13 Key Attributes Bartenders Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Ava Rodriguez

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Bartenders mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.

The core tasks that bartenders are likely to carry out include:

Collect money for drinks served.
Check identification of customers to verify age requirements for purchase of alcohol.
Clean glasses, utensils, and bar equipment.
Balance cash receipts.
Attempt to limit problems and liability related to customers' excessive drinking by taking steps such as persuading customers to stop drinking, or ordering taxis or other transportation for intoxicated patrons.
Stock bar with beer, wine, liquor, and related supplies such as ice, glassware, napkins, or straws.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that bartenders would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 92.8%

Maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 89.8%

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 89.8%

Preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 89.4%

Being honest and ethical.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 88.4%

Being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 85.6%

Accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 83%

Being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 83%

Being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 82.2%

Having a strong preference for enterprising work environments. Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 81%

Having a strong preference for conventional work environments. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 81%

Developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80.4%

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 80%