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rolo454 · 17-02-2011, 12:04

Hey guys

I'm a student in Galway. I have a level 5 and a level 6 business degree.
I'm taking a gap year before I start in GMIt or NUIG.
So I'm looking to get a part time job in Galway City.
I'm open to most work: retail, food industry, anything really; but bar-tending has really caught my eye and I'm thinking of trying to find a bar-tending job for the Summer anyways; and see how it goes.

Does anybody have any ideas of an interesting place to work?
Or what it's like to work in a bar?
Or of any job's going at the moment in Galway City?

Cheers!

Raging_Ninja · 17-02-2011, 12:36

If you don't have bar experience more than likely if you do apply to work in one you'll be put on as floor staff, which means you get to collect glasses, get ice, clean up puke, piss and whatever else ends up on the floor.

If you work in a busier bar, it is a fairly stressful job with longish hours. If you work nights you'll need to develop a thick neck because I can guarantee you will take a good bit of abuse whatever position you will be put in. If you're a girl, more than likely you will be groped a fair bit if you are put on the floor and not kept hidden behind the bar.

On a late night (serving till 2am or so), more than likely you won't be finished work till at least 4am or later depending what kind of routine they have at the end of the night.

**Lockstep** · 17-02-2011, 12:55

Bartending is the best minimum wage job IMHO. A lot less montotonous than working in a shop.

It's tough to find work if you've no experience though. Hard to reccomend anywhere as a good place to work as the most important part is finding somewhere that will take you on.

If you've no experience, best bet is to get as floor staff/bar runner and stick with it. Chances are you'll get a bit of training behind the bar and will find it much easier to find future work.

rolo454 · 17-02-2011, 12:56

Thanks Raging Ninja
I'm a guy and I was thinking about doing some work experience in a quiet enough pub for about a month or so to get some experience, so a pub should take that into account.
Also I think it would be good to work in a bar at some stage in your life as if I have some experience it would be easy enough to get work in other places around the world.

Lockstep
My friends have told me working in a pub is tough at the start but it's very interesting. Last Summer I worked in a luxury retail shop and i hated it. It was so boring, dealing with pretentious customers complaining about stupid things. I feel that a pub would be much more exciting and a good life experience.

TristanPeter · 17-02-2011, 12:56

The work really depends on the type of bar I think. I worked in a country pub which was fine, friendly but often boring and I worked in a city hotel bar which was sh*t. The owner was always watching us on his cctv.If you happen to work during the Galway Races you will think Galway City is hell on earth. I have never come across so many idiots in one week as I did then.

TristanPeter · 17-02-2011, 13:03

Just an add on to my post above:

I did meet lots of nice people whilst working in the city bar, both staff and customers alike so it's not all bad. Also, I can only tell you of what my bar job was like so this isn't a blanket statement.

rolo454 · 17-02-2011, 15:19

I know how that feels. The retail job I mentioned previously was like that. I was never at ease as the manager or owner was always watching you on his CCTV camera. I was in their office one time and I could see EVERYTHING. It was so clear, he could see what I wrote on a piece of paper; sickening.

I can only imagine the sh1te you'd have to put up with during the races. You don't have to be behind the bar to see all the idiots around.

**Lockstep** · 17-02-2011, 16:28

Raceweek bar work is horrendous. Busy, exhausting and low paid. I got punched, groped and had beer cans thrown at me by drunken rich people.

Tips are savage though, made more in tips during race week than I did in wages.

Raging_Ninja · 17-02-2011, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lockstep

Raceweek bar work is horrendous. Busy, exhausting and low paid. I got punched, groped and had beer cans thrown at me by drunken rich people.

Same here, except for the groped part. Except when a couple of times they tried to grope a girl and instead got me.

rolo454 · 17-02-2011, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lockstep

Tips are savage though, made more in tips during race week than I did in wages.

Worth it!

AngeGal · 17-02-2011, 21:04

Think it really depends on where you work (what the clientele is like and that) and what the owner is. Worked in a bar in town twenty plus years ago and had a great time. My son has worked in two bars, first one awful beyond belief, treated like crap, second one, complete opposite. Try to find a busy bar but one that is mainly locals in my opinion, of course these days that's alot easier said than done.

**Lockstep** · 18-02-2011, 08:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolo454

Worth it!

It's really not a job for everyone. Fair few of the staff quit after one shift once they realised how demanding the work was. Whether or not you consider it worth it will depend on how you see it after doing the job yourself.

Places like the Radisson and G usually hire staff for Race Week, if you've zero experience they'll usually put you as a runner (Basically running around lifting crates of beer from the cellar to the bars) Exhausting work and no tips at all but you can apply to other bars claiming to have bar experience.

Raging_Ninja · 18-02-2011, 14:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lockstep

Places like the Radisson and G usually hire staff for Race Week, if you've zero experience they'll usually put you as a runner (Basically running around lifting crates of beer from the cellar to the bars) Exhausting work and no tips at all but you can apply to other bars claiming to have bar experience.

We used to call them stock monkeys.

stunt_penguin · 18-02-2011, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolo454

Hey guys

I have a level 5 and a level 6 business degree.

<pedantic grammar nazi>

and yet you put an apostrophe in 'Jobs'

</pedantic grammar nazi>

(sorry)

mikemac · 18-02-2011, 16:29

You'll get a job at the track for race week easy enough.

If you want to work in a bar, you start on the floor.
Or you know you could go to a hotel and do porter work

17-02-2011, 12:04	#1
rolo454 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Galway, Ireland Posts: 58 Adverts \| Friends	Jobs in Galway; Bartending? Hey guys I'm a student in Galway. I have a level 5 and a level 6 business degree. I'm taking a gap year before I start in GMIt or NUIG. So I'm looking to get a part time job in Galway City. I'm open to most work: retail, food industry, anything really; but bar-tending has really caught my eye and I'm thinking of trying to find a bar-tending job for the Summer anyways; and see how it goes. Does anybody have any ideas of an interesting place to work? Or what it's like to work in a bar? Or of any job's going at the moment in Galway City? Cheers!

17-02-2011, 12:36	#2
Raging_Ninja Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 792 Adverts \| Friends	If you don't have bar experience more than likely if you do apply to work in one you'll be put on as floor staff, which means you get to collect glasses, get ice, clean up puke, piss and whatever else ends up on the floor. If you work in a busier bar, it is a fairly stressful job with longish hours. If you work nights you'll need to develop a thick neck because I can guarantee you will take a good bit of abuse whatever position you will be put in. If you're a girl, more than likely you will be groped a fair bit if you are put on the floor and not kept hidden behind the bar. On a late night (serving till 2am or so), more than likely you won't be finished work till at least 4am or later depending what kind of routine they have at the end of the night. Last edited by Raging_Ninja; 17-02-2011 at 12:49.

17-02-2011, 12:56	#4
rolo454 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Galway, Ireland Posts: 58 Adverts \| Friends	Thanks Raging Ninja I'm a guy and I was thinking about doing some work experience in a quiet enough pub for about a month or so to get some experience, so a pub should take that into account. Also I think it would be good to work in a bar at some stage in your life as if I have some experience it would be easy enough to get work in other places around the world. Lockstep My friends have told me working in a pub is tough at the start but it's very interesting. Last Summer I worked in a luxury retail shop and i hated it. It was so boring, dealing with pretentious customers complaining about stupid things. I feel that a pub would be much more exciting and a good life experience. Last edited by rolo454; 17-02-2011 at 13:00.

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17-02-2011, 12:55	#3
Lockstep Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Nottingham Posts: 8,394 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Politics	Bartending is the best minimum wage job IMHO. A lot less montotonous than working in a shop. It's tough to find work if you've no experience though. Hard to reccomend anywhere as a good place to work as the most important part is finding somewhere that will take you on. If you've no experience, best bet is to get as floor staff/bar runner and stick with it. Chances are you'll get a bit of training behind the bar and will find it much easier to find future work.

17-02-2011, 12:56	#5
TristanPeter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Galway Posts: 658 Adverts \| Friends	The work really depends on the type of bar I think. I worked in a country pub which was fine, friendly but often boring and I worked in a city hotel bar which was sh*t. The owner was always watching us on his cctv.If you happen to work during the Galway Races you will think Galway City is hell on earth. I have never come across so many idiots in one week as I did then.

17-02-2011, 13:03	#6
TristanPeter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Galway Posts: 658 Adverts \| Friends	Just an add on to my post above: I did meet lots of nice people whilst working in the city bar, both staff and customers alike so it's not all bad. Also, I can only tell you of what my bar job was like so this isn't a blanket statement.

17-02-2011, 15:19	#7
rolo454 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Galway, Ireland Posts: 58 Adverts \| Friends	I know how that feels. The retail job I mentioned previously was like that. I was never at ease as the manager or owner was always watching you on his CCTV camera. I was in their office one time and I could see EVERYTHING. It was so clear, he could see what I wrote on a piece of paper; sickening. I can only imagine the sh1te you'd have to put up with during the races. You don't have to be behind the bar to see all the idiots around.

17-02-2011, 16:28	#8
Lockstep Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Nottingham Posts: 8,394 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Politics	Raceweek bar work is horrendous. Busy, exhausting and low paid. I got punched, groped and had beer cans thrown at me by drunken rich people. Tips are savage though, made more in tips during race week than I did in wages.

17-02-2011, 21:04	#11
AngeGal Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 371 Adverts \| Friends	Think it really depends on where you work (what the clientele is like and that) and what the owner is. Worked in a bar in town twenty plus years ago and had a great time. My son has worked in two bars, first one awful beyond belief, treated like crap, second one, complete opposite. Try to find a busy bar but one that is mainly locals in my opinion, of course these days that's alot easier said than done.

18-02-2011, 16:29	#15
mikemac Closed Account Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 19,585 Adverts \| Friends	You'll get a job at the track for race week easy enough. If you want to work in a bar, you start on the floor. Or you know you could go to a hotel and do porter work