Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Bartending Pro Tips

This article is a continuation of Bartending Pro Tips Part 1: How to Make Money and Have Fun With a Career In Bartending


8. If there is trouble or violence try, at all costs, to avoid coming out from behind the bar. Raise your voice and attempt to take control verbally, while you are dialing 911. Many bars do not provide security. A personal friend of mine came out from behind the bar and hit an assailant with a full bar bottle since the assault was against a woman. That bartender (who owned the bar) is still in prison not because the bad guy died days later, but because the bartender “came out from behind the bar.”


9. Tip jars are sort of an optional thing, depending on the type of bar. If you follow the sort of relationship-building techniques I have suggested, then when your customer is cashing out it should be a face-to-face, handshake-to-handshake experience They are a lot more likely to deal with you fairly (maybe show off a little bit too) than if they can sneak a few quarters and a dime into a tip jar when you are busy. If you have waiter and waitress staff, one surly server can easily cost you a considerable amount, and that is only if you ever even see their tips. Tip and bar/service accounts should, in my opinion, be kept separate and are in many establishments.


10. That naturally brings me to keeping the other staff happy! Their ability to make money has to do with how well the drinks are made and how quickly they can deliver them, so there is a delicate balance between your bar customers and the table customers. Keep an eye on your own customers, and try to anticipate when they might need another drink. Take care of it, in advance, and if you you are filling table orders (very important) always acknowledge your bar customers and let them know that you noticed. Assure them that their drink is coming right up!

11. Even if it is not within your job description, help the table staff clean up and flip the chairs. Support them any way you can. The only time I would ever advise coming out from behind the bar would be in defense of the staff, and, even then, yell loudly, several times (to staff mostly), for someone to call 911. They will need to know that they have your support (even in if your place of employment has bouncers), so just always do what you can to protect their sense of having a good place to work because, in spite of all your efforts to provide a fun atmosphere for your customers, unhappy staff can detract from that.

12. When you have time, spend time talking with your customers. Don’t sit on a stool sipping a coke and obviously trying to find some time alone, even if you are “on break.” You can be on break at home. Talk news, talk about local folks and interesting places, but more importantly try and get them talking about what is important to them. They aren’t in a library, they are in a bar, and maybe they want to talk, a lot more than be talked to. It’s easy to walk away when you get busy; they can wait and, if they can’t, start gauging their intoxication level.

13. Thank every customer for having spent their time there with you and, if possible, shake their hand. That sort of thing means a lot to people and will keep them coming back. Look them in the eye, particularly when they are cashing out. (Tip Time)

14. If that moment isn’t available, because you are otherwise involved, when you see them rise to leave (and you are sure the bill is cleared), just yell over your shoulder “Hey (name) thanks! Be careful and come back, OK?”

15. Study any bartender’s book on mixed libations carefully, but it’s just as important to watch your co-workers mix drinks. It is a craft that can be learned from experience. If anyone requests a drink that might be from their local area, or by a name you are not familiar with, don’t be ashamed to say “Hey, I don’t know it but I’ll make it right now. Teach me!” They will usually be proud to.

Some bars are just crazy some nights, or are just always that way, and you might be one of four or five bartenders with very little time to employ some of these techniques, especially with loud music or live bands. I know, I have worked in them as well but, even so, you will have brief moments when you can utilize these suggestions and, believe me, they will pay off. Even with multiple and busy bartending situations, customers will seek you out, try to sit near where you are working and, when you aren’t working, they will ask when you are going to be working next.

Bartending Tips

In a bar, you will find an interesting and diverse community of people who will seek out fine bartending, not only for the relaxation and camaraderie, but also for a familiar and comfortable environment where they are recognized and accepted. For many people, in this competitive and aggressive world, a bar may be a sole source of sustenance for those basic things that are so essential to us all as humans. We are, after all, social beings.

Who doesn’t recall an episode of the television series “Cheers” when every time one of the leading characters would walk in, the entire bar would erupt in the chorus of “Hey Norm?”

Few of us are entitled to such a universal form of recognition and instant acceptance from bar patrons, but an excellent bartender can provide almost the same sort of experience for customers.

I bartended to work my way through both undergraduate and graduate school, and have gone back to it several times when I grew weary of corporate life. The money (if you do it right) is about the same anyway, and, admittedly, it is tiring and demanding, like any job, but it is a heck of a lot more fun!

Every bar is different in its nature and appeal (strip bar vs. a restaurant’s cocktail lounge), so this is not a “one size fits all” but, for the most part, if you follow these few words of advice, you can make it both enjoyable and very profitable!

1. Welcome all of your customers as though you know them and introduce yourself. Remember their names and welcome them, using their names, the next time they visit. (Keep a legal pad if you need too, “gray beard, thick glasses, name George, drinks Bud”…and any quirks you can note that will help you recall. Failing that just say “Hey good to see you again!” Just think of it like if you were having a party in your own home.. It’s easy!

2. Always keep in mind what their drink of choice is and be prepared to offer them their preference. You should already know the names and preferences of your regulars.

3. If a customer comes accompanied by a date or companion, treat them both as if they are royalty, address the customer as in “Wonderful to see you again, Mr. or Ms so and so (if they are a regular). And what can I do especially for your guest?” Be sure to use the finest glass for their friend. If you treat them with that sort of respect, you cannot only expect a nice tip, but you can bet that they will be back over and over, and looking for you.

4. Yes, do remember jokes. Remember them when you hear them and study them on the Internet. Internet jokes are so boring that most of us just delete them, but ahhh…the telling of a joke is just that, it is the delivery and the story telling that makes it both interesting and amusing. Be prepared to have at least two new ones on every shift.

5. Your smile and your obvious enjoyment of both your job and your customers are worth a lot more than tossing bottles about or doing circus tricks. If you can do it, well it doesn’t hurt, but most folks are there for a drink, company and the respect and recognition that they don’t receive in day-to-day life.

6. Depending on the policy of your employer, when customers come in for the first time, and have just one beer while reading the newspaper or looking around, and then start to leave, slide them a free beer/drink and say “I am glad that you came in and I have enjoyed your company,” (calling them by name, of course). “My name is so and so, and please do come back.” Pay for that beer/drink out of your tips if you must; you will get it back, ten-fold.

7. Remember that these are customers. They are not really your buddies, so stay professional.

8. Though you will have many opportunities for intimate encounters, stay focused on your career and that you are there to make a living. Don’t ever forget that “one night stands” are never just that in the bartending world; the customer you became close with will likely be sitting on the other side of the bar, within a few days, regardless of how much you regret that moment.

Bartending For A Profitable and Rewarding Career

Dating back thousands of years, bartending began as a trade by those that produced liquor and in turn sold it to the public. This was not only a profitable venture for these early bartenders, but provided a product in huge demand by the public. Historically humans have always had a fondness for spirits which is an enormous benefit to those pursuing a bartending career. Prohibition makes a very clear case that people want their drinks and demand is not quashed by the absence of product.

Very few careers can offer you virtually guaranteed placement in literally any place you wish to live and work in the world. Most bartenders, in fact, earn more than entry level college graduates, with some eventually earning 6 figure incomes.

Becoming a successful bartender takes more than just learning to spin drink recipes. The professional bartender is well versed on the legal and business ramifications of alcohol management and service. Today's bartenders are a breed apart, savvy and knowledgeable performers in a fast paced exciting environment. Simply put, there is no aspect more vital to a professional bartending career than the foundation built by a quality bartending school. Bartending schools provide more than just preparation, they directly effect how much you earn from your very first day on the job. Some certifications, such as TIPS ® (Training for Intervention Procedures or TAM ® (Techniques in Alcohol Management) are required by law in many states.

Given the earning potential bartending offers as a career, the cost of attending a quality bartending school becomes a wise investment rather than an expense. Most bartending schools are very affordable, require very little time (as little as 2 weeks), and can be found in nearly every state in the country. Bartending-World.com offers a state by state listing of reputable bartending schools that make selecting a school a breeze. When selecting a bartending school, make sure to ask these questions, and be leery of those that cannot offer answers.

What is the schools' industry reputation and how long have they been teaching? Look for a school well recognized in the bartending education industry. Many schools have a long history making research easy.

What are the size of the classes and how well equipped are they? Look for low teacher to student ratios and facilities that mimic actual working environments as closely as possible.

Is the bartending school licensed by the state? What credentials are required for the instructors? Verifying that a school is actually licensed by the state they teach in is important. Find out what they look for when they hire instructors. Instructors, if well chosen, are industry vets that can provide invaluable insight into the bartending industry.

Can you be given references of graduates who are working in the industry? What is the bartending school's job placement policy? Any reputable school will have working graduates who will endorse the school. If not, you need to be careful. A successful job placement plan is always indicative of a good training facility. If local bars have had success with hiring quality graduates then you can rest assured that school is worth a second look.

Bartending offers a rewarding and profitable career for those that are serious about their pursuit. While there is a lot of hard work involved, the excitement and fun of the atmosphere is hard to beat. Investing in a quality education will put you on the fast track to maximized earnings in bartending.

Top Talent in Global Economy

The ability to make good "people" decisions is today's most important source of competitive advantage. All factors of production are easily available and accessible to all organizations but what separates the best from the rest is the quality of human resource a company possesses. Top leadership talent has always been hard to attain and this has only aggravated in recent times due to globalization, growing worldwide competition, aggressive headhunting practices etc. With growing demand and limited supply top level executives are so much in demand that companies are paying extravagant salaries, bonuses, perks whatever it takes to attract the best brains from across the world. Newly developing economies such as India and China are also giving fierce competition to business leaders who can now earn top dollar working in these countries as well.

Companies are in need of capable leaders who can steer their firm steadily into the future. Here is where the role of executive search firms comes into play. An executive search firm is a specialist talent acquisition service provider who enables companies to get their dream candidate on board. Executive search firms have come a long way and are today considered crucial participants in a companies recruitment strategy. Also it’s not the big boys of executive search who are in the limelight but also small and efficient firms such as Servnet which is a specialist firm helping companies hire top talent from India. Normally a smaller firm is able to devote more time and resources for a search assignment resulting in faster and better results which are critical to business continuity and growth.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Aviation Maintenance Job Boards

Aviation maintenance opportunities can be found on various sites on the internet. Some job sites specialize in maintenance opportunities, while others do not, however they still manage to list their fair share of relevant opportunities. Please read on to learn about several key sites available to you.

Aerotek – Billing themselves as the leading technical and engineering staffing agency, Aerotek features jobs in eleven different specialties, including aviation. Job titles featured include: avionics technician, A&P mechanic, aircraft mechanic, quality assurance, and more. Visit www.aerotek.com for more information.

Aviation Employment Board – A free job listing site, this board lists job opportunities across the field of business and commercial aviation. Registration is free and you can post your resume for free as well. Visit www.aviationemploymentboard.net for more information.

Monster – One of the largest job boards on the internet, Monster has over 800,000 opportunities available. Aviation job listings are somewhat limited, but some good opportunities are posted from time to time. Registration is free and you can post your resume for free as well. Visit www.monster.com for more information.

Hot Jobs – Owned by Yahoo, Hot Jobs is job site listing several hundred thousand opportunities at any given time. Aviation opportunities are limited, however. Registration is free and you can post your resume for free as well. Visit www.hotjobs.com for more information.

Nation Job – Since 1988, Nation Job has been a leader in electronic recruitment. The site offers free access to visitors, no registration required. Usually several hundred maintenance opportunities are featured at any given time.

Career Builder – This is the largest job opportunity site on the internet, with over one million jobs listed. Aviation opportunities are listed; the site compares favorably with Monster as far as the number of aviation opportunities available. Registration is free and you can post your resume for free as well. Visit www.careerbuilder.com for more information.

Aviation Employment – Listing more aviation maintenance opportunities then anyone else, Aviation Employment is a free site, no registration required. Typically, over one thousand aviation jobs are listed at any given time. To learn more, visit www.aviationemployment.com

PAMA – The Professional Maintenance Aviation Association is a private organization dedicated to furthering professionalism amongst members of the aviation maintenance community. Membership starts at $49 per year which allows for members to view jobs and access other member benefits. Visit www.pama.org for more information.

Other boards listing aviation maintenance positions include: Plane Jobs, AEPS, Avianation, Climb to 350, and Avjobs. Leading companies are always hiring, contact prospective employers directly.

Aviation Dispatcher Job Sites

Employment opportunities for flight dispatchers are often available through one of the major airlines as well as with one of the regional carriers. However, the best opportunities for pay and autonomy is typically through a private jet operator. Finding work with

Aviation Employment Board – A free site, the Aviation Employment Board features job openings for business and commercial aviation. Registration is free and you may post your resume for free as well. Visit www.aviationemploymentboard.net for all the details.

Hot Jobs – Owned by search engine giant Yahoo, Hot Jobs is a job board that lists hundreds of thousands of opportunities at any given time. Aviation opportunities are, however, fairly limited. Registration is free and you may list your resume for free too. Visit www.hotjobs.com to find out more.

Climb to 350 – One of the largest aviation sites online, Climb to 350 lists an assortment of opportunities including Aviation Dispatcher positions. Their annual fee is $105, but occasionally the site runs specials where the charge drops to $49 for one year. Visit www.climbto350.com for more information.

NBAA – The National Business Aviation Association is the premier organization representing private jet operators. If you are a member of the NBAA – annual dues are generally assessed at $350 per person or organization – then you have access to the association’s job board which lists opportunities generally not found elsewhere. Visit www.nbaa.org for more information.

Other sites listing Aviation Dispatcher positions include: Aviation Jobs Online, Skyjobs, AvCrew, AEPS, and JS Firm. Belonging to more than one paid site is generally a waste of money as virtually all the paid sites share similar job opportunities.

Better Job Search Engines

Job search engines use state-of-the-art technology to assist people in their job quest. Here you could enter all the relevant information to reduce the lists of sought after jobs to get more accurate results.

Because new jobs are being added daily or even hours after, the tendency to see the results you had yesterday may be different from what you see today. This is where job search engines come in handy.

After some trial and error there are a few job search engines that could yield better results. They allow searchers to see major job sites, companies and even its associations by entering a keyword and location. Results can be seen in different ways, it could be in a browser list and some sent thru e-mail.

SimplyHired.com, America's Job Bank, Jobster, and http://Indeed.com are just a few of the search engines that can give you more accurate results. These sites include over 500 job listings with job boards, prime newspapers, and numerous companies with career pages.

Indeed.com even has an advance search option that could be used to search company names, positions, and even the distance for commuters.

America's Job Bank let's you enter the job category you would like to search, then you can enter either the city or the zip code and state you would like to find the job and it gives the list of job openings. If you're lucky, you can even get the quoted salary from each of the companies you're eyeing on.

In http://SimplyHired.com aside from the list of jobs open, applicants are also given a short description of the job you're about to handle including the responsibilities to be met even during application. It also includes the type of company, location and date when the job was posted.

Jobster provides the latest job postings from today up to the last 7 days wherein you can also choose the distance you prefer. This site gives you the ability to see the list of the freshly posted jobs from a variety of sources.

How Well Are They?

These sites give listings that are relevant and timely, compared to other search engines that generate results a little longer than the others. Some would even provide results that are far from the location picked out.

So far the best among the search engines used is the http://Simplyhired.Com. It showed the job title, a link was also provided for posting, a summary of the job description, where the exact current location and where it originated. The produced results are easy to read, non-confusing with bits and pieces more of information plus the getting around is user friendly