I just relocated across the country and am looking to get into a coffee job. To be more specific, I've had several coffee shop jobs, but never worked for a real coffee person. I need a job for income, but more importantly and long-term, I want a coffee career.
I'm planning to get a job anywhere in the short term just to pay the bills while I get to know the shops around and see which ones might be a good fit. I figure if the shop is really serious about what they are doing, you have to get to know the shop, and the shop has to get to know you (especially with a resume full of mediocre shops). That's why I'm leaning towards not looking to get hired in coffee until after I've secured a day job and had time to get to know the area.
However, I'd hate to miss out on an opening I didn't know about because I didn't ask. Good shops don't typically have high turnover, so a missed opening could mean there isn't another one for 2 years or more. Still, if I'm planning on becoming a familiar face around a shop, I don't want one of my first interactions with the staff to be, "Are you guys hiring right now?"
As a store owner or manager, would that question put you off and negatively effect subsequent interactions with a new regular customer?
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