How to Get a Job as a Full Time Bartender
If pouring drinks, popping tops and collecting tips doesn't sound like a bad tradeoff for working into the early hours of the morning, you may be bartender material. A bartender's main focus is to make his patrons happy. When all that's required to keep customers in a good mood is to make sure they have a drink in front of them, a bartender's job may seem easy. However, the scene behind the bar is more hectic than it looks. Becoming a full-time bartender requires you to gain experience by assisting the bartender and tending to the bar part-time.
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Instructions
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Attend a bartending school or take bartending courses offered by a community college. Bartending school arms you with a wealth of knowledge that you'll need to perform your job at a high level, such as learning about the vast amount of drinks that people will order and the basics of mixing drinks. Bartender school is not required to become a bartender, but it will make it easier to get your foot in the door. Bartending school ranges from one week to over five weeks.
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Apply as a barback. Barbacks serve as a bartender's assistant. They must make sure everything is stocked, from ice to drinks. They typically earn an hourly wage, which is supplemented by a portion of the bartender's tips. Almost all inexperienced bartenders start out as barbacks. With bartending school experience, you'll likely move up to a bartender position quicker. If after a year you do not get promoted to at least a part-time bartender, apply for a bartender position in a different restaurant or bar.
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Interact with the customers. An effective bartender keeps his patrons happy. Actively participate in conversations, joke around and appear light-hearted. Remain personable and friendly. Laughter and smiles serve bartenders well.
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Improve daily. If you become a part-time bartender, you must convince the manager or owner that you know how to mix drinks, interact with customers and handle the hectic bar environment. Otherwise, you'll remain part-time. When you begin serving your first drinks, it's fine to look at a cheat sheet so that you don't accidentally mix the wrong ingredients, but you must eventually remember drinks so that the process becomes second nature. Increase your speed and you'll increase your bartending opportunities.
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Ask other bartenders for tips and guidance. Seasoned bartenders will likely be glad to help you out and give you a bit of insider knowledge. If you're having difficulty mastering different types of drinks or you fear that you're not quick enough, go to a bartender and ask him for help.
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References
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