Bartending Mock Interview

Master 30 Bartending interview questions covering drink knowledge, customer service, and high-volume service.

Question 6 of 30

What techniques do you use to upsell?

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Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

"I think that the best way to upsell as a bartender would be to recommend a cocktail before the wine and food are delivered to the table. This upsell technique would require a strong knowledge of the menu."

Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

"To upsell, I always recommend top-shelf liquor. We have a lot of gin drinkers in my current establishment. We sell the well gin for 4/shot, and it's Gordon's gin. We also sell Hendricks gin for 8/shot. I have a few of our regulars hooked on Hendricks, soda, and a slice of cucumber. Some people prefer the unique taste and find the small splurge to be quite nice."

Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

You may think that bartenders are not in the business of sales, but that is untrue! For the bartender who thinks in dollar signs, this means the more sales, the more tips.

Before you start your shift, you may want to agree upon the specials and be thinking of how you can suggest them to your customers. If your bar serves food, you'll want to be familiar with the menu so that you can recommend dishes that pair well with the drinks your customer's order. Perhaps you suggest top-shelf instead of well.

Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

"I am great with upselling my customers or pushing the latest specials. If a customer asks for an IPA, and we have a similar local craft brew available, I will suggest that they try it. Local craft pints sell at our bar for an additional 1.50 which adds up at the end of the day!"

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30Bartending Interview Questions & Answers

1.Tell me about your previous bartending experience.

2.How do you make a White Russian?

Bartending Mock Interview

What techniques do you use to upsell?

30Bartending Interview Questions & Answers

1.Tell me about your previous bartending experience.

2.How do you make a White Russian?

3.Why did you leave your last bartending job?

4.How do you feel about serving drinks in a heavy volume environment?

5.How do you make a Cosmopolitan Martini?

6.What techniques do you use to upsell?

7.If you see a fight start across the bar, do you act or do you wait until the bouncers take care of it?

8.Your drawer is $44.21 short, how would you explain this? What would you do to correct something like this in the future?

9.This is a coveted bartending gig. Why should we hire you?

10.If your car broke down on the way to work, what would you do?

11.How do you make a Washington Apple?

12.How do you make an Irish Car Bomb?

13.How do you avoid serving to minors?

14.How do you make a Whiskey Sour?

15.Are you flexible to work any shift?

16.How do you use your time on a slow shift?

17.Explain the differences between a wheat beer, a pale ale and an IPA?

18.What is your favorite drink with vodka?

19.When you go above and beyond for a customer and they don't tip well, how do you handle it?

20.How do you decide which customers to serve first when the bar is packed?

21.How do you make a Dirty Martini?

22.How do you make a Johnny Vegas drink?

23.How do you treat customers on special occasions, like birthdays and bachelorette parties?

24.How do you garnish a Manhattan?

25.How do you engage with customers while making and serving drinks?

26.Explain to me how you properly stir a cocktail.

27.Do you have any flaring techniques?

28.Tell me about the garnishes you enjoy using for various cocktails.

29.Besides making drinks, what roles do you think bartenders serve?

30.Do you enjoy socializing with strangers?