A brief description of your title and your company:
Homebar—Bar Manager. Homebar is the waterfront bar at Home Sydney, Cockle Bay Wharf. Since 1998 Home Sydney has entertained people with the biggest events and the best music. The club has stunning water views and room for thousands. Home Sydney is made up of Homebar and the multi-level club next door.
What are your major responsibilities in your job?
My role is focused on the day to day running of the bar. Specifically, this involves managing the bar and kitchen staff, ensuring the bar runs smoothly, cashing up, banking and of course reaching my target budget.
Who do you report to and what are you required to communicate?
I report to the General Manager—Operations. I am required to communicate the daily trade results, mini stocks, staff performance and feedback from customers in an endeavour to deliver the best product we can to our customers.
Who reports to you and what are they required to communicate?
My team consists of kitchen, bar and security staff who all report to me. My kitchen staff provide a daily report on sales, feedback and problems. My bar team do mini stocks at the end of each night and my security team are required to fill out a summary on the Incident Register. At the end of each shift we usually hang out for a staff drink and talk about the night.
What other jobs have you held? Did that experience lead to your current job?
I had a few bar jobs while I was studying at Uni. I’ve also had jobs in customer service and as a marketing research assistant. I’ve always enjoyed working in hospitality so I guess the sum of my previous experience, especially in hospitality, has led me to my current job.
Have you undertaken any study/training as part of your career? Are you currently studying or planning to?
I’ve actually had no formal hospitality training. I studied a totally unrelated field, although as a university student I managed to pick up a lot about bars, drinking and nightclubs.
What's your advice to someone interested in your role?
Never assume you know everything about anything. Watch and learn from your peers and other managers. Always smile and don’t work in the industry unless you actually like it.
If you could do it all again what would you do differently?
I’d probably spend a few years working 9 to 5 in an office.
What is your dream role and how could you achieve it?
I’d love to own and run a bar and cafe. The only way to achieve that would be to save a lot of money and one day be bold enough to put it all on the line.
Your favourite way to wind down after work?
Sit back, have a drink, and a laugh with my staff.
What’s your favourite food and drink?
My favourite drink is beer. I’m usually not too picky—a Coopers Sparkling Ale is always good. My favourite food is barbecued pork.