College graduates go to bartending school

With the bleak outlook for many new college grads, many are going back to school to become bartenders. According to Joe Bruno, director of the American Bartenders School in New York, more than 33 percent of our classes are now college graduates. A bartender can earn from $150 to $300 a day with salary and tips. This turns out to be better than unpaid internships or low-level jobs that pay $10 or $12 an hour.

It’s a real shame that these kids have invested tens of thousands of dollars in their college degree and can’t get a decent job. Many of my students who recently graduated from college complain that they have borrowed thousands of dollars in student loans. Without a decent paying job, they fear they won’t be able to make their monthly payments.

One of the nice things about learning to bartend is that it costs less than $700 and the class only lasts 2 weeks. With the large number of bars and restaurants, there are always good job opportunities. Since many bartending jobs are at night, this gives recent grads time during the day to look for a job in a field they graduated from. Another real advantage of learning to bartend is that a person can work part-time to earn extra money.

Janet Kimsat, graduated from an Ivy League school with a master’s degree in Art History. After searching for a job in her field for 6 months, she decided to take a 2-week bartending class. Janet liked the class and appreciated the hands-on training behind a real bar. Janet participated in 10 job interviews before being hired at a sports bar in Queens. “It took me 3 weeks to find a bartending job, but if I didn’t take the bartending course, I would still be looking for a job in the art field.”

There are bartending schools in most major cities. It is a good idea to visit the school before enrolling. Not all bartending schools are the same. Look for a school that is licensed by the state. It has a real job bar where you can practice making drinks and a job placement service that can help you find a job. Beware of cheap schools that guarantee jobs and have one or two day courses. They look good because they’re cheap, but they’re usually not state-licensed and don’t give a person enough practice time to feel confident in their bartending skills.

Mixology isn’t for everyone and it’s always a good idea to request a free lesson before you decide. American Bartenders School in New York and New Jersey allows prospective students to meet the instructor and speak with current students before making a decision.