Become a Bartender
There are many myths about how to go about getting a bartending job, especially if you don’t have any experience. This article will cut through the misconceptions and show you exactly how to get a bartending job by simplifying the bartending job search.
A key step to getting a bartending job is getting an interview. Without putting yourself in front of the people who do the hiring you can’t get a bartending job. This step seems simple enough but many would-be bartenders get caught up in the myth of they won’t hire me without any experience. Please don’t misunderstand me - some bartending jobs require experience, but most do not. Experience is required at high volume, super fast paced establishments. For these bartending jobs you must be extremely efficient at making drinks and serving customers - there is just no time to learn on the job. But most establishments are not high volume and super fast paced.
Attitude is more important to getting a bartending job than experience ever will be. The truth is that lots of managers and owners would rather hire someone with no experience, just a great attitude. All of the recipes and details of the job can be taught. A great attitude can not be taught, owners look for that and build on it.
Use the right tools in your job search. Along with a positive attitude you will need a compelling cover letter and a good resume. Lots of bartending jobs will only require you to fill out an application. If they do require an application, fill it out but also leave your cover letter and resume. The whole point is to separate your self from the crowd and become the easy choice for the job.
The resume used in your bartending job search should be designed especially for bartending jobs. Do not just send out the same resume you would send to a temp office agency. Have fun with the resume, remember to put your personality into it, and make it relevant to bartending. Talk about your ability to handle conflict, desire to work with people and your responsibility.
Your resume needs to put forth your positive characteristics and job skills. Don’t include things like, I can type 50 words a minute, on a bartending resume. This detail is irrelevant and will bore the reader. Include things like, I am great at upselling, co-workers come to me for advice, I can read a situation and resolve conflict well. These are skills you need in any job but especially in bartending. If you have applied these general skills in other situation you can apply them bartending and learn how to become a bartender.
A bartending job interview isn’t like other job interviews. You can be more relaxed and at ease in a bartending job interview. They have already read your cover letter and resume so expand on the themes you presented there. And always remember to let your positive attitude and winning personality shine through, they are the keys to getting the job.
Your goal during any job interview is to get the interviewer interested in and liking you. It is like a first date. Reveal yourself in the most compelling, positive light you can. Tell stories and give details. Details help a story to ring true and gain interest. If they are interested and like you they will hire you.
These tips will definitely help you get your first bartending job which will teach you how to become a bartender. Once your foot is in the door in the industry other bartending jobs will be easy to get. Start with the advice in this article and you will be bartending in no time.
