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.
Employers often use the no experience reason for not hiring as a polite way to end the conversation. The truth is that in most establishments your Attitude is way more important than your experience. Experience breeds bad habits. Many owners and managers would rather hire a blank slate and train them properly. But this blank slate must have a phenomenal attitude. It is your duty to not only develop this phenomenal attitude but to make sure it shines through during the application process. If you want to become a bartender you must show your excitement and enthusiasm.
Two easy tools that will make sure you stand out during your job search are a cover letter and a resume. Many bartending jobs will only require that you fill out their application. If you want to be included with the group of people applying for the job and don’t want to stand out – then by all means, fill out the application. If you want to elevate yourself above the crowd – then have a really great cover letter and resume than separates you from the pack.
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.
And most importantly, get the interviewer to like you. If they feel like you are likeable and have a positive attitude they will think that their customers will like you and spend more money. Also, people want to work with people they like. Make it your priority in your interview to make the interview feel more like a conversation. Don’t give one word answers, put your opinions and personality on display. Talk to the interviewer about bartending and topics most likely to interest them. If you seem more like a friend then like an applicant you will get the job.
Getting your first bartending job is always the hardest. It will seem tough at times but it is completely up to you. If you want it badly enough you will get it and once you get the first one, the rest are always easier. Follow the advice in this article and you’ll get that first bartending job quicker than you think.
