How can a high school student get a barista job?

I'm interested in getting a part-time job as a barista while I'm still in high school. Does anyone have tips on how to balance that with school work and extracurriculars? Also, are there specific skills or experience I need?

Starting a job as a high school student is a great way to gain experience, acquire skills, and learn how to balance various responsibilities. Now let’s discuss your goal of becoming a barista.

To get started, the first step is to find local coffee shops that hire minors—not all do due to labor laws and business policies. National chains like Starbucks are known to hire high school students, but independently owned local businesses might do so as well.

Once you've found potential places to work, you'll want to tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight any relevant experience you might have, no matter how small. This can include: preparing or serving food at family events or community functions, handling money in any capacity, or any situations where you've provided customer service.

As for skills you'll need, a lot of what you'll do as a barista you’ll learn on the job. They'll train you on how to make different coffee drinks. However, having a basic understanding of coffee and coffee preparation techniques can be highly beneficial. Knowledge about different coffee varieties, the process of coffee brewing, or an ability to operate simple coffee machines could give you an edge in a job interview. Learning these ahead of time can be as simple as watching YouTube tutorials or reading articles online.

Balancing this job with your school and extracurricular responsibilities can be challenging but totally doable. When you're discussing your work schedule, be upfront about your other obligations. By being flexible yet clear about your availability, you ensure that you are not overstretched. Schools generally expect work to not exceed 15-20 hours per week for high school students.

Remember to stay organized. Whether that means using a digital planner or a traditional paper one, managing your time and tracking your academic deadlines, work shifts, and any extracurricular activities is a must. It might be beneficial to set aside dedicated blocks of time for studying so that doesn't fall by the wayside.

Lastly, keep in mind that this job is not only about earning money—it's an opportunity to develop important skills like time-management, customer service, and teamwork. It could also be a valuable addition to your college applications - jobs in customer service can be highly respected by admissions offices because they help develop people skills and maturity, and show you can handle responsibility.

Best of luck on your journey!