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pub/bar work

hey everyone.

as some of u may know, im struggling to find work at the mo. ive seen lots of ads for bar staff and think it might be a good skill to learn as places are always looking for people.

im just really nervous as the job also involves waiting on tables.

can anyone tell me what its like working in a pub/bar and/or waiting on tables? whats the training like?

also i dont smoke and am worried its gonna be very very smokey. i wish i had a friend applying with me to work with or if i knew someone who worked in a pub.

any advice would be great.

karen x

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Reply 1

Montrose

The sort of people you will meet working in a pub will be the very social sort, as it is just that kind of job, so you would soon make friends and be at ease with the people you work with!

Bar tending and waiting, from what I have heard from friends, is a very busy job and at times can be a bit stressful. But the pros seem to outweigh the cons. You get to meet lots of people, are constantly on the move, and time flys. It is better than sitting on a till in a supermarket put it that way. :smile:

It really depends on the pub/bar about smoking, but the vast majority of pubs/bars these days have a 'no smoking at the bar' policy, so if you find a decent sized pub/bar (not a small pokey one) and you are behind the bar it will be fine. In fact, come to think of it, the anti-smoking laws prohibiting smoking in bars completely will be in force within the year I think?

I'd say go for it. :biggrin:

Reply 2

sparkle86

thanks for your reply. do you happen to know whether you have to change the barrels yourself or someone else dos them?

Reply 3

sparkle86

hey everyone.

as some of u may know, im struggling to find work at the mo. ive seen lots of ads for bar staff and think it might be a good skill to learn as places are always looking for people.

im just really nervous as the job also involves waiting on tables.

can anyone tell me what its like working in a pub/bar and/or waiting on tables? whats the training like? do you have to change the barrels yourself or does someone else do it?

also i dont smoke and am worried its gonna be very very smokey. i wish i had a friend applying with me to work with or if i knew someone who worked in a pub.

any advice would be great.

karen x

Reply 4

Montrose

Well someone had to do it. :wink:

But if you're not particularly strong or whatever I am sure there are people who can do it for you.

Reply 5

sparkle86

yea cos i am definitely not a strong person.

Reply 6

sparkle86

if i told them that at the intevriew, do u think they'd still employ me or not?

Reply 7

Montrose

Put it this way, I don't think it would make any difference.

why not?

well me and my friend are gonna apply. she wants part time i want full time. the ad says: 18+ due to licensing laws. Full training provided. Duties involve serving customers, cash handling, till work, stock control, food delivery to customers at tables, taking food orders at tills, keeping all areas clean tidy. Full time hours - 35-40 per week. Part time hours 15-25 per week. Working on a shift system of early of 2 days and 2 lates over 7 days shift pattern. Working hours between 9am-1am. 4 weeks paid holiday, incentive bonus and regular monthly bonus. Discount on food.

whats the stock control?

karen x

Reply 10

rachael6025

i would imagine stock control is making sure you always have the right ammount of stuff in eg crisps behind the bar larger etc, generally making sure you dont have too much or too little stock. i also do bar work and really enjoy it go for it you learn loads of skills which can be applied to all different sorts of jobs, plus like the previous person said you very often get drinks bought for you that has to be a perk. hope all goes well.
p.s if you get tips that too is helpful.

Reply 11

Montrose

sparkle86

why not?

Cause as I said, there are probably always going to be others with you who can do it.

Look, the best way is to actually go and apply. We canm only speculate, just go for it! What's the worst can happen, they say no?

Reply 12

Duck and Cover

I started my first day yeseterday at my first ever job, working in this coffee shop restaurant place. The work was really varied and definately kept me on my toes, from putting out tables and chairs outside in the mornings, working on the dishwasher, clearing tables right through to filling up the sugar bowls!

Also, at the end we spend about an hour sweeping and mopping - it's like The F Word meets Cinderella :cool:

Reply 13

sparkle86

what are the tips like? are u allowed to just put them in ur pocket and keep it or do u have to tell ur manager or what?

Reply 14

Duck and Cover

Where I work, we only have Friday nights as a more formal restaurant style night, and at the end of the night the tips are split evenly between the staff. Tonight my share was about 7 pounds, and it was really really quiet because everyone was at home barbequeing!

Reply 15

sparkle86

Cool. What are the interviews like for pubs? What sort of questions do they ask? Do they make you do anything?

Karen x

Reply 16

BiscuitFuelled

sparkle86

Cool. What are the interviews like for pubs? What sort of questions do they ask? Do they make you do anything?

Karen x

Usual recruitment questions ("describe a situation where you've worked in a team... blah blah blah"), as well as more specific questions about experience (types of bar you've worked in before), why you want to work there, what you want to get out of the job.

If you've never worked in a bar, then be prepared to answer "so, why do you want to work in a bar?" And don't just say "Well, I spend most of my time in them anyway," unless you don't want the job.

Reply 17

Absinthe

hey up, I work in a bar/restaurant.

If you're offered proper training, the job is nice and easy. You just have to be a switched on cookie sometimes, and be polite with people: the customer's always right, etc.

The policy with tips varies from restaurant to restaurant. Some owners are quite stingy about it; a friend worked at a place where the proprieter kept the tips for the business. Where I work, we divide the tips up at the end of a shift between those who've worked a shift. Sometimes customers tip me directly; I put it in the jar anyways.

Working behind a bar is quite hectic when it's busy. I've just been shown how to pull pints and there's a knack to it, but it's not too hard! I'm a complete ditz anywho so if I'm competent, anyone is (Mm self confidence).

oh yes and in an interview, just sell yourself as much and as honestly as possible. Expect the teamwork question as mentioned above, too.

You might be put with someone experienced when you first start, too, which is a big help. :smile:

Reply 18