Anyone work behind a bar?

Nitrojan

Nitrojan

Nitrojan

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Having just turned 18 just under a week ago, I really need a job and one thing that crossed my mind was working behind a bar, however what are the chances of actually getting a bar job without any experience, and do most bars train you up or just give you a few pointers and then leave you to get on with it?

Things like, memorising the locations of the drinks on front and back bars I should imagine would be the hardest - and then learning the bar mumbo-jumbo that some customers speak. Has anyone got any good advice for wanting to get into bar work to earn a bit of cash for someone with no experience at all?

Just thought I'd ask :)
 
Temp jobs should be out there, but with unis finished for the year most of them have been taken for the summer.

The job itself isn't great. I'd imagine not far beyond minimum wage, and well, at the end of the night you're cleaning all sorts of "stuff" up. Beware you have to deal with drunk idiots who can easily be irritated.

I did a few shifts for years ago, and it's not as easy in a busy bar as it seems. You're on your feet, people are obviously drunk, if they feel you've missed them out (which to be fair, as a punter you realise happens a lot) they'll get angry.
 
I worked as a waiter from the age of 16 and when I was 18 I just started to walk behind the bar to pour my own customers drinks if there was a wait, after that I asked for some bar shifts and they were happy to give them, no training for me. If you get training it will be on how to navigate the sometimes confusing tills, and how to pour a pint properly. Most of the rest is just common sense imo
 
I did back when I was at uni - although I got the job through a friend so that's possibly an avenue you can pursue?

To be honest it all comes naturally after a couple of shifts - once your used to the pumps and being able to master putting a good head on a drink and sorting a decent guiness (which pubs don't seem to give a crap about anymore :(). You'll pick the odd mixer drinks up pretty fast - 90% are just standard vodka/bacardi & cokes.

It's fun work but does eat into your social life a little bit - I was on the Friday/Saturday for a while which was the main reason I left.

I could never work in a club though. Just like robots - at least in a bar-esque establishment you can have a bit of interaction with the customers.
 
Only training you will get is how to pour a pint, what glasses to use and the till.

Though the bar I worked in the till was touch screen with labels for all the drinks so was easy, no need to memorise prices or anything. I didn't have any previous experience.
 
At this time of year, when its likely to be busiest you're probably gonna get waiting or washing up jobs at a bar/pub etc/

First time on a bar can be tricky, there is lot to learn in not much time, and the tills... bah...
 
Exactly as above.

The till will be a nightmare for a shift you will be a bit of a lemon and take ages to work it also probably have to ask people what they want twice cos you will be nervous.

Its not a bad job depending on the bar/pub, get to talk to plenty of people and it can be slack as hell some nights.

Fridays and Saturdays wizz by if its non stop/busy.
 
Greenlizard0 said:
Beware you have to deal with drunk idiots who can easily be irritated.
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This is probably the hardest part of the job. I think you tend to get less of it at local pubs (as opposed to chains or bars). You will find bar/pub jobs that don't require experience like potman. From that you might find you get given more responsibility on busy nights and that can lead to becoming a full time member of the bar staff.
 
Had a few bar jobs when I was back at Uni myself.
As has already been pointed out, bars/pubs will of course take just about anyone, regardless of experience, however your main issue is going to be that it's well into summer and the majority are likely to have been taken by students and such at the start.

You will get trained on how to do everything, more so if its part of a chain than just an independent pub.

The only area of bar work you are not so likely to get without previous experience tends to be for more classy places, such as wine bars. In my experience, they also pay a fraction better and you can make quite good tips.

My first ever shift was in a busy bar/club and it does seem a little overwhelming at first when you've got so many people waiting for drinks and you are trying to remember where everything is, how to pour drinks and what goes into each one. It's quite quick to pickup though within a few shifts.

For a proper bar/club you are also going to be working till quite late at night, bare in mind that you will be stocking/cleaning/putting away for at least an hour after whatever the door closing time is. It can be fun, as it's social and a great way to meet love interests too! It can be annoying putting up with drunks and idiots. The real danger though is making sure you don't end up spending all your wages again in there on your night(s) off!
 
Used to work for a posh wine bar through Uni. It was simply amazing. Could easily earn £100 a night over the weekend on tips alone and the amount of minge you could tap was amazing.
I'd jump into a standard pub first of all then work your way up to a decent bar.
 
I work behind a bar, never had any experience. Most pubs will just show you the ropes then tell you to get on with it. Knowing where all the drinks are come within a week. It's nowhere near as daunting as it looks. This is coming from a dude who works in a Wetherspoons franchise pub too (who stock everything under the sun).
 
I work part time behind a bar. Don't need any experience, it's not really hard... You just get trained up on your first shift. Drunk people are fine, if they dish it out to you, give it back to them.
 
You'll be crap for a few shifts and people will occasionally be ****ty with you, you'll also be surprised how many drinks you don't know, otherwise it depends entirely what bar you work in and who you work with

B@
 
I started 3 weeks ago after handing CVs in to about 15 local pubs and getting one reply :P

Turned up for my 'training' which was basically showing how to work a till and pour a pint, quick run through of where all the different glasses are and that was about it. Worked for 2 hours then just asking questions as i went and learnt it pretty quick.

You'll soon learn what pump is what but just remember to ask if you arent sure, better than messing up!

Oh yeah and if you work in the type of pub i'm in it will be full of grumpy men who like the head on their tetleys perfect to the mm. Just ignore the fussy ones and if they dont like it they'll get someone more experienced to serve them in future.
 
worked behind a few bars part time and full time while travelling . If the industry paid more like in Oz i'd seriously think about carving a career out of it.

As it is in the UK its good fun to interact with customers and I personally got job satisfaction from helping to give them a good night out.
 
In Scotland, you need a licence to work behind a bar now. It's stupid.
I'd love to work behind a bar, but I can't afford the fees for the licence and bars won't employ someone without one as it's not in their interest to put you through it.
Argh!
 
If you ever end up working behind the bar, please, but PLEASE...

LEARN HOW TO POUR A PROPER PINT OF GUINNESS !
This might even get you some extra tips trust me ;-).
 
Ahleckz said:
In Scotland, you need a licence to work behind a bar now. It's stupid.
I'd love to work behind a bar, but I can't afford the fees for the licence and bars won't employ someone without one as it's not in their interest to put you through it.
Argh!
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As in a personal licence? Although I've never heard of your standard beer puller needing one
 
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