If you have a knack for blending drinks, communicating with different people, and working late hours, your interest lies in becoming a bartender. Although you might have the conviction to pour beers like a champ, or your drink list may be a showpiece, you need to enroll in the best Canada bartender school to start flourishing in this career.
There is no national bartender certification that can work for all provinces of Canada. So, the only workaround is to apply for a new certification for every province where you want to bartend.
In the forthcoming sections of this write-up, we will look at the pros and cons of pursuing your career as a bartender in Canada. We shall also compare how it is different from bartending in the USA.
So, let us get started.
Pros of Pursuing Your Career as a Bartender in Canada
- The most experienced bartenders in Canada make about £81,982 yearly.
- Certain provinces in Canada do not require certification to pursue your career as a bartender. These include Nova Scotia, Quebec, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador.
- You can earn higher tips if you serve in popular drinking establishments.
- Your days are mostly free as bartenders mostly work in the evenings. In your free time during the day, you can pursue other activities like studies or joining certification courses to enhance your bartender skills.
- You get to learn how to take orders and fulfil them with effective communication skills, powerful memory, and an ability to multitask.
- Getting the certificate to start pursuing your career as a bartender in Canada is easy.
- You get to meet interesting people when you work in a bar.
- You can establish new connections.
- You get to learn how to deal with difficult customers, which can help you in your career.
Cons of Pursuing Your Career as a Bartender in Canada
- There is no national bartender certificate in Canada. Simply put, it means that no national card in Canada enables you to bartend in all provinces.
- The bartender courses in different provinces of Canada involve training manuals and exams. In all, it takes to do it in approximately 4-6 hours online, costing between $25 to $40.
- Completing bartending school does not guarantee you will get a job as a bartender. You also need on-the-job experience working in a bar or restaurant setting. Sometimes, bartenders have to start as a waiter or runners before progressing to bartender roles.
- You need physical stamina as a bartender, as you will likely stand for long hours on this job.
- Maths skills are also required on busy nights with many customers; you may be required to do swift calculations for handling cash and tips.
- It is pretty common for bartenders to work on weekends.
Pursuing a Career as a Bartender in Canada Vs. Pursuing a Career as a Bartender in the USA
There is a huge demand for bartenders in the USA. But, formal education is a must to pursue this career option. And for that, you need to attend a prominent bartending school in the USA.
A wide array of opportunities are available in bars and different hospitality avenues that serve alcohol. This makes it easier for bartenders to search for relevant openings and start pursuing their dream careers.
Here are some differences between pursuing a career as a bartender in Canada vs pursuing a career as a bartender in the USA.
Criteria of Difference | Pursuing a Career as a Bartender in Canada | Pursuing a Career as a Bartender in the USA |
Job opportunities | An increasing number of job opportunities are becoming available in Canada nowadays, with a total of 4,100 bartender jobs. | At present, the USA has approximately 485,330 bartender job opportunities. This number is expected to rise with time. |
Average annual package | The average annual package of bartenders in Canada is approximately $30,628. The entry-level positions commence from $28,275 per year, while experienced workers make a maximum of $39,054 per year. | The average annual package of bartenders in the USA is approximately $29,250 per year. The entry-level positions commence from $23,937 per year, while experienced workers make a maximum of $48,750 per year.
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Hourly rate | You can get an hourly rate of $15.71 | You can get an hourly rate of $14.06. |
Final Words
Now that you are well aware of the pros and cons of pursuing a career as a bartender, we suggest you enroll in a bartending school and get the required certificate to make your dream come true. Do not hesitate to take the final plunge!