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Bartender Career Guide

A Bartender serves beverages behind a bar in a pub, club, tavern or similar establishment. This usually includes alcoholic beverages of some kind such as beer, wine and/or cocktails, as well as soft drinks or other non-alcoholic beverages.

Bartender Task

* Aside from their core beverage-serving responsibility, Bartenders also take payment from customers (and sometimes from the waiters or waitresses);
* Maintain the liquor, garnishes, glassware, and other supplies or inventory for the bar;
* Serve food to customers sitting at the bar; and
* Keep the bar area clean.

Bartender Basic Educational Requirement

There is no specific educational requirement for Bartenders. However, most employers prefer to hire high school graduates. Specialized training in food and beverage handling and salient legal issues surrounding serving alcoholic beverages and tobacco are very essential to Bartenders.

Bartender Skills and Competencies

Some Bartenders acquire their skills by attending a bartendering program which includes laws and regulations on the minimum requirements in serving alcoholic beverage, cocktail recipes, proper attire and conduct. These programs are offered by some local hotels and restaurants, culinary schools and trade and testing institutions. Some Bartenders pick up their skill on the job by observing and working with more experienced Bartenders.

Bartender Physical Attributes and Characteristics

Bartenders should be neat, friendly and enjoy talking with customers. Proper attire, good grooming and good conduct are a must for Bartenders. Most bartenders directly serve and interact with customers in the bar requiring them to have a pleasant way with the patrons. Good Bartenders help provide a steady clientele by remembering the favored drinks of regulars and having recommendations on hand for a local nightlife beyond the bar.

Bartender Salary / Compensation

Aside from customers´ tip, a local Bartender receives an entry level wage of P8,000-9,000 based on the salary rates prevailing in the industry.

Bartenders in the US receive an average of $7.42 per hour plus tips.

Bartender Prospects for Career Advancement

For most of the Bartenders, advancement usually is limited to finding a job in a busier or more expensive restaurant or bar where prospects for tip earnings are better. Some Bartenders advance to supervisory jobs, such as dining room supervisor and maitre d´hotel.

Bartender Employment Opportunities

There is a high demand for well-trained Filipino front-liners in the tourism industry (food and beverage is included in the said industry) abroad.

In the Middle East alone, hundreds of hotels and resorts are being built. These will require thousands of hotel staff, Bartenders included. Bartenders are in demand not only in hotels, clubs and bars but in cruise liners as well.

Bartender Cost of Education

A one-year training course on Hotel & Restaurant operations cost around P37,000.

Students who have completed the one year course will be issued a Certificate in Hotel and Restaurant Operations.

For those aspiring to rise to positions of greater responsibility and authority such as supervisors/managers, they can enroll in a 2-year course on Hospitality Management. The program is ladderized such that the student who has already completed the Certificate program needs only to study one more year to complete the required modules for the Diploma at an additional cost of P33,200. These courses are offered year round at CHAMP School (Center for Hospitality Arts Management Philippines).

* Based on 2007 rates

Source: Bureau of Local Employment, Manila, Philippines.