I can't speak to your experience, but across 3 states I've had terrible experiences with managers never following up or never responding at all. I have experience as a barista, no record, no reason not to be a candidate. Seems like managers are never in the store.

ex. After leaving Bux in 2014, it was years before I tried to apply again. I lived on the border between states, and applied for all 6 locations in that area which were stating hiring immediately. Would apply, follow up after a few days, then again after a couple weeks. Always got the "they aren't here today, we'll leave a note with your name and number" even if I called during a time I'd previously been told they'd be there.

Fast forward to this year. East Coast. Applied in early May. Waited a week to follow up, since it's a busy location. Then at 2 weeks. Asked when the next time the manager would be in and the best off-peak time to call is. Called again on that specified day and time (a week later). She said she'd call back to schedule an interview, as she was going into a meeting. Never called back. This was end of June at this point. I gave up and began seeking other avenues.

Fast forward to August 10th. She calls me out of the blue at 830am, then emails me an hour later. I was out of town and in a bad service area, so I respond via email the next day letting her know I can meet with her Monday. No reply. I call the next day to leave a note. No reply. I call one week after the day she called me. No reply. Tonight I get the canned Talent Acquisition rejection email at 230am. So I responded to her direct email asking her once again to make 100% sure she doesn't want an interview, and I'll go into the location on Monday.

Shit like this is a red flag. At this point, if she wants an interview, I'll go just to waste her time like she's wasted mine. The company isn't what it used to be, like most places post-pandemic.

They scream and cry "nobody wants to work", meanwhile they're leaving eager and experienced applicants out to dry.