Bartenders are responsible for preparing and serving alcoholic beverages. These professionals also need to take inventory and order appropriate levels of beers, mixers, and spirits in order to resupply the bar. In some cases they are also required to prepare drink garnishes such as skewers or fruit wedges. These workers are responsible for ensuring the safety of the establishment´s patrons by recognizing when a client has become intoxicated.
Bartenders usually perform many of the following tasks:
• Collecting money.
• Checking for age proof.
• Taking orders from the customers.
• Maintaining inventory.
• Cleaning bar area.
Skills
• Being innovative.
• Having good communication skills.
• Being able to solve critical issues.
• Being patient.
• Having interpersonal skills.
• Being able to mix drinks correctly.
• Being polite.
• Having multitasking skills.
• Having excellent listening skills.
• Having interpersonal abilities.
Education
Bartender job placements require candidates having courses from bartending schools. In these institutions, applicants learn how to prepare and mix a wide variety of alcoholic drinks, how to properly store alcohol, and how to care for the glassware for the drinks. There are distance education options for those who want to work in this area, including online courses and videotape classes. It is important that applicants for these jobs have work experience in bars, taverns, or other institutions related to this business. Bartending schools offer internships at clubs or taverns in order to provide suitable experience to applicants.