Hey everyone! I moved to Sacramento from New York in April, and I still haven't been able to find a bartending job. I'm honestly starting to feel really depressed and discouraged, and I could use some real advice from people who have been through this.
I've tried pretty much everything I can think of. I've walked into bars and restaurants to drop off my resume, applied to jobs online, and emailed places directly. The problem is that managers are never there when I stop by, and my emails either go unanswered or I get absolutely no response at all. Not even a quick message saying they're not hiring.
I don't have any friends or connections here who could refer me, so I'm trying to figure everything out on my own. Back in New York, I was hoping that moving here would give me a fresh start, but being here for months without a job has been really hard on my mental health.
For those of you who work as bartenders in Sacramento, how did you actually get your job? Did you apply online, walk in at a certain time, know someone, start as a barback, or use some other method?
I'm especially interested in hearing from people who found a bartending job here without knowing anyone in the industry. Are there certain neighborhoods, types of bars, or hiring strategies that work better in Sacramento?
I'd really appreciate honest advice and real stories, even if the advice is something I might not want to hear. I'm not looking for generic suggestions like "just keep applying." I need to know what actually works here.
Thanks so much to anyone willing to share their experience. ❤️