Bartender job no prev experience

Bottle_of_Smoke

I've got an interview next week for a job in a pub but I've only worked in the lounge of a pub before.

I didn't state this exactly on my CV I just gave the dates I worked at the establishment.

During the interview do you think I should tell the truth or say I worked as a bartender in the previous job and wing it? Been watching bartender vids on youtube seems straightforward enough.

Any tips appreciated

Trashbat

Tell them you worked in the lounge but filled in behind the bar on occasion.

To be honest, its not difficult, so just let them know that you can pull a pint and operate a till and you'll be fine.

Good luck

Bottle_of_Smoke

Trashbat wrote: »

Tell them you worked in the lounge but filled in behind the bar on occasion.

To be honest, its not difficult, so just let them know that you can pull a pint and operate a till and you'll be fine.

Good luck

Cheers. Have actually operated a till in other jobs it's just pouring pints/changing kegs i'm not sure about

What's the craic with the taps when you push rather than pull them down? is that just guinness?

puss

I think you will need to know how to pull a pint. My nephew had two different interviews in Dublin last week and he was asked to pull a pint at both interviews. He got offered both jobs . He has been working in pubs for the last 4 years part time.

patwicklow

Just be honest at the interview tell them you worked mainly on the floor serving food drinks keeping the area clean and tidy ect, and say you have helped out at times behind the bar, dont say to them you know it all about tills beer celler other wise they,l trow you in the deep end expecting you to deal with it all. and they will know if you are inexperainced. i was 20 years in the trade and would know striaght away just be honest and best of luck...

mikemac

You don't need to know how to pull a pint or change a keg, you'll be trained on those.
If you say you can and the manager watches you, realy they'll know instantly you are winging it.

Main thing is you are reliable, hardworking and pleasant to customers and staff.
A good barman is never idle
If the place is empty, you'll be cleaning.

Realy, they'll get you serving on quiet nights but on busy nights when it's all hands on deck, you'll go on the floor.

But you'll get there and in no time you'll be behind the bar at any time
You have lounge experience, realy the job could be pretty much yours!

Mr. Loverman

I have worked as a bartender. Previously I had never worked in a bar or shop nor had I ever used a till.

I was up and running in about 5 minutes.

Honestly, it's an easy job. The hardest part (which you get good at after a day or two) is reading people's lips to know what their order is and remembering their order.

So don't be lacking confidence about whether or not you can do the job.

murphym7

Be honest in the interview. If you bluff them in the interview they will suss you within 10 minutes of standing behind the bar on your first night. They will see pretty quickly that you can handle only one order at a time, not pulling stout before attending to the rest of an order, how confident you are changing an optic etc….

I wish you luck with the job but do not bluff them, they will know. There is nothing hard about any of the tasks behind the bar, its just practice.

Trashbat

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

What's the craic with the taps when you push rather than pull them down? is that just guinness?

for Lager, you need to do a full pour (tap at 90 degrees) and tipping it back puts extra gas flow in.

for Guinness, a back pour if for topping off the pint (general rule from Guiness quality team, is that the first pour goes level with the top of the harp on the glass).

Hope this helps. Trust me, once you've poured one or two pints, it becomes relatively easy.

Let us know how you get on!

c_man

Be honest! It'll be picked up on by the boss and other staff. I often saw lads come in claiming years of experience and was immediately obvious they hadn't a clue. Would usually be let go within a day or two.

Best of luck.