What is a bar waiter/waitress and how to become one
A bar waiter/waitress is a professional who serves food and drinks to customers in a bar setting. They take orders, make cocktails, and serve customers. They also handle cash transactions, enter order/payment information into a micros system, and maintain exceptional hospitality etiquette. They work closely with management to ensure proper food handling and labeling. They provide quality customer service, work in teams, and operate business machines. They also clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining, and deliver exceptional and friendly service.
How long does it takes to become a bar waiter/waitress?
It typically takes less than a month to become a bar waiter/waitress:
- Less than 1 month: Completing on-site or on-the-job training, learning bar operations, customer service skills, and drink menu knowledge.
- Salary$24,853
- Growth Rate10%
- Jobs Number68,749
- Most Common SkillFood Handling
- Most Common DegreeBachelor's degree
- Best StateArizona
Bar Waiter/Waitress career paths
A bar waiter/waitress can pursue various career paths like teaching, consulting, or managing a business. They can also work as substitutes, technicians, shift leaders, or assistant general managers. Some may choose to become certified nursing assistants, team leaders, or communications managers. Other options include working as a housekeeper, driver, foreman, or business owner. With their customer service skills, they can excel as baristas, event managers, or catering sales managers. They can also consider roles such as home health aid, administrator, practice manager, or hospitality manager. These diverse options show that there are many career paths available for a bar waiter/waitress.
Key steps to become a bar waiter/waitress
Explore bar waiter/waitress education requirements
Start to develop specific bar waiter/waitress skills
A bar waiter/waitress must have strong people skills to create a positive dining experience for guests, as well as the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment. They must be able to take orders, operate food preparation equipment, and manage cash registers. They must also be able to balance their responsibilities while maintaining a clean and comfortable dining environment. Additionally, they must be able to serve food and drinks, check on guests' satisfaction, and handle financial transactions. They must be able to work in a team, have strong work ethic, and be able to answer phone calls and make reservations. They must also be able to operate computer systems and handle cash register drawers.
Skills Percentages Food Handling 50.34% Customer Service 11.57% Drink Orders 9.82% Exceptional Dining 2.71% Waiter 2.11% Complete relevant bar waiter/waitress training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New bar waiter/waitresses learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a bar waiter/waitress based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real bar waiter/waitress resumes.Research bar waiter/waitress duties and responsibilities
A bar waiter/waitress's responsibilities include taking food and drink orders, serving customers, and operating food preparation equipment. They also maintain a friendly attitude, manage numerous tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced team environment, and practice strong teamwork and work ethic. They ensure quality customer service, manage cash registers, deliver exceptional dining experiences, and follow proper food handling and labeling procedures. They also answer phones, process reservations, and operate business machines.
- Set up, work in, and manage the private room events as both bartender and waiter.
- Extend exceptional customer service to bar customers while maintaining hotel standards and Colorado state laws associate with bartending.
- Handle cash money and POS machine.
- Learned and used the cash register point of sale (POS) computer system/handle money.
Prepare your bar waiter/waitress resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your bar waiter/waitress resume.
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Apply for bar waiter/waitress jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a bar waiter/waitress job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
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Average bar waiter/waitress salary
The average Bar Waiter/Waitress salary in the United States is $24,853 per year or $12 per hour. Bar waiter/waitress salaries range between $16,000 and $38,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do bar waiter/waitresses rate their job?
Bar Waiter/Waitress reviews
Connecting with customers/regulars, building a foundation and not only making money for myself, but my bar. Making sure everyone has an amazing time while I’m on the clock!
Meeting new people. Each day is a new experience.
Some people are not very nice, they can be condescending and speak to you as though bartending is not a legitimate job choice.
Always loved working with people in the bar atmosphere I'm just looking for something different now
Updated April 25, 2024
