Getting a Barista Job: Adjudicating the Impact of Human Capital, Social Capital, Age and Gender

This study concerns the role of human capital, social capital, age, and gender in acquiring a job as an entry-level barista. Employment records were coded and analyzed in order to identify the key factors differentiating this applicant pool. The results from multivariate models produce fewer positive associations between human capital and social capital indicators than the literature suggests. Those with greater educational attainment are more likely to have high-status references on their applications. As seen in previous literature, the social capital of applicants is not very relevant in acquiring this entry-level job. Overall, educational attainment was most salient in increasing the odds of being interviewed and hired. The managers responsible for these decisions appear to favor formal higher education over work experience or references. The findings are discussed vis-à-vis women's gains in higher education, the growth of the service sector, and the aging of the U.S. population.