There are many myths circulating the internet on the proper way to become a bartender. Many resources designed to help out and educate aspiring bartenders are often stating wrong information. Let's discuss these misconceptions and clear the view about the bartending profession.
I've received countless emails from aspiring bartenders who believe they can't start applying for bartending jobs due to what they have seen and read online. It never stops to surprise me just how many people are misguided by the many bartender myths out there.
Most of these myths are created and kept alive by bartending schools offering bartender training courses. They are the ones who benefit from the confusion about the proper process of becoming a bartender. Just keep in mind that their main objective is to enroll people in their programs and to sell training material.
Am I saying all of these schools are bad? No, not at all. I am simply stating that your decision to go to a bartender school shouldn't be based on the wrong reasons.
Many people apply for bartending schools believing it is the only way to achieve their goal of becoming a bartender. My only goal is to convince you that it is your choice to go to a bartending school, not a requirement.
There are people who will surely benefit from going to a good bartender school. It is a fast way, if not the fastest, to acquire the proper knowledge and develop your skills. If this is your objective, feel free to sign up for a training course. Just don't sign up merely because you believe in one of the myths listed below.
You Need to Go to a Bartending School
This is the biggest myth surrounding the bartending profession. Many online sources, including websites for aspiring bartenders, stress that you should attend a bartending school or follow an online course in order to learn the basic bartender techniques.
This is not true. In fact, you are free to develop your own skills however and wherever you like. I have spent years behind the bar and I have yet to meet a co-worker who is a bartending school graduate.
Employers Only Hire Bartenders with Diploma's from Prestigious Bartending Schools
Many websites, surely those of bartending schools, state that employers will only hire you once you're a bartending school graduate. This myth basically acknowledges that going to a bartending school isn't mandatory, but states that you will have a hard time finding a job in this profession if you do not complete a training course at some prestigious bartending school.
This claim is part of their marketing strategy, which revolves around addressing the fears of any inexperienced individual wishing to make the first steps towards a career as a bartender. By presenting this myth as the absolute truth, they succeed in making people believe that they need some kind of prestigious diploma in order to start off.
Understand this claim for what it is: a myth. Employers won't hire you because of some prestigious diploma, but for the sole reason that you are able to communicate your qualities and convince them of your abilities. In other words, they will hire you once they believe you are the right person for the job.
There's no diploma, no paper and no magical certificate that will do what you need to do yourself: convince your future employer that you should be their next bartender. It really comes down to doing a good job at presenting yourself during the job interview.
You Need a Certificate or a License
Again, false information. While the establishment you'll work at probably has to acquire a license in order to serve and sell alcohol, the law doesn't require individual bartenders to be licensed.
Keep in mind that there is a small number of states in the United States that does require individuals who are serving alcohol to complete a mandatory alcohol serving training. The best way to find out if this is the case, is to ask around. In addition, your future employer will surely let you know whether such training is mandatory in your area.
You Need to Know Every Drink Recipe Out There
This myth has been circulating the internet for decades now. I'm not really sure why this myth emerged or who would benefit from it, but it is a total misconception that you should know hundreds or thousands of drink recipes by heart.
There's no need to fear. You will suffice with basic knowledge of the most popular drink recipes. If I were to ask a hundred professional bartenders what the most popular drinks are, I would probably receive a hundred completely different ideas. However, there would also be a huge overlap in their views. There are approximately 50 basic drinks you will need to memorize.
For now, accept that you've been told a lie. You won't need to transform yourself into a drink recipe encyclopedia.
You Can't Land a Bartending Job without Experience
Being unable to score a bartending job without any prior experience is one more myth that has successfully kept inexperienced people from their goal to pursuit a career in this profession. Yes, many bar owners will prefer that you have some experience before they hire you. However, understand that experience is not mandatory. Whoever told you this, is not telling the truth.
I am willing to acknowledge that aspiring Daniel Parlin bartenders without any experience might have a tougher job convincing their future employers to give them a chance. However, I am one hundred percent sure that you can land yourself a well-paid job without any prior experience.
How can I be so sure? Because I am living proof that you can start off without any experience. In fact, each and every bartender out there had to start somewhere. We were all inexperienced. So why should you accept this myth to be true? Because someone said so?
There are certain ways to overcome the barrier of having no experience. You would benefit from knowing exactly how to construct your resume, what to say and (more importantly) what not to say during your job interview.
There are ways to improve your skills, attain the basic knowledge and educate yourself on great interview strategies.
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