| Lots of people want to get a bartending job but | | | | great hire. The employer needs a reason to hire |
| don't know how to go about doing it. This article | | | | you; you must give them that reason by showing |
| will expose some of the myths of bartending jobs | | | | how you will be an asset to their organization. |
| and show you the steps to getting your first | | | | After you have told a compelling story in your |
| bartending job. | | | | cover letter you must back it up with a solid |
| The first step in getting a bartending job is getting | | | | resume. This resume doesn't have to have |
| an interview. Without putting yourself in front of | | | | bartending experience on it, but it must be tailored |
| the people who do the hiring you can't get a | | | | to bartending. It should never have irrelevant |
| bartending job. This step seems simple enough | | | | information (i.e. type 90 words a minute; proficient |
| but many would-be bartenders get caught up in | | | | in excell; etc.) You would be amazed at how |
| the myth of "they won't hire me without any | | | | many resumes get thrown in the garbage |
| experience." Please don't misunderstand me - | | | | because the applicant doesn't bother to even list |
| some bartending jobs require experience, but | | | | relevant information. Examples of relevant |
| most do not. Experience is required at high | | | | information and experience could include: used |
| volume, super fast paced establishments. For | | | | upselling techniques to increase sales per |
| these bartending jobs you must be extremely | | | | customer visit, learned customer satisfaction is |
| efficient at making drinks and serving customers - | | | | exceeding - not meeting - customer expectations, |
| there is just no time to learn on the job. But | | | | voted "easiest to talk to" in my high school |
| most establishments are not high volume and | | | | yearbook. Notice that none of these bullet points |
| super fast paced. So why are you still hearing | | | | requires bartending experience. You need to tailor |
| that they want experience? | | | | your previous experience, no matter what it was, |
| Employers often use the "no experience" reason | | | | to fit the skill sets of bartending. |
| for not hiring as a polite way to end the | | | | Once you have gained an interview for a |
| conversation. The truth is that in most | | | | bartending job by using the above mentioned |
| establishments your Attitude is way more | | | | tools you must then ace the bartending job |
| important than your experience. Experience | | | | interview. Interviews for bartending jobs are very |
| breeds bad habits. Many owners and managers | | | | different then interviews for traditional jobs. |
| would rather hire a "blank slate" and train them | | | | Bartending requires that you put your personality |
| properly. But this "blank slate" must have a | | | | on display and you must do this in the interview. |
| phenomenal attitude. It is your duty to not only | | | | The tools that you created to get your |
| develop this phenomenal attitude but to make | | | | bartending job interview will come in very handy |
| sure it shines through during the application | | | | in preparation for the interview. Since you have |
| process so that you can put it on full display | | | | created a compelling cover letter and resume all |
| during your interview. | | | | you need to do to prepare for the interview is |
| Here are two tools that will make sure your great | | | | review them. Have stories ready. Be able to |
| attitude is conveyed during your job search. Write | | | | speak intelligently about your experiences and |
| a cover letter and a resume. Many bartending | | | | how they relate to bartending. And most |
| jobs will only require that you fill out their | | | | importantly, get the interviewer to like you. If |
| application. If you want to be included with the | | | | they feel like you are likeable and have a positive |
| group of people applying for the job and don't | | | | attitude they will think that their customers will like |
| want to stand out - then by all means, fill out the | | | | you and spend more money. Also, people want to |
| application. If you want to elevate yourself above | | | | work with people they like. Make it your priority in |
| the crowd - then have a really great cover letter | | | | your interview to make the interview feel more |
| and resume than separates you from the pack. | | | | like a conversation. Don't give one word answers, |
| In order to have a great cover letter and resume | | | | put your opinions and personality on display. Talk |
| you must design it specifically for getting a | | | | to the interviewer about bartending and topics |
| bartending job. Do not be generic. To write a | | | | most likely to interest them. If you seem more |
| compelling cover letter you need to tell a | | | | like a friend then like an applicant you will get the |
| compelling story. Remember all the challenging | | | | job. |
| situations you have been in. Try to remember | | | | In conclusion, bartending jobs are not as hard to |
| even the smallest details. Is the story about how | | | | get as it seems. Aspiring bartenders just don't |
| you handled an aggravated customer? Is about | | | | usually know where to start. This article lays the |
| some obstacle you overcame? Does it show how | | | | foundation for beginning your bartending job |
| you are a great team player and employee? Your | | | | search. |
| cover letter must show -not tell- that you are a | | | | |