Do you need experience to work in a pub?
The flexible hours and sociable nature of pub work make it a popular choice for people taking their first steps into employment. It’s also the reason that so many people stay in the hospitality industry and go on to develop great careers in a wide range of roles in the kitchen or front-of-house.
The good news is that getting a start in the industry doesn’t necessarily require any experience at all. But there’s also some great news—if it’s seasonal work you’re after, pubs and restaurants are often advertising. You’ll need to be good of course—but if it’s a job you’re after, well, Merry Christmas!
Let’s look at how you could get a start in the hospitality industry, even if you’ve never set foot in a professional kitchen or behind a bar in your life.
👉How can I get a bar job without experience?
👉Can I get a kitchen job without experience?
👉How can I improve my chances of getting a pub job without experience?
How can I get a bar job without experience?
Think about the kind of bartender you like to be served by. Are they sullen-looking, dragging their feet and unhappy to see you? Or are they full of beans, able to quickly reel off the drinks they serve and generally chipper about being part of all the goings-on in the pub? You chose the second one, right? Good answer—because the best pubs are built on bartenders like that.
That’s great news for people with no experience. Why? Because pub managers know how important it is to employ bartenders who embody the special people-focused approach that is the very essence of the hospitality industry. If that sounds like you, bar managers will fall over themselves to employ you.
Things like service procedures and drinks knowledge can be taught—charm and personality, not so much. If you’ve got it, you can make headway in bar work—even if you work part-time hours—and you’ll definitely help the tip jar fill up quicker.
Can I get a kitchen job without experience?
You have to start somewhere. And for many a successful Head Chef, that start was as a Kitchen Porter (known in the trade as a ‘KP’). Based in the sink area, Kitchen Porters wash the pots and ensure the kitchen is clean and tidy. They might also do the odd prep job as requested by the chefs. You might not have heard of KPs before if you’re a newcomer to the industry, but without them the hospitality industry would grind to a halt.
All you need to be a KP is a can-do attitude, plenty of team spirit and reliability. Those qualities are important because, if the KP isn’t onboard with the team, the ship is going down. And because they’re so valued, pub companies will often be very accommodating in offering flexible hours to students and those with other outside commitments. There might be some not-entirely-pleasant jobs involved, like cleaning out fridges (though chefs are expected to do this too) but if you’re a grafter who plays their part, you could soon progress to cheffing roles.
Some pub companies (like Greene King) offer chef apprenticeships, which make training as a chef accessible to those with little or no experience. Aimed at people who want to build a full-time career as a chef, they mix on-the-job and off-the-job training (which means a bit of book-learning) and will equip you with the cheffing skills you need to really excel in your career.
How can I improve my chances of getting a pub job without experience?
If you’re going for bar work, the trick is to demonstrate to hiring managers that you’re someone who will bring the pub to life by working there. Speaking to them in person is the best way to do that but where that’s not possible, make sure you submit a CV that gives a sense of your personality. If you have no work experience, talk about your life experiences in a way that you would find engaging. Be true to yourself in the application process and you’ll be far more likely to find a pub where you’ll fit in and be at your life-and-soul best.
Chefs aren’t as readily available to talk to but they’ll always make time to speak to someone who wants to be a KP or, indeed, a chef. If you’re interested in becoming a KP in a pub, ask to speak to the chefs—it’ll show that you’re the kind of go-getter they need on the team. At the very least, they’ll take your number for future opportunities—and they generally come around quickly in this game. Even if the pub hasn’t advertised for a KP specifically, it’s always worth checking with them directly.
Looking for something else to read? Find out everything you need to know about temporary pub jobs.
From Apprenticeships to management, from the north of Scotland to the far west of Cornwall, if you’re looking for a role in a hospitality, the huge range of opportunities that Greene King have are definitely worth a look.👀
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