How to get a job as a bartender?

• Knowledge of laws and penalties regarding minors

• The ability to identify the stages of intoxication in customers

• Knowledge of how to handle and prevent disturbances

Certification is easy to find and can be done with online or in-person courses. To pass the course, you need to show that you have an understanding of state laws.

The most common advice you will get from actual bartenders is that you should get experience as a barback. This position requires no experience, but will require a lot of hard work. As a barback, you will be expected to do most of the manual work behind the bar like cleaning, restocking, and a lot of heavy lifting.

The barback is essentially the bartender's assistant, so this is a great opportunity to learn and observe. Pay attention to what goes on around you and look for a bartender who is willing to mentor you. Offer to help your bartenders whenever possible and keep the bar top clean. Help them and they are more likely to help you.

Next, learn how to pour drinks correctly and practice your mixology. You need to learn how to achieve balance between the liquor and the mixers. Invest in bartending tools and practice your pours at home. It is important to remember:

• The right amount of alcohol yields a balanced drink that tastes delicious

• Every time you over pour, you cost the bar money

• Good pouring techniques make you more efficient at mixing drinks

When you have mastered the art of pouring, you can start experimenting with making your own cocktails. Start out by practicing standard well drinks and work your way up to more complicated cocktails. Not every bartender has to be a mixologist, but it does help with understanding how to build drinks and improves your marketability to employers.