Does it matter where you get certified to bartend?!
Does it matter where you get certified to bartend?
I just moved to GA - its all backwoods here, but I will be moving again soon, and I would like to bartend for extra cash when I relocate. I know its better to be certified, but there are no instructional schools in the area - When I called a popular bar hiring in the city they gave me the name of a credible school of bartending that offers an online course. It gives a state certification which the bar said is completely valid, but really do you think an online cert. is worth getting? I'm not sure... ?
Answers:
I have bartended for over 12 years in Virginia, Florida and North Carolina. I never recieved any type of formal (bartending) school training. I have never had a perspective employer ask about it either. Perhaps Georgia is different, but I don't think you need to be "certified" to be employed, especially if you have experience.
I have had several friends go to bartending school, and it doesn't make it any easier to get a bartending job. Most resturaunts hire/promote from within and don't hire bartenders. Most have to start as servers and then move into bartending.
And bartending is 30% experience and 70% personality. So, when you go into talk to perspective employers, let your personality show. Make sure your resume is complete and that you have bartending references.
Online certification is really more about learning what liquors are in what drinks. If you have never bartended before this may be a good thing.
Hope this helps.
Im a bartender and I never had to go get certified. It all depends on where you work....Some places you have to have one others dont give a **** as long as you do the job good and you have boobs lol.....Just check around the bars where you are and ask..And if NO ONE allows uncertified bartenders THEN go get one.....And to find it GO ONLINE!! good luck
For the years that I spent managing bars and catering businesses, I have always prefer to train my own bartenders when hiring as those so called bartending schools teach little to nothing. Every bar has its own rules and recipes for drinks and many do not allow any deviations regardless of past experience or training.
Online school is a waste of time. The theories and basic alcohol knowledge can be had in library books and working as a bar back or related jobs. But check the requirements in your own state and just speak to some working bartenders to verify the certification needed.
MY MY
What an interesting story.
So by not following the advice,, has anything happened to launch your new career??
I know spit about bar-keeping... I order beer.
Certifications are a waste of money,experience is the key.If you can not get a job due to the lack of, Then a school would be a help.When I hire,I only hire experienced bartenders.We have several schools in my area and I get a lot of "graduates" apply for jobs and I just can not hire them.What I need is the confidence level that only experience brings