You’ve been waiting and waiting and the big day is finally here: you’re about to start your first day on the job as a bartender. This is something that you’ve been training for, but nothing an quite prepare you for what it is like to stop out behind that bar for the first time and start taking real orders from real customers. If you want to help your first day on the job go as smoothly as possible and make the best impression that you can, you’ll want to keep a few key things in mind.
Refresh, Refresh, Refresh
In many ways, going in for your first day on the job as a bartender is a lot like taking a test – it never hurts to refresh on some of the things you’ve learned leading up to this moment before the big day finally arrives. The night before you go in, go back over some common drink orders in your head, and think about your technique. Talk to your boss or your fellow employees to learn how to adapt to the way they already like to do things. Such a large part of success as a bartender involves fitting in with an already established environment. This particular restaurant or bar existed long before you got there and you’ll want to try to gear the way you’re comfortable doing things towards those practices instead of the other way around.
It’s About How You Handle Yourself
The “Golden Rule” will perhaps be no more relevant in your life than it will be during your first day on the job. Being overwhelmed is natural, especially if you don’t have any other previous experience. Above all else, treat others the way that you want to be treated – end of story. If you’re going through some of the typical “growing pains” that come with being a bartender or if the sheer volume of orders overwhelms you, just relax. Take a deep breath.
If you’re calm and polite to customers, they will be more than willing to work with you and cut you a little slack. If you have a short fuse and are quick to lash out when things aren’t going your way, expect the same type of attitude from those customers in return. You need always be mindful of your social responsibility as a bartender, especially in regards to the responsible serving of alcohol.
At RSA Melbourne, we don’t just want to make your first day on the job as a bartender as easy as possible. We want to give you the skills and the training that you’ll need to make every day thereafter as fun and exciting as you always dreamed it could be. We specialise in training courses for the hospitality industry that will teach you how to serve drinks properly, work with customers and more, all helping you down the path towards career success and advancement for both now and all time.
