How to Become a Bartender

If you are a social person, have a fun-loving personality and like the atmosphere at the bar, then maybe a bartender job is very suitable for you! However, you may not know where to start. Fortunately, bartendr usually doesn’t require formal training or education. You just need to have experience working with customers and important skills such as the ability to work under pressure, a good memory and a sense of responsibility. By honing your skills and practicing bartending, you can start your career as a bartender.

Table of Contents

Meet the requirements

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Check the minimum age requirement to become a bartender in your area. Minimum age requirements for bartenders can vary, but are generally between 18 and 21 years old. Find out the minimum age requirement in your area. If you’re old enough, you can start your job search! ^{[1] X Research Source}

Many states in the US do not require bartenders to be of legal drinking age.
If you’re not old enough to be a bartender, you can still practice your bartender skills. Let’s start learning recipes. You can also start working in a restaurant or bar as a bar assistant or waiter to gain experience.

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Take a bartending course to gain skills and experience. This is not a requirement, but it will help you score points in the eyes of the employer, especially if you do not have much experience. There are many bartender training programs you can take, most of which last only a few weeks. Upon completion of a program, you will be awarded a certificate so that your skills are officially recognized. ^{[2] X Trusted Source US Bureau of Labor Statistics Go to source}

If it’s in the US, you should try to find a program that’s licensed by your state’s Department of Education to make sure it’s legitimate.
If you plan to attend a bartender school, you should arrange to visit the school before paying your tuition. Take a tour of the school and meet some of the instructors there to see if they are professional and knowledgeable about the industry. They must also use textbooks and specialized teaching materials. That way, you can avoid scammers.
In addition to face-to-face programs, there are many online programs, but you should be careful. Double check to make sure you’re not being scammed. If possible, you should talk to students who have completed the course to make sure they have found a job after studying.
Bartender training schools often cost a few hundred dollars, whether in person or online.

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Buy a concoction kit to practice at home. The only way to progress as a bartender is to practice, so you should make the most of your time at home. You can get a cheap bartending kit with a cocktail shaker, tongs, a whisk, a spoon, and all the tools you’ll use while standing at the counter. You will make a good impression on the bar manager with your skills if you work hard at home. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Do not spend practice concocting recipes. You should also learn how to decorate drinks. Decor is an important element of cocktails, especially in modern bars.

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Learn the recipes by heart. You may think that you have to memorize hundreds of recipes to get a job as a bartender, but that’s not entirely true. There are only a few popular drinks that guests order, so focus on those recipes. The rest you can do and learn gradually, especially with some bars with unique recipes. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Some of the most popular cocktails are Dark and Stormy, Old Fashioned, Negroni, Daiquiri, Martini, Whiskey Sour, Margarita, and Moscow Mule. ^{[5] X Research Sources} If you master these recipes, you probably already have the knowledge you need to land a job.
Recipes are easy to find online. You can also buy a recipe book full of recipes.
Be sure to also learn common bartending terms, such as “neat” or “on the rocks” so you know what your guests are ordering.

Find a job

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Write an impressive cover letter . Just like any other job, you need a job application to apply for a bartender job. Applications for bartender jobs are like any other job application – keep it short and easy to read. Remember to include your experience, qualifications and certifications at the top so the bar manager can see immediately that you are qualified to be a bartender. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Don’t forget to include your contact information in your application! This is a simple thing, but sometimes people forget.
If you don’t have any bartender experience, be sure to highlight any customer service work you’ve done. Careers you have worked as a waiter, cashier, receptionist or customer support officer can demonstrate that you know how to work with people and take care of customers.
Remember that the average person will spend less than a minute reading your application. Make sure someone can see your experience right away when they skim it.

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Try checking out the bars you often go to. Bars and restaurants often receive a lot of bartender applications, so it can be difficult for your application to stand out. If you’re a regular at a few bars in the city and know the staff there, you’ll have an advantage. Go there and say you’re looking for a job as a bartender and want to talk to the manager. If the staff there already know you, the manager is more likely to hire you. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Remember to bring your application form in case the manager asks for it.

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Go to online job sites to find available bartender positions. As many bartender jobs are posted online as any other job. You can search on sites like Indeed or Glassdoor by entering the keyword “bartender” into the search engine. You can find many job postings for which you can apply. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Remember to adjust the location settings according to the area you want to work with. Otherwise, you will have to scroll through a lot of job advertisements that are not close to where you live.
Since applying online is so easy, you’ll probably have a lot of competition when it comes to finding jobs online. You should combine this with coming in person.

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Go to the bars in your area to apply. Not all bartender positions are advertised online, and applying for jobs in person is still a common practice in the bartender industry. Make a list of bars in your area and go there to apply for a job. Bring your resume and be ready to introduce yourself to the manager. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Be prepared, as the manager may want to interview or test you on the spot.
Try to go to the bar at a less busy time, such as around mid-afternoon. If you arrive at a busy time, the manager may not have time to talk to you.
If you know someone who works at local bars, let them know you’re looking for work. They may speak well for you to management.

Get a job

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Dress appropriately for the interview. You probably want to make an impression on the person interviewing you, and well-dressed will help you make a good impression. Even if you just go for an interview at a casual sports bar, you will never regret wearing a pair of well-cut pants or skirts with a clean shirt. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Remember that it can be different at fancy bars. The bartenders there usually wear ties and formal attire, so dress appropriately for the interview.
A general rule of thumb is to dress a little better than the bartenders working there.

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Be gentle and enthusiastic throughout the interview. Your personality means a lot when you are looking for a job as a bartender. Employers prefer candidates who are charming and good-looking, and must have good judgment and responsibility. Show your manager that you can meet those requirements. Shake hands, make eye contact, smile, sit up straight and speak confidently to show them that you’re right for the job. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Try to answer the interview with the manager like a conversation. This will make them like you more personally and will be more likely to accept you.
If they ask why you want to work at this bar, answer something like, “I feel the atmosphere here is great and suits me. I believe I can get along with the customers. and staff and can do the best work here.”
Managers may deliberately ask difficult and stressful questions. Maybe it’s a test of how well you handle pressure, so stay calm and gentle during the interview, even if you feel stressed.

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Emphasize your experience working with clients. No matter how good your barista knowledge is, one of the most important aspects of a bartender career is interacting with customers. The manager will likely ask about your previous experience in customer service, whether in a bar or not. Be ready to highlight your skills in communicating and dealing with the public. This is an effective way to impress management. ^{[15] X Research Source}

The interviewer may ask you how to handle some hypothetical situations, such as remembering drinks that a large group of people ordered at the same time or how to spot a fake identity. Be prepared in advance for situations that you may encounter while working and give reasonable answers.
Prepare some stories about conflict resolution, such as chasing a drunk person into a bar. Situations like these can happen while you’re at work, so your manager wants to know your handling.
You can tell stories like, “I remember one time a customer staggered into a bar and I knew for sure he was drunk. It wasn’t right to serve him alcohol right now, so I told him to. Go away. When he refused to go, I called security to take him out.”

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Call or send a thank you note after the interview. No matter how great the interview, if you don’t call or send a thank you letter afterward, you made a mistake. The day after the interview, send the manager an email or call to thank you for your time. You can also take this opportunity to reiterate your interest in the job. If they are hesitant, your enthusiasm may make them prefer you. ^{[16] X Research Source}

You don’t need to be too verbose. Chi needs to say, “I want to thank you again for spending time with me yesterday. I love this job very much and hope to hear from you soon.”

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Do a good job on the trial shift. If you have passed the interview round, the next step will be to try the job. This is the usual practice time to make sure you can actually do the job. The manager will arrange for you to work shifts under their supervision. This is the final test of your position, so do your best! ^{[17] X Research Source}

Prepare and bring everything the manager requires, such as a pen or bottle opener. And remember to dress appropriately.
Stay calm during the shift. Your job may be stressful, and your manager may schedule you during busy hours to observe your performance. Remember to apply all your skills and experience to pass.
Remember to work well with everyone who works the same shift. Being a bartender also means being part of a team, so you need to contribute to the team to the best of your ability.

Advice

Try not to be picky when you first look for a job, especially if you don’t have much experience. It’s important to get into the industry, so don’t turn down a job that doesn’t quite work out.
If you want to be a bartender, you need to be willing to work nights, weekends and holidays. Those are the busy times when you’ll get the most tips.

Warning

Don’t lie about your skills and experience. You’ll probably make it through the interview, but if you mess things up on the job, your manager will know right away that you’re lying.

Steps

Meet the requirements

Find a job

Get a job

Advice

Warning

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