What are the pros and cons of being a bartender?

The pros and cons of being a bartender relate to minimal education requirements, cheap training, and career advancement. Here are the top pros and cons of being a bartender:

Pros:

• Bartending school is short

Bartending school takes around 40 hours to complete. Most people attending bartending school can finish the course in anywhere from two weeks to one month. Each state has different requirements in order to get a bartending license, check with your state to find out more details. Another pro is that bartending school is not always required for this role.

• Bartending school is cheap

Bartending school in the United States costs an average of $400 to $800. So, if you choose to go to bartending school you don't have to spend a lot of money at all. It costs considerably less than most degrees and diplomas. There are also lower-priced bartending schools that fall in the $80 to $150 range.

• Bartenders can make great tips

This depends on the specific bar you are employed at of course, but some bartenders can pull hundreds of dollars in tips from their nightly shifts. Bartenders who work in upscale establishments or very popular venues, like nightclubs, tend to make the most in tips.

• It's a social profession

If you are a people person and like to carry on conversations, then being a bartender might be a great job choice for you. Bartenders get to meet and talk with many different types of people. Engaging in friendly conversation can also help them gain more tips. Extroverted people excel in this role and often have a lot of fun while working.

• You can be free during the day

While some bartenders do work during the day, of course, the majority of bartenders tend to work at night. This can give you the freedom to pursue other interests, such as hobbies, second jobs, or even working on starting your own business.

Cons:

• Career Advancement

One downside of being a bartender is there isn't a lot of room for advancement. While you can sometimes aim to become a manager, beyond that the growth is usually pretty limited. You may experience pay increases, but these won't be as significant as ones you will find in many other more traditional careers.

While being a bartender does often allow you to have freedom during the day, many of your nights will be spent working. This can sometimes disrupt a bartender's social life.

Many bartenders also have to work weekends and since many other people, like your friends and family, might have weekends off, this can affect the time you get to spend with them.

• Starting roles

Many bartenders start in other positions in the food service industry. They might be waiters or waitresses, barbacks, hosts or hostesses, or even cooks. This can be off-putting if you would rather just start out working as a bartender.