Imagine having a bartender resume that can get you behind any bar you want. Crafting a resume like that doesn’t have to be a nightmare! Certainly not with our easy-to-follow guide that brings you expert tips, inspiring examples, customizable templates, and samples submitted by actual industry professionals. Writing the perfect resume has never been easier!
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Keep reading to learn the answers to the following questions:
- Which resume format is best for bartenders?
- How and why should a bartender write a resume summary?
- What key skills should a bartender include on their resume?
- How can a bartender grab an employer’s attention with their work history?
- What level of education should a bartender include on a resume?
- Where to look for work opportunities as a bartender?
1. Which resume format is best for bartenders?
Without a shadow of a doubt, the best resume format for bartenders is the reverse-chronological resume.
The reverse-chronological resume places the primary focus on work experience, starting with an applicant’s most recent job and working backward from there. Hiring managers in restaurants and bars will almost always look for bartenders with experience, as the job is extremely fast-paced and leaves little room for training.
For applicants who don’t have very much experience working as a bartender, the key is to search for positions such as “Server” or “Bar-Back” that provide opportunities for advancement to Bartender. If this is the case for you, you may want to consider one of the following alternative formats:
- Functional resumes: A resume format that focuses on education, skills, and unpaid experience instead of work experience. This format is often used by recent graduates who have relevant academic experience in a certain field but lack formal work experience.
- Hybrid resumes: Hybrid resumes combine elements of both functional and reverse-chronological resumes, spreading out the focus of the document more evenly between all sections. This format is often used by applicants who have limited work experience, are changing career paths, or have large gaps in their work history.
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2. How should a bartender write a resume summary?
A resume summary is a brief statement at the start of the document that helps to introduce the applicant and their skills to an employer.
For bartenders, the resume summary is an excellent opportunity to showcase their prowess within the field, particularly if they have held leadership positions or key responsibilities not always assigned to a general bartender.
Below we have provided an example of a weak bartender resume summary, followed by a corrected explanation and example.
Bad bartender resume summary example:
Bartender for many years in both fine-dining and nightclub environments. Enjoys fast-paced work with a social aspect, making them the best candidate for this bartending position. Previously held a position as a bar manager.
What's wrong with this example? This example is incredibly non-specific when it comes to this applicant’s skills, experience, and accomplishments. To improve this summary, the applicant should focus more on their experience as a bar manager and provide more quantifiable details regarding their skills and background.
Good bartender resume summary example:
Personable Bartender with 3+ years of experience working in fine-dining restaurants and nightclubs. Managed the bar for a highly rated club in downtown Manhattan, with responsibilities including supervising a staff of 30+ bartenders and bar-backs and creating signature cocktails. Highly adept at working in a fast-paced environment with large crowds.
Why is this better? This example offers the specificity employers are looking for from a resume summary. The applicant has included eye-catching details and impressive descriptions of previous responsibilities they held as a bar manager. Their skills are clearly outlined and their experience is plainly evident.
3. What key skills should a bartender include on their resume?
Bartenders often play a jack-of-all-trades role within restaurants and bars. Not only do they need to mix drinks, but they must also communicate with customers, keep their workstations organized, and much more.
As such, a professional bartender should always include examples of both their hard and soft skills on a resume. Hard skills refer to technical abilities, such as mixing drinks, while soft skills refer to interpersonal abilities, such as talking with customers.
The following examples of 10 hard skills and 10 soft skills are just a few of the many abilities a bartender should consider adding to their resume
Hard skills
- Mixology
- Signature Cocktail Creation
- Knowledge of Craft Brews and Wines
- Age Verification of Customers
- Proper Sanitation Practices
- Knowledge of OSHA and Serve Safe Standards
- Bookkeeping and Financial Transactions
- Precise Pouring Techniques
- Order Taking and Fulfillment
- Inventory Management
Soft skills
- Friendly Demeanor
- Exceptionally Strong Verbal Communication
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Customer Service
- Organization
- Flexibility and Adaptability
- Conflict-Resolution
- Creativity
- Calm-Headedness and Composure
- Tolerance
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4. How can a bartender grab an employer’s attention with their work history?
An employer will expect you to be able to mix drinks and speak with customers – those abilities are the core foundations of the job, after all! This means that your work experience entries should go above and beyond detailing the minimum requirements for the job.
To grab the attention of employers, bartenders should strive to include their accomplishments and key responsibilities that set them apart from other applicants.
Here is a good example of a work experience entry from a bartender’s resume
Bartender | Old Town Saloon
Jefferson, NC | January 2017 to March 2020
- Provided exceptional service to a minimum of 150 guests per night, with busiest nights topping upwards of 400 customers in a single evening.
- Implemented a new POS system that decreased transaction times by 15%, leading to a 20% increase in nightly sales and transactions.
- Created seasonal craft cocktails from scratch using in-depth knowledge of mixology and flavor profiles.
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5. What level of education should a bartender include on a resume?
On any resume for any job, it’s always important to list your highest level of education. For a bartender, the education section is also a great place to list any additional training or certifications they’ve completed, as these will give them a greater competitive edge.
Here is an example of a well-crafted education section on a bartender’s resume
Education
B.S. in Food and Beverage Management | Appalachian State University
- Concentration: Bar Management and Business Administration
- Graduated: 2018
Certifications
- Certified Mixologist | Atlanta Bartending School
6. Top resources for job-seeking bartenders
Venturing into the world of bartending can be overwhelming at times. And that's what makes the profession even more rewarding! If you need some help getting started, our carefully compiled list can give you a few ideas on where to look for work opportunities:
- Industry-specific job boards: Your first steps should lead to sites that specialize in aggregating job postings for bartenders like Bar Zone, Hospitality Online, or Crafty Bartending.
- General job search platforms: On the other hand, websites with broad focus, such as Indeed, SimplyHired, Jooble, or Glassdoor, also offer a wide selection of relevant job postings.
- LinkedIn: This powerhouse of a platform offers more than just job searching tools. LinkedIn can also connect you with potential employers and fellow mixologist professionals.
- Professional associations: Organizations like the United States Bartenders' Guild (USBG), the United Kingdom Bartenders Guild (UKBG), or the International Bartenders Association (IBA) offer a wealth of resources about the latest trends, development programmes, job postings, and so much more.
- Specialized publications: Being in the loop on the latest industry news, recipes, and methods can give you the competitive edge you need to stand out. For example, you can follow media like “Liquor.com,” “Bartender Magazine,” “The Spirits Business,” or “Imbibe Magazine.”
- Continuous learning: Finally, to keep on top of your bartending game, you need to constantly expand your knowledge and skills. You can do so through platforms like Courseara, Udemy, European Bartender School, or Serving Alcohol Inc..
Sure, the process of job hunting may be intimidating but you won't be able to land the job you want without it. So, chin up, shoulders back … and go for it!
Bartender Resume FAQ
How can I effectively showcase my bartender achievements?
Showcasing specific real-life achievements effectively adds the zest to your resume. Ideally, you'll use quantifiable data to underline the impact of your work. For example: "Created a signature drink, boosting weekend sales by 25%". Remember, specific and tangible achievements give the potential employers a good idea of what you can bring to the table … or bar in this case.
What common errors should I avoid in my bartender resume?
By far the biggest mistake you can make is NOT customizing your resume to align as closely as possible to the job posting you're applying for. Another thing to avoid is listing your daily duties instead of specific achievements and contributions. Also watch out for typos, spelling mistakes, or grammar errors — all of these bear testimony to your professionalism and attention to details.
Should I include references in my bartender resume?
Nowadays, references are not typically required on a resume. Here's how you can manage them instead: 1. Maintain a separate list of references. 2. Provide them only when requested by potential employers. You can also include a little phrase like “References available upon request” near the end of your bartender cover letter. However, if the job posting you're replying to asks you to include references directly on your resume, do as instructed.
Are action verbs important in a bartender resume?
Absolutely! Not only do action verbs help you keep your job description succinct, they also make you seem more proactive. Employers generally want to employ people who are dynamic and aren't afraid to take things into their own hands. Examples of action verbs include: improved, increased, created, streamlined, led, etc.
How long should a bartender resume be?
The golden rule is: brevity is key! In the majority of cases, one page is sufficient to showcase your relevant skills and experience. But, if you boast an extensive work history with countless achievements, you can scratch your resume to two pages. That's the maximum! Anything longer might discourage the recruiters from ever reading it.
![How to Write a Professional Resume Summary? [+Examples]](https://d2xe0iugdha6pz.cloudfront.net/article-small-images/i-Profile.svg)
![How to Put Your Education on a Resume? [+Examples]](https://d2xe0iugdha6pz.cloudfront.net/article-small-images/i-Collage-Universities.svg)
![How to Describe Your Work Experience on a Resume? [+Examples]](https://d2xe0iugdha6pz.cloudfront.net/article-small-images/Experience.svg)
