How to Write a Bartender Resume
To create a bartender resume that impresses employers, display how you can prepare drink orders for customers quickly and professionally and your knowledge of alcoholic beverages. We’ll show you how to write a winning bartender resume tailored to the industry’s unique demands. By studying resume examples, you can learn expert strategies and create the best bartender resume possible.
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your bartender qualifications
In two to three sentences, your resume profile should capture what you’ve accomplished and what you offer. Your goal with this section is to entice hiring managers to keep reading your resume, so brevity, impact, and customization are key.
First, tailor your profile to the position by carefully pulling and incorporating keywords from the job post text. By customizing your profile this way, you can show your relevant strengths and overall attentiveness to the employer’s needs. Next, focus on your ability to create memorable experiences through exquisite cocktails and personalized service. Also, consider noting your years of experience in mixology, customer service, or team collaboration.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Bartender with over 15 years of experience and thorough knowledge of beer, wine, and spirits. Skilled at mixing unique cocktails for customers in a fast-paced environment. Collaborated on seasonal drink menus with the beverage director at the DoubleTree Hotel. New hire trainer and ABC-Certified trainer for responsible alcohol service.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Bartender, server, and bar back with nearly three years’ experience at popular local restaurants. Confidently suggest food and drinks to guests, drawing on strong knowledge of food and wine pairings. Trained in both front- and back-of-house operations.
2. Add your bartender experience with compelling examples
A results-focused experience section is key to your resume, as it lets you show the impact you’ve had on employers. For each past bartending job, describe how you helped improve the drink menu, train new hires, adapt to industry changes, or accommodate high customer volume. Also, quantify your achievements. For instance, you could highlight the number of customers you served, the revenue you generated, or events you helped organize. This strategy adds value to your resume and shows you can handle work settings similar to the ones you’re now after.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Lead Bartender, DoubleTree Hotel, Dallas, TX | June 2016 to present
- Work high-volume shifts in both the cocktail lounge and fine-dining restaurant
- Reconcile receipts at the end of the night using Micros POS system
- Conduct monthly inventory of all bar stock with the bar manager
- Train new hires to mix drinks properly, serve drinks responsibly, and ensure customers are satisfied
- Collaborated on seasonal drink menus and invented several lucrative cocktail recipes
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Bartender / Server, Addison’s American Grill, Columbia, MO | September 2022 to present
- Recognized for maintaining excellent customer service on busy nights and with large parties
- Used suggestive selling methods to increase cover average and improve the guest experience
- Won “Employee of the Month” three times based on strong teamwork and high guest satisfaction scores
3. Include bartender-related education and certifications
Show your dedication to the craft by including any relevant education, coursework, and certifications you’ve completed. Degrees in hospitality or related subjects can convey your professionalism and foundational knowledge of customer service, mixology techniques, and beverage management. Additionally, certifications like Training for Intervention ProcedureS (TIPS) or ServSafe Alcohol can boost your credibility and assure employers you understand responsible alcohol service. Below are templates and examples to help you format this information on your resume.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Business Degree — Hotel and Restaurant Management
- Oregon State University, Portland, OR | 2016
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Certified Bartender, Logan’s Professional Bartending School, 2023
4. Include a list of skills and proficiencies related to bartenders
Relevant professional skills are essential to your bartender resume. These skills give insight into your ability to excel in a fast-paced, customer-centric environment. This section should cover not just your mixology skills but also important soft skills like customer service or conflict resolution. Here’s a list of skills to consider for your resume:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Cash handling | Conflict resolution |
| Customer service and satisfaction | Drink order preparation |
| Efficiency improvement | Food and beverage service |
| Food and wine pairing | Food safety and sanitation |
| Inventory monitoring | Menu memorization |
| Mixology | Payment processing |
| Personnel training | Point-of-sale (POS) systems |
| Process improvement | Task prioritization |
| Team collaboration | Time management |
| Work area maintenance | Workplace safety and security |
How To Pick the Best Bartender Resume Template
For bartenders, the best resume template is clear and straightforward, with well-organized sections and headings. Opt for a design with plenty of room to list your skills, experience, and certifications. Choose a template that lets you show your creativity through color accents while maintaining a professional appearance.
Bartender Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
John McPhearson
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Portland, OR 39576 | LinkedIn
Profile
Bartender with 7+ years of experience in high-volume nightclubs and bars. Expert mixologist with hundreds of drink recipes memorized. Enthusiastic about creating and preparing distinctive, popular drink recipes. Firm grasp of Oregon alcohol sales laws. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
Recognition
Runner-up, Portland’s Master Mixologist Competition | 2019
Key Skills
- Cash Handling
- Customer Service & Satisfaction
- Drink Order Preparation
- Efficiency Improvement
- Mixology
- Payment Processing
- Process Improvement
- Task Prioritization
- Team Collaboration
- Time Management
- Work Area Maintenance
- Workplace Safety & Security
Professional Experience
Bartender, Risky Jay’s Nightclub, Portland, OR | June 2016 to Present
- Lead bartender on weekend nights, ensuring team members correctly prepare drinks and process payments
- Create custom cocktails and shots for patrons
- Help inventory and order supplies and stock
- Work with security to identify over-intoxicated patrons
Bartender / Bar Back, Guys & Dolls, Portland, OR | September 2012 to May 2016
- Trained new hires to properly make drinks and keep bar area clean and orderly
- Showed high efficiency serving multiple customers at a time
- Offered helpful drink recommendations to guests
- Consistently top-ranked for sales during last year of tenure
Education
Business Degree — Hotel & Restaurant Management, Oregon State University, Portland, OR | 2016
Language
Fluency in Spanish
Frequently Asked Questions: Bartender Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for bartender resumes?-
As you write your past duties and achievements on your resume, you may find it hard to avoid sounding repetitive. To help you overcome this obstacle, we created this list of common action verbs for bartenders.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Adapt | Assist |
| Check | Clean |
| Collaborate | Collect |
| Coordinate | Create |
| Customize | Deliver |
| Engage | Enhance |
| Ensure | Fill |
| Greet | Improve |
| Inform | Introduce |
| Measure | Memorize |
| Mix | Monitor |
| Offer | Order |
| Pour | Prepare |
| Prioritize | Process |
| Promote | Recommend |
| Refill | Resolve |
| Return | Serve |
| Suggest | Take |
| Upsell | |
How do you align your resume with a job posting?-
Bartending is expected to see fast growth between 2021 and 2031, with an 18% increase (or over 90,000 new jobs) during that time.
You can get more bartender job interviews by tailoring your resume for each application. Start by looking at the job post and noting words or phrases that are repeated, emphasized, or otherwise seem important. Compare these phrases against the language you’re using in your resume, particularly the profile and key skills sections. Then, look for ways to align your resume language with the job post while not copying text or misstating your background.
For example, if the bar manager wants someone collaborative, you may want to call out that aspect of your experience in your profile. Or say the facility has many non-English speaking customers. You may want to highlight your foreign language skills both in your profile and as a separate section farther down the document. With adjustments like these, you can make your resume that much more relevant to each job opportunity.
What is the best bartender resume format?-
For bartenders, a combination resume format is often the best choice. This format allows you to show your relevant skills, experience, and accomplishments in a concise and organized manner. To follow the combination format, start your resume with a profile summary highlighting your mixology and customer service skills. Below the summary, write a chronological experience section detailing your key work duties and accomplishments.
If you have plenty of relevant experience and a consistent work history, the traditional chronological format may also be suitable. In general, avoid the functional format because it de-emphasizes your work history, a crucial aspect for employers in the service industry.
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A well-crafted cover letter will boost your chances of an interview. The secret to a good cover letter is tailoring it to the establishment you're applying to. Read our comprehensive bartender cover letter guide to create your own. For more examples, check out our food service and server cover letter guides.
