Interview Questions

Bar Manager Interview Questions


Bar Managers keep their bars running smoothly by handling day-to-day operations, managing resources and employees, and creating a safe, fun environment for staff and patrons.

Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Bar Manager or an employer preparing to interview candidates for Bar Manager position, these Bar Manager interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.

Bar Manager Interview Questions

Below are a list of some skill-based Bar Manager interview questions.

  1. As a bar manager, what is your management style?
  2. What experience do you have when it comes to discussing this recently posted Bar Manager position?
  3. Please say something about your experience. (Explain your resume in detail.)
  4. How would you maintain order while also encouraging customers to have fun?
  5. Have you ever staged an event that increased profits and interest in a business?
  6. What business tasks do you expect to handle? Have you done this before?
  7. Do you have any experience with hiring employees? How would you find and hire new people for this bar?
  8. What do you look for when hiring a bartender and how do you assess if someone is a good fit?
  9. How do you train new bartenders and help new hires that are struggling to learn all of the new information and apply it?
  10. How do you order supplies so that the bar always has what it needs?
  11. If a customer was intoxicated and irate, how would you defuse the situation?
  12. How do you assess how many people need to be scheduled during any given shift?
  13. How do you train and inspire your staff to provide top-quality service?
  14. Do you mediate bartender conflicts, and if so, when and what do you do?
  15. What time and days are you available for work?
  16. How would you motivate the bartenders (waitresses, other staff members) to try their best at work?
  17. Imagine that one of the bartenders doesn’t show up for the shift, and isn’t answering your calls. It’s Friday evening and the bar is pretty busy. What will you do?
  18. How would you define “excellent customer service”?
  19. How would you describe our brand image?
  20. Imagine that a big group of drunk customers starts bothering other guests of the bar. How will you react?
  21. If you are hired for this job, what will you try to achieve as a manager?
  22. How do you feel about working until 5 am?
  23. Imagine that a liquor vendor calls you, saying that they have to increase the wholesale prices of all their liquors by 10%. How will you react? What will you do?
  24. It’s Monday evening, typically a quiet night in the area. However, for some reasons unknown to you, there are thirty people in the bar and only one bartender. What will you do in this situation?
  25. How would you ensure that your employees respect all safety rules?
  26. Share an experience in which you successfully prevented a problem related to a customer's excessive drinking.               
  27. Provide an experience in which you balanced cash receipts.         
  28. Share an effective method you have used to keep glasses, utensils, and bar equipment clean.
  29. Share an experience in which you planned, organized, and/or controlled the operations of a cocktail lounge or bar.       
  30. Describe your experience mixing ingredients and preparing cocktails and other drinks.    
  31. Share an effective method you have used to arrange bottles and/or glasses for attractive displays.
  32. Share an experience when you applied new technology or information in your job. How did it help your company?
  33. Share an experience in which personal connections to coworkers or others helped you to be successful in your work.
  34. Share an experience in which your attention to detail and thoroughness had an impact on your last workplace.               
  35. Provide a time when you dealt calmly and effectively with a high-stress situation.
  36. Provide an experience in which you supervised a staff. What methods made you successful?
  37. What factors do you consider when planning bar menus? Share an experience.  
  38. Talk about a drink recipe that you created.
  39. Describe an experience in which you prepared appetizers.           
  40. Share an experience in which you've successfully learned how to handle a new piece of equipment?
  41. Provide an experience in which you successfully helped a loud or obnoxious customer to leave.
  42. Why should you be hired, and not one of the other job applicants?

Bar Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Every interview is different and the questions may vary. However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.

Below are some common questions you'd expect during Bar Manager interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.

  1. Why Do You Want This Job?
  2. What is Your Greatest Weakness?
  3. Are You a Leader or a Follower?
  4. What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
  5. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
  6. What is Your Salary Expectation?
  7. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
  8. What is Your Greatest Strength?
  9. Tell Me About Yourself
  10. Why Should We Hire You?