Hire Bar Backs
It might be easy to overlook a bar back’s role in a restaurant. Their work takes place behind the scenes, supporting the bartender. But on a busy Friday or Saturday night when the bar is packed and full of thirsty patrons, a great bar back is crucial to ensure smooth service and happy customers.
The first step in hiring a bar back is identifying the specific needs of your restaurant. This will aid in creating a detailed job description that is accurate and specific. What are the exact tasks expected of the bar back? Aside from helping out on beverages, would they be expected to help with food preparation as well? Let the candidate know in your job description. Keep in mind that the job description is more than just a list of tasks. For a person who wants to break into the food and beverage industry, working as a bar back can be a stepping stone to learning the ropes and getting hands-on experience. Make sure to highlight the possibilities for training and job advancement, as this will assist in attracting ambitious candidates.
After crafting an enticing job description, it’s time to let everyone know you’re hiring. Post on general job boards, online communities, and even local niche sites. Getting the word out and posting on your restaurant’s social media platforms is also helpful for attracting local hires. Lastly, share the job posting with your employees. Employee referrals are one of the most reliable sourcing channels as they might know a cousin, a friend, or a neighbor who would be a great fit.
Bar Back Responsibilities
Generally speaking, a bar back’s main responsibility is to assist the bartender in all drink-making and cleaing tasks. In this way, the bartender can focus on mixing drinks and serving customers without delay. Cleaning the counter, bar area, clearing plates, collecting used glasses, and washing them are typical tasks of a bar back. Also, the bar back should take care to be attentive and replenish all the needed ingredients and supplies. This includes: bottles, garnishes, ice, glasses, and napkins so the bar is fully stocked at all times and prepared to serve a rush of customers.
The job may involve tracking inventory of ingredients, liquor, kegs, and other stock items. The bar back may also assist the bartender in other ad-hoc tasks throughout the service and help out in cleaning afterwards. It is important to note that bar backs should be committed to assisting the bartender and do not serve the drinks themselves.
Bar Back Skills and Qualifications
The ideal candidate for a bar back is a person who possesses a combination of hard and soft skills needed for the role. A bar back must be familiar with basic kitchen skills, food, and drink mixes. They also must be able to withstand the physical demands of the job like lifting kegs as well as standing and walking around for a long period of time. Good time management skills, organizational skills, ability to work under pressure, and a friendly attitude are also important. Although a bar back will not serve drinks to customers, the candidate must be of legal drinking age.
Hiring managers should decide on the educational background required for the role. A high school diploma or GED may or may not be the minimum requirement for most restaurants.
