First off, CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I'm glad you feel that your school has given you a well rounded education, and
that you are confident!
I manage three bars, all very diffrent kinds, so I do a lot of hiring and
interviewing.
First: dress the part. Have clean hands and nails, clean clothes that pertain
to the kind of establishment (eg. dont wear a white shirt and tie to a
honkey-tonk and dont wear jeans, boots and a western button down to a "fern
bar"). Be certain that you hair is clean and tidy, out of your eyes and face.
If you wear make up (your sex is not mentioned)Make sure it is tastefull and
well done, gobs of mascara and pankake makeup don't impress anyone, but
lightly applied makeup to enhance natural beauty is a super seller!
Second: Bring your resume(and your diploma). Even if it is just a piece of
paper to fiddle with while youre waiting. Your resume should include your
bartending school and you web-page maker/design work, as well as current work
history(If you left on good terms at smoothie king, mention it, unless it was
five years ago, then no one cares). Think of it this way, your resume should
show that you have a good work history, not bouncing from one job to the next,
irregardless of what the job was. Your job descriptions should focus on you
accountability for managing.... people (coustomers), money(tills), accounts
(tabs), supplies (ordering) etcetera.... Definitely include you web page
work, you never know what bar want's to revamp an old page or even start a
site of their own... your previous experience could be a foot in the door...
(Sure, I'll design you a web page, but not for free and you have to give me
one bartending shift a week)..
When interviewing, make eye contact, laugh, smile and be friendly. These are
all things you will have to do bartending and if you can't do it in an
interview, you won't get hired. Tell your funniest (clean) joke.
When I interview if look over the resume and application first, and ask
questions about it. Take this as a warning to be honest on them both, lying
at a job inverview is bad KARMA, I will also check refrences later. I ask
about hobbies and activities, not that I care, but to better get to know if
that person will fit in with my staff. I then administer a written test on
recipies, handling coustomers and so on... usualy only about ten questions
long so I can see if the applicant is a complete idiot or not and to check
writing skills. You don't have to be able to write a perfect paragraph, but
having legible handriting is a MUST. I then do a quick pour test, making a
couple drinks and then just straight shots to see if the applicant has their
measurements down.
As far as where to look, check the want ads every day, go to bars you want to
work at and ask about positions, let the work get out that your'e looking and
something will come your way. It may be cocktailing, don't turn your nose
up... that is how I had to start over when I moved from my little niche in the
world.
Most of all, Best wishes and good luck.