How to Answer Bartending Interview Questions
Bartending is a good vocation for social skills development and learning how to mix a variety of beverages. The best way to prepare for a bartending interview is to familiarize yourself with frequent questions and practice your responses.
Many bartender interview questions center on your prior experience, qualifications, and ability to operate in a fast-paced environment. In this post, we outline the most common questions asked during a bartending interview and provide sample replies.
General questions
The first few questions in a bartending interview are aimed to get to know you and your interest in the profession. These questions are a wonderful way to promote your candidacy while also demonstrating your uniqueness.
- What is it about this employment that piques your interest?
- What are some of your strong points, and why are they so?
- What are some of your defects, and why do you think they are weaknesses?
- How do you feel about working in a group?
- What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
- Do you have any bartending experience?
- Do you have any alcohol experience?
- How much bartending experience do you have?
- What is your background in the food service industry?
- What are your thoughts on cleaning up a filthy environment?
Questions regarding your bartending history and experience
During a bartending interview, the interviewer will enquire about your bartending experience and background. Give examples and elaborate on your remarks so that your interviewer fully understands your response.
- What kinds of bars did you previously work in?
- What do you enjoy most about working in a bar?
- What is your least favorite aspect about working in a bar?
- What other jobs have you had that are similar to bartending?
- Describe a time when you offered exceptional customer service.
- Describe a time when you received great customer service.
- What is your favorite work shift, and why is it your favorite?
- What do you think about working long shifts and late nights?
- What qualities do you believe constitute a good bartender?
- What age group do you have the most experience with?
In-depth bartending inquiries
To establish your suitability for the position, the interviewer will also ask questions on bartending, cocktails, and hypothetical scenarios.
- What is your favorite drink recipe, and why is it your favorite?
- What is your least favorite drink to make, and why?
- If you could only have five liquors at your bar, what would they be?
- What would you say to someone who has never heard of bartending?
- How would you go about depriving someone of alcohol?
- How would you handle customers under the age of 18?
- What would you do if you lacked all of the ingredients for a specific drink?
- What would you do if you accidentally spilt many beverages before delivering them to a group?
- What do you think is the best way to deal with tips?
- How can you determine if a client has consumed too much alcohol?
- How do you create the ideal cocktail?
- What do you believe are the most essential instruments for a bartender?
- How long do you think it’s appropriate to talk to a customer?
- What Is the Meaning of a Bartender Certification?
Examples of interview questions and answers
Examine the following example questions and answers as you prepare for your bartending interview:
What makes you want to be a bartender?
Consider why you want to bartend and what initially drew you to this profession. Consider this exact location and what would be unique about working there. Consider centering your response on the social aspect of bartending or the cocktail-making process.
An interviewer will ask you this question to get to know you as a person and assess your personality type. This is especially important because it displays how well you will collaborate with the other bartenders at this establishment.
Example: “I’m interested in bartending because I appreciate seeing people have a good time and contributing to their enjoyment by assisting them. Because bartending is such a social career, I get to meet a diverse spectrum of people, which is intriguing because I learn so much about them. I also enjoy making the drinks because they are artistic and imaginative.”
How do you handle a large number of orders?
As a bartender, you must multitask because you receive multiple orders at once. Regardless of how full the night becomes, it is vital not to feel overwhelmed or annoyed while providing accurate beverages.
Consider this question in terms of its practicality. If you have never had this experience, think of times when you have had to multitask and personalize your answer to this specific situation. Explain your strategy to your interviewer, including why you do things the way you do.
Example: “When I get a lot of orders, I try to be as fair as possible. I make every effort to keep customers waiting as short as possible and to give the people who ordered first, their drinks first. If I ever feel overwhelmed, I ask for help from another bartender. I never rush to avoid spilling drinks or making mistakes. I begin by making the first few drinks and checking to see if there are any orders with the same drinks.
If there are any, I prepare them as well to avoid having to re-measure the ingredients. This saves me a significant amount of time. While I am working on an order, I interact with customers who have questions about it. Finally, I set the beverages on the table with care and label each one. I always keep a respectful and polite manner, especially when conducting business.”
What are some of the most important attributes of a bartender, and why are they important?
Many factors contribute to a bartender’s success in this position. An interviewer will ask this question to determine what unique positive attributes you possess for the position.
Consider the complete position of a bartender and write a list of all the responsibilities that come to mind. Consider what makes you a great bartender and the talents you have that will come in handy on the job.
Example: “Being social and being able to multitask are, in my opinion, two of the most important aspects of being a bartender. As a bartender, you are always interacting with people, so I learnt to step outside of my comfort zone and speak to a huge group of people loudly and openly. This allows clients to feel noticed and enjoy their experience.
Multitasking is needed because there is so much going on, such as music playing, the bar filling up for a game, and multiple bartenders working behind the bar. It is essential to be able to multitask, for example, maintaining track of orders while operating the register.”
How would you handle a problematic client?
Every day at work, you will interact with a large number of customers. You will almost certainly face a difficult consumer. It is vital to understand how you would manage this type of person not only for the interview but also for interacting with them on the job. Answer this question with conviction and confidence. The interviewer asks this question to evaluate if you can successfully manage difficult conditions.
Example: “Customers from all walks of life come in. A difficult customer could be drunk or impatient to receive their order. When a tough customer arrives, I try not to let it affect my mood or how I interact with other customers. I make every attempt to assist the difficult customer as soon as possible. I make it a point to receive their order as soon as possible and to remain calm and cheerful no matter how they are feeling.”
Suggestions for Improvement
Showcase Your Personality
As a bartender, you will interact with many individuals in a very social setting. To make a good impression on customers, show that you are friendly and approachable. Begin the interview with a firm handshake and a welcoming grin to indicate your enthusiasm for the job. Your communication style with the interviewer may differ from how you interact with customers, but your personality will most likely be the same, so be kind and conversational.
Give Examples
Use various examples when discussing previous bartending experiences. When responding to questions, show rather than tell. Make sure to provide a lot of details in your comments, such as previous client interactions and the kind of drinks you’ve previously made. Extend your prior employment to show off your bartending and customer service skills.
Ask Questions
Although bartending jobs can be similar, they do differ to some extent. Make a point of asking any and all questions you may have about the bar and the role. Discover the company’s expectations, responsibilities, and culture. Inquiring about the job demonstrates your interest and investment in it.
Be Passionate
Show your enthusiasm to enhance your bartending skills at this new job. Let the interviewer know you’re enthusiastic about bartending by telling them directly or engaging in genuine conversation.
Test your responses
Make sure you practice before the interview. Request that a friend give you these interview questions so that you may become accustomed to answering them. Consider writing down and brainstorming ways to show the instances you will use during your interview.
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