How can I get a bartending job with no experience?
James Olson
Updated on April 06, 2026
Keep reading to learn how to get started on the path to becoming a bartender without any prior experience.
- Get a Bartending License.
- Get Hired as a Barback.
- Start at a Restaurant Bar.
- Find a Bartending Mentor.
- Learn How to Pour Drinks.
- Practice Mixology.
- Be Patient and Available.
- Don’t Rely On Bartending School Alone.
How do you become a beginner bartender?
Bartending Tips For Beginners
- There is always more to do behind the bar.
- Glass Will Break, Drinks Will Spill.
- Keep the Bar Clean.
- Know How to Pour Alcohol.
- Be an expert of drink recipes.
- Be a professional.
- Know How to Talk to Your Customers, but Keep your conversations short.
- Stay out of the way of other bartenders.
Can you be a bartender without being 21?
Minimum ages for bartenders are generally higher than for servers across the states. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia limit bartending to persons age 21 or older. Five states (Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Ohio) specify that bartenders be at least 19 or at least 20.
Is bartending hard to get into?
It’s Actually Hard Work Many people go into bartending thinking that it’s a really easy job and that they’ll just be hanging out at the bar all day. While it’s true that it’s a social job with a lot of fun aspects, it’s also hard work, both mentally and physically. When bars get busy, bartending becomes stressful.
What should a bartender put on a resume?
25+ Bartender Skills for Resumes
- Popular Beverage Recipes.
- Food & Wine Pairing.
- Providing Beverage Suggestions.
- Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS)
- Responsible Service of Alcohol Standards.
- Health & Hygiene Protocols.
- Maintaining Tidy & Sanitary Bar Area.
- Ability to Defuse Tense Situations.
How long does it take to learn bartending?
How Long Does It Take to Get Certified as a Bartender? Bartending certification courses usually include 40 hours of coursework and require about 2 to 3 weeks to complete. But to meet the bare minimum to bartend, often it’s just a matter of taking a legally-mandated alcohol awareness course.
Why do bartenders give free drinks?
For most bartenders their income solely relies on the tips they receive from the customer for their service. If they give you a free drink, usually it is either to thank you for a tip you’ve already given or to show you generosity in hopes of getting a good tip later.
Do bartenders get laid a lot?
The simple answer to this question is no. The more complicated answer is it depends. There is a popular myth within the drinking community which states that bartenders are well-known to sleep around, especially with complete strangers they’ve met at the bar.