You know when you watch, like, 90s college movies and every cool dude and hot relatable babe works at a bar after class?

He’s usually a bit scrappy, a bit Steve from Sex and The City and a low-key nerd alert. She’s always wearing low cut jeans and crop tops and has a big block of her short hair dyed a funky colour. She also always gets kidnapped at the end of Law and Order, and I think that connection could be the basis of my ground-breaking PhD one day.

But back to the topic at hand: bar jobs and uni go together like apples and cheese. You can work around your class schedule, everyone you work with is usually under 30 (potensh lifelong friend material) and you can channel major aforementioned 90s movie archetype.

I can tell you how to get your first ever bar gig, with pretty guaranteed* (*not guaranteed) success. I’ve been toiling away at this industry for 10 long years (or about 13,000 cigarettes, if you don’t exist on the time spectrum) and I fucking know my stuff. Like, I throw out CVs every day of my accomplished (and opposite of bitter) life, so check it out.

#1 Start From The Bottom

Much like how you wouldn’t walk into a company with no experience and apply for grand high boss lady position, you can’t expect someone to pop you behind the bar on your first day.

Apply for barback (kind of like an assistant to the bar — restocking booze, making syrups, glass washing, etc) and bussy (glass collector) positions instead. Then, tell your manager you’re keen to shake shakers and pull pints. Nine times out of 10, you’ll be trained up pretty quickly, because all-rounders are far more valuable to any business.

#2 Get Your RSA

You need this. Period. Google RSA courses in your state and city and enjoy a full day of learning how not to be that Korean restaurant in Sydney.

#3 Hand In Your CV In Person (At The Right Time)

This one is a biggie. You could be the Gordon Ramsey of cocktails and walk into a bar at 8pm with a golden CV and it would still be thrown out immediately. Trying to hand in a resume during busy service not only disrupts service but will make whoever takes it file you in the “has never been to a bar” and “inexperienced” category.

Hand in your CV (always in person) just after open, or right before close when everything isn’t pumping, and ask to speak to a manager.

#4 Drop Your Diploma Of Hospo

No employer will consider this in your application unfortunately. Please don’t use it as any type of crutch.

#5 Use Your Personality As A Strength

Bartending can be taught pretty quickly, but banter and spark cannot. Hospitality is a very social industry — both in front of and behind the bar. Crack jokes, be personable and be you. You’re not working on Wall Street, you’re not working in any of the places the main guys work at in Horrible Bosses. You’re a Hamish and Andy fun dude.

PSA: After you’ve gotten your 90s college movie dream uni job, make sure you’re being paid award wage or over with breaks and superannuation. Wage theft and mistreatment in hospo is similar to how after you’ve been to the beach and everything you own has sand in it. It’s everywhere, and sometimes unavoidable. HospoVoice and RateMyBoss are fabulous and always open to help.

(Lead image: Cheers/NBC)