that help her in any job situation.

“During my internships, I quickly realized that sitting at a desk all day wasn’t for me – I missed the atmosphere of the store, the movement and the broader sense of community,” Cassie shared. “And I also recognized the skills I developed through Starbucks helped me stand out, especially time management, communication, critical thinking and being a grace under pressure in any situation.”

Cassie is now a full-time store manager in Edmonton and a proud advocate for Starbucks, sharing her journey as an example of how pursuing non-traditional career paths in retail can lead to fulfilling, longer-term opportunities. In particular, Cassie values how Starbucks listens to its people at all levels, and its commitment to sustainability – all of which has inspired her to continue her career journey at the company. She’s a proud partner for sustainability in her area, hosting regular community cleanup events and initiatives, and as a Coffee Master, visited <a href="https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2023/ten-years-of-impact-at-hacienda-alsacia/">Hacienda Alsacia</a>, Starbucks coffee farm in Costa Rica to receive training around sustainability and ethical sourcing.

“Starbucks offers a great opportunity to learn and thrive – whether you want to keep growing within Starbucks like I have or use those skills for another career path,” says Cassie. “Being able to pursue my passion for sustainability, continue my education and further my development are all things I would’ve never thought of as a possibility when I started. It’s not just about making coffee: Starbucks invests in us, and that’s why working here will always be my dream job.”

About Starbucks Canada Benefits for Students and Young Professionals

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As part of its overall total rewards program, Starbucks Canada offers all benefits-eligible partners – whether salaried or retail hourly who work a minimum of 20 hours per week:

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For more information on Starbucks’ career and benefits offerings, visit <a href="https://32290571.isolation.zscaler.com/profile/a6b81f4b-c7aa-442e-92e4-82007a78be2a/zia-session/?controls_id=534fbad7-2272-459d-a273-0f216f489df8&amp;region=cle&amp;tenant=edelman&amp;user=c061c6966854d58888fe32d902360cabc9206e30826c29ca8db613e096e6d239&amp;original_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.starbucksbenefits.com%2Fen%2Fhome-ca-en%2F&amp;key=sh-1&amp;hmac=9556e7462546393db522daa68600fd106133d512e76889d9ca0bfffdc41a41d5">starbucksbenefits.ca</a>.

How I Turned My Part-Time Job into a Career: Cassie's Starbucks Journey - Starbucks Canada

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Starbucks Canada

How I Turned My Part-Time Job into a Career: Cassie&#8217;s Starbucks Journey

At 18 years old, Cassie landed her teenage dream job at Starbucks as a barista. She had always felt drawn to the company because of the coffee passion and values she had read about, and it looked like a fun part-time job! She loved it and was promoted to shift supervisor after just 4 months. […]

https://stories.starbucks.ca/en-ca/stories/2024/how-i-turned-my-part-time-job-into-a-career-cassies-starbucks-journey/