law_stud said:
Hey! I'm slated to get my RSA next week - part of my plan to get an awesome job over the summer holidays-
But then I've thought - well, f#ck, I'm worried I'll probably end up getting home at 3am every night, and not getting any sleep!
What are the things that you don't like, and really do like about your job? Is it in the city?
Are you going to end up a really jaded bar person? hehe
nah, chances are you're not going to end up getting home at 3am every night. last night we were closed at 9.30 and i was gone by 9.50. if you're working in a non-24 hour smaller pub the only days you'll ever have to stay past midnight are friday, saturday and any special events. it all depends where you're working, aim for somewhere that closes based on traffic rather than HAVING to be open til say midnight every night. fridays i work double shifts (lunch rush + nighttime) and i rarely finish after 2. in fact i don't think i've ever finished after 2 on a friday, maybe 3 at the latest. saturdays is a 9-5am shift but i don't have to do it atm
the things i do like - it's a lot of fun, and it's cool learning new drinks all the time. hehe i made my first real cocktails the other day and i was so proud that they didn't suck. if you've got good tippers, that's always a good thing... if you're a girl you can usually pull in a bit extra but it's not like guys never get tipped. i have a lot of really nice regular customers, like ones who actually invite you to sit with them on your breaks and stuff so that's cool, there's always someone to talk to. it's not really that hard. when it's really busy it doesn't usually bother me working a 13 or 14 hour shift as long as i've got something else to concentrate on. at the end of every shift you can always get a free drink (or, on fridays, a couple), tho that depends on your boss.
the things i don't like - your clothes will inevitably become encrusted with beer, and your shoes and socks get all soaked and squelchy
some customers are dicks, although i don't get that many thank god. when you've got cuts on your hands, it sucks when people want lime in their drink cos it stings like a bitch. i get so bored just pouring beer all the time.
i can't really think of anything else i don't like, on the whole i would recommend it over retail etc. ooooh! another plus is you can basically tell customers to fuck off if they're being abusive or whatever... you have a lot more power than if you're, say, a checkout chick
if you don't want late hours all the time, then go for a pub rather than a club. we only become a nightclub (sorta) on saturdays so like i said, i generally don't have to work too late atm
it just all depends on the place you work at though... don't be picky when you start out, go where you can and then once you have a bit of experience, try applying to other places if you don't like the one you're at
ps. i walked straight into my pub with no experience whatsoever having gotten my rsa that DAY and they gave me a trial which turned into a job, without having to do any glassy work. my best friend works there though so i happened to know they needed people, i'd met the manager before, etc etc.
