Your First 30 Days As A Bartender

You got the job. Congratulations! Your First 30 Days As A Bartender is a crucial time. Now, it’s time to buckle down, establish your work ethic, and start making some real money.

I know – the first 30 days of work at any new job can be a bit stressful. This is a very short introductory lesson. I just wanted to give you my version, based on a ton of experience, of what you should and should not be doing during your first 30 days as a brand-new bartender.

Your First 30 Days As a Bartender is Crucial

Let me be very clear here: You are actively working as a bartender. You are now in “Bartender Advanced Training.” No matter what anyone says, there is no such thing as an “Advanced Bartender Training Course.” It does not exist. It’s a unicorn.

Yes, you can take an “advanced” class on flipping bottles, starting fires, speed-bartending, or making 10,000 drinks. However, I would consider that maybe an advanced class in one particular aspect of bartending. It’s not what you’re going to be doing. It’s certainly not what I was doing for 25 years.

You can take every class under the sun on how to deal with customers in a bar – and still learn nothing. You have to be there! You have to experience, for yourself, all of these day-today issues that arise during your shift.

And that’s where we are now.

I have seen more new bartenders get into trouble on their first 30 days on the job. They listen to the wrong people, they’re late for work, rude to customers and employees, etc. And don’t even get me started on theft and drinking on the job. Ouch.

There’s really nothing different in the Food and Beverage Industry from most other industries. Employers expect their employees to follow the company’s rules and policies. Be professional.

There is so much information out there about what an employee should be focusing on during their first 30 days on the job. Do some additional research on the internet and really get this down!

The following lesson provides a lot of Do’s and Don’ts during your first 30 days. These are MY suggestions and very subjective. I know there are some bartenders and bar managers who may disagree with some of these suggestions – you make the call.