Are you looking for a job in the food and beverage industry? If so, you might wonder if it’s hard to find a job as a bartender.

The job of a bartender has changed over time. In the early 20th century, bars served alcohol only to men who had earned their way into them through social status. Today, however, women are also allowed entry into bars, and they now serve drinks to both genders.

As a result, the role of a bartender has evolved from serving drinks to entertaining customers. This means bartenders today are expected to be good hosts, entertainers, and salespeople. They should be able to talk to guests, answer questions, and provide recommendations.

In this post, we’ll look at what you can do to make yourself stand out from the crowd and increase your chances of landing the perfect bartending gig. Let’s get started!

Is bartending a good job?

For some people, bartending is a tremendous opportunity. They enjoy working behind the bar, making drinks, and interacting with customers. But there are plenty of reasons why someone might consider another career option. Here are 15 things to consider before deciding whether to become a bartender.

1. You’re good at math.

2. You love to cook.

3. You like being around alcohol.

4. You don’t mind standing up for yourself.

5. You’ve been told you look cute wearing glasses.

6. Your friends keep telling you how much money you make.

7. You have an eye for design.

8. You want to travel.

9. You’d rather work on your schedule than someone else’s.

10. You’re interested in learning new skills.

11. You’re willing to put in long hours.

12. You’re comfortable speaking to strangers.

13. You like meeting new people.

14. You know how to use Photoshop.

15. You don’t mind getting dirty.

If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, you might be a great fit for the bartender job. However, if you answered “no,” you might want to reconsider becoming one.

How about the needed skills?

While there isn’t much demand for bartenders in most places, employers are increasingly seeking applicants with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management or food service. Candidates must be able to follow basic recipes and be familiar with common ingredients and equipment. In addition, some companies prefer to hire people with previous experience in bars.

Although not necessary, prior bartending experience is preferred. The average bartender begins working part-time while in college and often takes three years to become qualified.

Some higher-end establishments require bartenders to pass a test administered by a professional organization. These tests include how to pour a drink, what alcoholic beverages are served properly, and how to make different kinds of mixed drinks.

Learn the ins and outs of the bartending industry

If you want to become a bartender, there are some things you’ll need to know about the profession.

1. Build your bartending knowledge

The bar industry is constantly changing, and bartenders are no exception. If you want to ensure you’re prepared for anything, you need to learn how to read a cocktail menu, understand what different drinks mean, and properly pour each one.

This course covers everything you need to know about cocktails and mixing techniques, including recipes and tips for making great drinks.

2. Learn the bartending basics

The bartender’s job is one of the most glamorous but also one of the hardest. You’ll need to learn many things before you even start working behind the bar. Once you’re ready to work, here are some things you’ll have to do.

1. Take orders

You’ll probably spend half your day taking orders. This includes being friendly and professional while doing it. If someone asks what you want, don’t just say “a beer.” Say, “I’d love a glass of water, please,” or “What can I get you?” Keep in mind that people might ask for unusual requests — such as a drink with no alcohol or a shot of tequila.

2. Pour drinks

Once you’ve taken the customer’s order, you’ll pour the drinks. Make sure you’re pouring correctly because customers won’t stand for sloppy drinks. Also, make sure you’re pouring into the appropriate glasses. For example, if someone wants a martini, you’ll pour it into a martini glass.

3. Clean up after yourself

If you’re a good server, you’ll clean up after yourself. Don’t let dirty cups sit around. When you’re done serving, put everything away neatly. Put used napkins in the trash and wipe down tables and counters.

3. Get your first bartending job

The job market for people looking to work behind a bar is tough. But if you want to learn how to make drinks, there are plenty of opportunities. You might even work at one of the world’s most iconic bars.

While some restaurants prefer to hire experienced bartenders, many others will train newcomers like you. If you don’t have prior experience, you’ll likely start as a barback — essentially the assistant bartender who helps fill bottles of liquor and mix drinks.

4. Sharpen your skills

You don’t necessarily need formal training to be a good bartender. Even though many people think it takes years of practice to perfect the art of mixing cocktails, you don’t need to spend hours practicing every day to master the craft. You need to understand the basics and work to learn everything else.

The most important thing to remember about bartending is that you don’t make a drink; you enhance someone else’s cocktail. When you pour someone a drink, you add flavor, color, alcohol, and sometimes sugar to their beverage.

So it’s really easy to see why making a great drink isn’t enough—you also need to know how to add ingredients to a glass that complement each other.

Once you understand the basic concepts behind the art of mixing drinks, you’ll start seeing opportunities everywhere. For example, you might notice that whenever you go out to eat, the server always brings the same type of drink repeatedly.

Instead of ordering the same old thing, ask yourself whether you could improve it by adding a little extra flavor. Or maybe you’ve noticed that the barista at Starbucks always makes the same cup of coffee every morning. Why not take advantage of that knowledge and offer them a tip?

The truth about most ‘would-be’ bartenders

If you’ve ever wondered why there are so many people working behind bars, here’s the answer: They want something different out of life. And chances are good that you know someone who wants to work behind the bar — maybe you.

But what do you do once you realize that you don’t have a background in bartending? You might think you’ll never enter the industry, which is totally understandable. After all, not everyone is cut out to handle liquor.

But you’d be surprised how many bartenders got into the profession without having had any previous bartending experience.

If you’re thinking, “I’m too young,” or “I don’t have enough money,” or “I don’t have a college degree,” let us tell you otherwise. There are plenty of ways to land a job as a bartender, even if you lack the necessary bartending experience.

The role of a bartender and what is expected of you

While some bartenders enjoy a charming lifestyle of working in a relaxed environment, serious responsibilities come along with being a bartender.

A good bartender knows how to set up a bar properly, sees the product lines and ingredients well enough to make cocktails, and understands how to interact with customers. They’re expected to serve alcohol responsibly, keep track of inventory, and understand how to handle customer complaints.

Bartenders must also be able to multitask effectively while keeping cool under pressure.

To be a good bartender, what qualities and abilities do you need?

The bar industry is one of the most competitive industries out there. There are many different ways to make money in the restaurant industry. One way is to become a bartender. A bartender works behind the counter, pouring drinks and ensuring people enjoy themselves while dining. In addition to being friendly and having good customer service skills, bartenders need to remember what they’ve served and know when it’s time to serve another round.

In addition to having great interpersonal skills, bartenders must have excellent communication abilities and the ability to build relationships with their customers. Not only do they need to be able to communicate effectively with patrons, but they need to connect with them emotionally. This is especially true when dealing with drunk patrons who might say inappropriate things.

Another key quality bartenders must possess a strong memory and the ability to keep track of everything they serve. If someone asks for something specific, they must be able to recognize it and know exactly where it is located. Additionally, bartenders must monitor how intoxicated their clients are and know when to stop serving them alcohol.

So, is it hard to find a job as a bartender?

As mentioned before, the job market for bartenders is always competitive. This is because there are a lot of people who want to be bartenders. In addition, there are a lot of people who are already bartenders and are looking for new jobs.

To stand out in the job market, having the right skills and experience is important. Bartending is not just about making drinks but also about customer service. Bartenders need to be able to interact with customers, take orders, and make sure that everyone is having a good time.

So, is it hard to find a job as a bartender? The answer is both yes and no. It largely depends on your experience level and the city you’re looking in.

However, with the right tools in your arsenals, such as an excellent resume and cover letter, you can give yourself a better chance at landing that dream bartending gig if you need help putting together an application that will stand out from the rest, reach out to our expert resume writers.

We’d be happy to help upgrade your application and give you the best chance of getting hired for your dream job!