How To Write a Bar Manager Resume
You can write a strong resume for bar manager jobs by showing you have the right blend of administrative, leadership, and beverage service skills. The tips and examples below will help you capture these skills in each section of your resume to get interviews for your next bar manager job.
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your bar manager qualifications
In a brief paragraph, catch readers’ interest by naming the top three to five reasons you excel as a bar manager. Brainstorm your professional strengths, then select the ones that align with your target job or facility. For instance, maybe you’re a natural leader focused on training and motivating bartenders, barbacks, hosts, and hostesses. Or maybe you have a strong record of organizing bar events and promotions. You might also mention your relevant credentials, such as a beverage management degree or a hospitality certificate. By gathering these highlights at the top of your resume, you can make a great first impression on bar owners and hiring managers.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Dedicated and efficient professional with nearly five years of combined experience in the hospitality industry. Recently demonstrated success in a leadership support role, helping oversee a high-volume wine bar in Center City, Philadelphia. Committed to finding new ways to elevate the organization’s performance and the customer experience.
Mid-Career Profile Example
Dedicated bar manager with nearly seven years of advancement and excellence. Strong leader who motivates staff to provide high-quality service experiences to customers. Focused on achieving and maintaining high profit, efficiency, and regulation compliance. Expertly hone and adapt operations to new business conditions and priorities.
2. Showcase your bar manager experience
View the professional experience section as a chance to give examples of your background and success as a bar manager. Under each job in your recent work history, specify the type of establishment (tavern, wine bar, hotel bar, nightclub, and so on) if it’s similar to the ones you’re now applying to. Also, specify the number of full-time or seasonal bar staff you oversaw if you want to run a similar team.
Give details on any improvements you made to the bar’s ambiance, drink menu, or event schedule. For instance, maybe you introduced trivia or open mic nights that boosted revenue and the bar’s link to the community. Or maybe you updated cocktail options and ingredients to reflect new customer tastes. With highlights like these, you can help hiring managers envision you as a valuable manager for their facility.
Mid-Career Professional Experience Example
Bar Manager, CJ’s Tavern, Nashville, TN | April 2018 to present
- Hired to maintain utmost service quality and efficiency of this popular local rathskeller
- Organize and facilitate private/special events, fostering relations with local organizations and repeat business with customers
- Train, schedule, and oversee a bar staff of 16
Highlights:
- Improved the customer experience by making strategic changes to décor, lighting, and music playlist that provided a more traditional “tavern” ambiance
- Devised a new scheduling system that made it easier for personnel to request time off and trade shifts.
- Measure helped reduce turnover by 8% while improving staff coverage on major holidays
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Bar Manager, QTBar, Miami, FL | April 2016 to present
- Find, implement, and hone new processes and strategies to raise bar efficiency and service quality
- Focus on maintaining a positive, collaborative work culture for a 10-person team
- Keep a close eye on costs and staff coverage to ensure the facility generates consistent profit
- Address and resolve escalated customer and employee concerns as needed
Highlights:
- Enhanced and streamlined inventory processes, leading to better insight on necessary supply levels
- Updated and expanded wine menu to reflect evolving customer tastes and gain an advantage over local competitors
- Maintained active online/social media presence during the temporary closure in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, fostering continued patron loyalty through an uncertain period
3. Add bar manager education and certifications
With the education and certifications sections, you can show your bar manager work has a strong knowledge base. For any postsecondary degrees you’ve earned, consider mentioning your major, minor, or coursework on a relevant topic like business management or hospitality administration. Also include any credentials or training you’ve done on customer relations, beverage service, point-of-sale (POS) systems, or effective leadership – these can give you an edge over other bar manager applicants.
Below are templates and examples to help you format your education and certification details on your resume. Note: optional template areas appear in [brackets].
Education
Template
- Degree Name — [Major, Minor], School Name, City, ST | [Year]
- [Select Coursework]
Example
- Associate’s Degree – Business Administration, Nashville State Community College, Nashville, TN | 2015
Certifications
Template
- Certification Name or Title, [Awarding Organization] | [Year]
- [Description]
Example
- Hospitality/Beverage Specialist Certificate (HBSC), Society of Wine Educators (SWE)
4. List bar manager-related skills and proficiencies
Include a key skills section to present the various ways you can contribute as a bar manager. This section should cover your leadership and operations skills, as well as your expertise in mixology or other beverage services related to your goal. Below are some common bar management skills and keywords to consider for this section.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Advertising and promotions | Conflict resolution |
| Cost reduction and elimination | Customer service and communications |
| Efficiency improvement | Food and beverage operations |
| Guest relations and satisfaction | Inventory management |
| Menu creation and enhancement | Mixology |
| Operations management | Personnel supervision |
| Policy enforcement | Procedure development |
| Regulatory compliance | Revenue and profit growth |
| Seasonal event planning | Shift scheduling |
| Staff hiring and training | Strategic planning |
| Team motivation | |
How To Pick the Best Bar Manager Resume Template
As with most vocations, bar managers should use a resume template that’s clear and straightforward. Opt for a visual design that lets the business owner or hiring manager quickly review your best career details. Select a traditional resume font, and avoid any template with colorful or elaborate design. Also, ensure the template complies with applicant tracking systems (ATS) used by some employers to screen resumes.
Bar Manager Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Jessica Lang
Nashville, TN 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/example
Profile
Dedicated bar manager with nearly seven years of advancement and excellence. Strong leader who motivates staff to provide high-quality service experiences to customers. Focused on achieving and maintaining high profit, efficiency, and compliance with regulations. Expertly hone and adapt operations to new business conditions and priorities.
Key Skills
- Advertising and promotions
- Conflict resolution
- Customer service and communications
- Efficiency improvement
- Food and beverage operations
- Guest relations and satisfaction
- Inventory management
- Licensing requirements
- Menu creation and enhancement
- Mixology
- Operations management
- Personnel supervision
- Policy enforcement
- Procedure development
- Seasonal event planning
- Shift scheduling
- Staff hiring and training
- Team motivation
Professional Experience
Bar Manager, CJ’s Tavern, Nashville, TN | April 2018 to present
- Hired to maintain utmost service quality and efficiency of a popular local rathskeller
- Organize and facilitate private/special events, fostering relations with local organizations and repeat business with customers
- Train, schedule, and oversee a bar staff of 16
Highlights:
- Improved the customer experience by making strategic changes to décor, lighting, and music playlist that provided a more traditional “tavern” ambiance
- Devised a new scheduling system that made it easier for personnel to request time off and trade shifts. Measure helped reduce turnover by 8% while improving staff coverage on major holidays
Bartender, Hal’s Pub, Nashville, TN | July 2015 to April 2018
- Prepared and served various drinks to patrons of a recently launched Irish pub and restaurant
- Coordinated with a team of hosts, barbacks, and servers to ensure a positive first impression and overall experience for new customers
- Thrived in a highly collaborative, fast-paced work setting
Education
Associate’s Degree – Business Administration, Nashville State Community College, Nashville, TN | 2015
Graduate, Maplewood High School, Nashville, TN | 2013
1. What are the most in-demand skills for bar managers that should be featured on a candidate’s resume? -
Hard skills that are critical for a bar manager include inventory management, beverage and food service knowledge, and experience with Point of Sale (POS) systems. Soft skills, on the other hand, should include excellent communication, leadership, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work under pressure. Customer service skills are also paramount in this role.
2. What work experience and other accomplishments are hiring managers looking for in a bar manager?-
Previous experience in a supervisory role within the hospitality industry is highly desirable. Accomplishments may include successful event planning and execution, increasing bar revenue, or implementing effective cost-saving measures. Training and developing staff, handling customer complaints effectively, and maintaining a high standard of cleanliness and safety are also impressive feats.
3. What else in addition to a resume should a bar manager candidate be prepared to provide hiring managers? -
In addition to a resume, a cover letter detailing your passion for the industry and explaining why you're a great fit for the role is invaluable. If you have any certifications relevant to the role, such as a Food Safety or TIPS certification, be sure to include them. Testimonials or references from past employers can also strengthen your application.
4. What advice would you give a bar manager candidate about their job search?-
During your job search, highlight your ability to increase profits, manage staff effectively, and provide excellent customer service. Tailor your resume and cover letter to each job posting to demonstrate your understanding of the specific role and the establishment's culture. Lastly, be prepared to answer behavioral questions during the interview, as these can showcase your problem-solving skills and how you handle real-life scenarios in a bar.
Frequently Asked Questions: Bar Manager Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for bar manager resumes? -
One of the best ways to enhance your resume is by starting each bullet point with a strong action verb. Dynamic verbs help you keep the hiring manager’s attention and show the varied nature of your experience. The following list can assist you in finding a good mix of action verbs for your bar manager resume.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Achieved | Adapted |
| Collaborated | Created |
| Developed | Enhanced |
| Ensured | Expedited |
| Generated | Improved |
| Introduced | Led |
| Mentored | Modified |
| Motivated | Operated |
| Organized | Oversaw |
| Planned | Prevented |
| Ranked | Reduced |
| Resolved | Scheduled |
| Streamlined | Strengthened |
| Supervised | Trained |
| Won | |
How do you align your bar manager resume with a job posting?-
In nearly all cases, use a combination (or hybrid) resume because it’s easiest for hiring managers to learn about your pertinent skills and experience – it’s also simplest for you to align with your job goals.
Tailoring your resume to each bar manager job posting is a great way to give your application an edge over other applicants. For any posting that interests you, read the job requirements closely. Are there any you possess but haven’t featured on your resume? Add those to your profile or key skills section. Say the posting is for a bar located in the business district of a major city – the clientele is primarily professionals meeting after work on weekdays. If that setting aligns with your background, you can strengthen your profile by adding a line or two about your extensive work at bars and restaurants in thriving business districts.
What is the best bar manager resume format? -
The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that jobs for food service managers will increase by about 10% between 2021 and 2031. This growth rate is faster than the average for all U.S. vocations.
With the combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills in your experience or work history section and an intro section. (This combination of work history and intro content is where the format gets its name.) Your resume intro should usually include a profile summary and key skills section. Still, you may also add a career highlights or awards section. By carefully choosing intro details, you can (a) position yourself for your target job and (b) give hiring managers a clear, quick view of what you offer.
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To increase your chances of an interview, write and submit a strong cover letter. The key to a good cover letter is tailoring it to each job opening. Read our comprehensive cover letter guide to learn how. For other related examples, see our Restaurant Manager and Bartender cover letter guides.
