Lying to get a job.?

Question

I recently went to school to learn how to bartend. I am a college student and cant get a 9-5 job so I made this move so I can work nights. One problem... NOT ONE place will hire without experience. Not even a barback. I even offer to work for free for a while and just get tips. I try so hard and don't want to lie but I am starving. Should I fake it to make it?

It's hard to do the right thing when you are starving.

Answer 1

if in doubt, tell the truth-at least then you maintain your integrity.

Answer 2

Before you consider lying etc. (and I am not saying you should!) make sure it is only the experience which is the problem here. Are you sure there are not any other factors which may be preventing people from hiring you?

I am not jumping to any assumptions or saying this is the case with you, but there is a pretty long list of things to check, eg.:
- Are you clean/healthy looking? This can be very subjective but you really need to set the bar high here. Clean face, showered, neat hair, clean hands, perfumed (or at least without a smell), no wounds etc.
- Do you look respectable? Again subjective, but you really need to turn up smart, I don't mean full business suit for a bartendering job, even casual smart. Don't bring clothes you dug up from under your bed that haven't been washed in the last 4 months.
- Do you instill confidence in the people/managers you talk to? At the end of the day, a bartender is key person in a bar. They have big responsibility - handling the customer properly, handling the cash, handling the alcohol. These are all essential elements for the bar business and the owner/manager really needs to trust their staff.

You may need to start off at a lower end of the scale. Offer to do the tidying up after the real bartenders. It's the crummy job, but at least you get some cash and the opportunity to prove yourself.

Answer 3

That's a really hard question. My first reply would be - no, don't ever lie to get a job or it will come back and bite you in the ***. However, I do know how you feel as I was in a similar situation before. I have to tell you - I didn't lie to get a job, I just kept trying until something worked out. It didn't turn out how I expected it to, but it did work out - without having to lie. Honesty is the best policy. And if you really need help with food, there are several social services that can help you. I would go down to the local social services office.

Answer 4

If you lie it will catch up with you. Maybe not today but soon and then your reputation will never recover.

Try going to a smaller place, less known bar or even a catering company who may need a spare pair of hands.

Lies for employment are found out more often than people think.

Could you really live with the shame of being found out?

There are food banks out there that an help you out in a pinch. It isn't the end of the world to use one and your dignity will be more intact in the long run.

Answer 5

Have you applied for the hours just before dinner? Slow time for most bars?
Also, consider doing the waitress thing for a few weeks, get a feel for the clientele. Negotiate with the manager ahead of time and see if he will bring you as the bartender later.
Are you applying at heavy traffic bar/restaurants? Also, put your name on a temp agency list for bartending at weddings, catered events.
I know someone who tended bar thru college, graduated, started bartending fulltime and is making good $$, enough to save up for his own bar. You have to dedicated...

Answer 6

The Truth is always the best strategy. If you lie to get a job - you leave the company with grounds for instant termination ANYTIME, no matter what be the quality of your work.

Answer 7

Unfortunately yes I know that sounds bad but your right no one likes to hire people without experience so the only way if you have already really tried is to lie. I wish you luck :)

Answer 8

Do what you have to do then. It's just a bartending job and you will probably not be there forever anyway. So tell them you have a little experience.