How to become a Bartender

Bartenders prepare, create and serve all kinds of drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) for patrons in a wide range of settings, from pubs and hotels, to cruise liners and airplanes.

If you’re friendly and outgoing, flexible with your work hours, love people and have a great memory, this could be the perfect job for you.

About you:

Customer focused with excellent communication skills
High energy levels and plenty of stamina, you’ll be on your feet for hours
Work well under pressure, as part of a team, at any time of day – or night

The job:

Greet and serve customers in a friendly manner, read whether they’d like to chat or be left alone
Prepare and serve drinks for your patrons, sometimes helping them to choose
Process payments and accurately maintain a cash register (and transaction records)
Keep the bar area clean and re-stocked at all times

Lifestyle impact: Medium

Part Time opportunities: Very high – around 71% of Bartenders work part-time (source: labourmarketinsights.gov.au).
Average hours for full-time workers: 42 hours a week, which is average (source: labourmarketinsights.gov.au).
Electricians’ salary (average) $60,000* per year (source: seek.com.au). *Salaries vary depending on your skills and experience.
Future career growth: Strong (source: labourmarketinsights.gov.au).
You will be doing most of your work indoors, potentially in a wide variety of settings.
You will most likely need to work on weekends, holidays, and late nights, as these are popular times for people to go out.
You should get as much work experience as possible, keep up with new trends (and laws), be hard working and flexible, earn yourself a great reputation with your customers as well as management.

Bartenders are most in demand in these locations:

Demand for Bartenders is highest in New South Wales and Queensland. Most work in the Accommodation and Food Services industry.

How to become a Bartender in Australia

A degree isn’t essential for entry to this career, but you must obtain a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) Certificate before you are allowed to work as a bartender in a licensed venue.

Step 1 – Finish Year 12 with good results in English and Maths. You’ll need to be at least 18 to work in bars, pubs and clubs.

Step 2 – Undertake work experience in a hospitality or retail setting to build your customer service skills.

Step 3 – Complete an RSA Certificate, like the ones below. Note that many courses have a minimum age requirement of 17 or 18.

Step 4 – Find work as a bartender and build on your skills, and consider enrolling on short courses that could help you get a foot in the door, such as:

Step 5 – Work hard, get to you know your customers, expand your knowledge of drinks and impress your bosses. You could end up in management positions, or become a business owner and establish your own bar.

Find out more here –

http://aha.org.au/

http://thci.com.au/about.html

Similar Careers to Bartending

Restaurant Manager

Hotel Manager

Find out more about alternative careers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it take to become a Bartender?

Many Responsible Service of Alcohol qualifications are relatively short, meaning you could become qualified to work as a bartender within a few days to weeks.

Where do Bartenders work?

Bartenders can work in a variety of establishments, including in bars, restaurants, pubs, clubs, cafés, and hotels, casinos, cruises, function centres, as well as for private catering and event companies.

Do I need to go to university to become a Bartender?

No, you don’t have to go to university. But relevant qualifications and lots of work experience could fast track your career and open up more opportunities.

Is Bartending a good career to aim for?

If you are friendly and love talking to people, as well as have an interest in the hospitality industry, bartending could be a rewarding career for you.